Hi fellas,
I don't know if we have honored Mike before. But at this time of the year, I often become a *little* too nostalgic for my own good and lose myself sometimes in thoughts of friends who left us too soon (at least in my own selfish opinion).
Mike was an old Navy Chief. Better than the salt of the Earth! A helping hand (sometimes to a fault, almost) to any and all. I never knew quite as well as many since I met him rather late in his life. I had the great pleasure of spending much time with him at the "Stunt Hotel" (William Davis' home!) during the Huntersville meets often 'til 3-4am on days where we had to fly at 9:00am!
Mike was a multifaceted gentleman who had a true love for model airplanes. He was responsible for several of the original Brodak offerings including the very successful original Warbirds. Some of his published designs were the All American PHD, Fancy Pants 40, and the profile Wendell Williams racer stunt plane for the ST G51. There were 3 or 4 Profile Golden Age racers, and I know he had more............. He could make engines, that few even considered, like a Blue Bird 28, and a K&B Sportster 45, run perfect. Always trying, and making work, a new idea, engine, or model.
Mike was a friend who flew pretty darn good, designed with simplicity in mind, and always had a huge grin on his face. A Southern Gentleman the likes of which are disappearing. Mike lost his beautiful wife and things were never quite the same.
I raise a toast to Mike Garmon, the World should have more men like him. I know the winds are always perfect, and his bottoms are, too, in the great C/L circle beyond. A toast to the great memories of Mike Garmon!
God, I miss him.