Donnie...Thanks for revitalizing this particular thread. FYI, John Lenderman passed away this past year ('08) November, I think it was. But I recall seeing a list of Walker Cup winners on SH or SSW by Keith Trostle, and John's name wasn't on the list. Still, you can win Open and still not win the Cup, so I didn't think all that much about that. But I still thought I remembered seeing "Lenderman" on the trophy, when PW brought it to a meeting. However, I asked PW recently, if John's name wasn't on the Walker Cup, and he replied "Most certainly!". Well, I know Keith has had the Cup, but not as often as PW...so I'll take Paul's word for it. Anyway, to answer your question about John...he's gone.
Now...that field youse guys were flying at reminds me of a place in "Tacomer" that I once flew at, in a combat contest. I even remember a significant amount of one of my matches there! But excatly where was it? No clue.
Ben, being a fellow Machinist, could no doubt kick your cradle over! I was CD of one of the last contests we had at Clover Park in Tacoma, and it fell on me to ask Ben to fly Advanced, since he entered Intermediate, and there was nobody else in the class. Anyway, Ben whined a little, and then ended up in 8th of about 16 or more. His stock Magnum with ST G.51 was a pretty nice flying combination, and Ben knew what he was doing with it, too. The next time I saw Ben was in the LHS in Parkland, on a Friday afternoon, after work, on the way to the club meeting at John Hall's old place. Ben immediately spotted aluminum chimps on my jeans and choos and made a comment about me being a machinist. I didn't know he had been a chipster.
I vaguely remember Bill McDow as an OT Free Flight guy from Vancouver, WA. Didn't really know him much, being a pretty hardcore FAI FF specialist. But I think I read that he fell to earth some years ago. I'm sure Leo would know, or maybe I'm thinking of somebody else. It's amazing how a guy's modeling career will take twists and turns and sometimes go a full circle, or just drift around on the big thermal.
If I'm able to go to TNA this weekend, you're flying, MISTER SCHULTZ! Make no mistake about it!!!!
Steve