GIL COUGHLIN
Although I scanned a photo of Gil's greeting card...I GOTTA TELL YOU...he could be our model maker poster-child (ol'toot) success of how one can change their lives by diet and exercise and lifestyle changes.
He NO LONGER LOOKS LIKE THAT CARTOON OF HIMSELF...He has slimmed down and trim and seems to have a new zest for life after Boeing.
Retirement, I think has fit him well. At Boeing, his frustration of trying to bring up all of us co-workers to his skill level must have quite a chore. Those of us who had the chance to work with Gil noticed just how vast his interests were in not only modeling but also for life. One of his passions that FRIGHTENED THE HELL out of us...was for his building and flying of full sized Ultra-light aircraft. At first his passion for flying was a "tad behind his flying skills" but thankful before long...he was a master at both building and flying. Often in the warm eve.s here in the Auburn Valley, he would buzz my flying field near the Auburn Boeing Plant...or while driving near Kent valley, I would look up through my sun roof and see Gil smilin' back down at us.
I don't think he still flies those Ultra lights...but his collection of engines and passion for models is still very muc alive and well.
Knowing Gil...just makes life a bit more fun!
Hey NW grunts...add your vibe about our WILD N' SOMETIMES KRAZZZY MODEL-GRUNT?
However, the majority of these types of workers that were re-assigned to work with Gil, you could bet that before long you could see change that lack luster Gil was a extemely gifted passioned model maker at the Boeing Company....LIKE BRUCE KIMBALL..he too is truly a modelmakers modelmaker, Virtual master of just about any modeling project he would involved with. His knowledge and expertise in model engines over the years has helped iron out the buggga-gremlins out of so many stunt flyers engines.