"Rollie Speed merchant"...you must be thinking of Rollie Hillsland? He died of cancer of the spleen in '67, right about the time I got married. Rollie had a history of back problems, and thought this pain was back trouble again. Took too long to get it checked out, and was dead in a month.
Chuck Stohlmeyer didn't fly stunt, but flew about everything else. He was killed in Viet Nam the same year, I think. Chuck's Dad, "Sarge" was a Veteran, and as I understand the rules, Chuck didn't have to put himself in harm's way, as the only child/son of a Vet. But he did.
Do you know if Gene Matheny might be Chuck Matheny's father? Chuck lost his son Charlie in Iraq. Dirt, Rush, Buzz and myself attended the services...with hundreds of others. The procession was roughly a mile long.
I met Jim Parsons many times, down at the Space Center. I kinda remember a Smoothie of his. Larry Dona was my Dr. for awhile, depending on my insurance at the time, ya know. He patched me up several times, mostly self inflicted stuff.
Most these guys are in a better place. I doubt I'll ever see them again.
Steve
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Yes, Rollie Hisland, stunt grunt or not, was one great gentleman who often helped me work through some really low peaks in my valleys of life. I was single, new to the Tacoma Seattle area and he was always there for me and so many of the rest of us.
If you needed some one that would just listen to you and his advice on both life and modeling, Rollie man was an amazing friend.
Although a "speed-deeemon" and not a stunt grunt......He helped so many of us stunt flyers work out our engine, fuel, tank, glow plug, and engine performances.
He was truly the MODEL ENGINE DOCTOR of the NW.
Speaking of Doctors...
Yes, Doc Dona helped me and my young wife and kids get through some pretty difficult times, especially when we were sadly under insured, as most outside sales jobs I had in those early days.
Although some didn't like his fatherly bedside manner...he was always bluntly honest and caring and when we needed medical help, best of all, he always knew exactly the best specialists that could provide the expertise that his patients needed.
I have a slide that I took of his very young son....holding his daddy Doc's beautifully crafted semi-scale model at the Eugene Ore. contest.
When he passed.....I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE LEGIONS of human beings that attended his memorial. It looked like the entire Tacoma Seattle area had turned out.
HE TRULY MADE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN SO MANY LIVES!
"Charlie"
What a tragic story that was as sad then as it is today...with so many of our country's best, giving their lives..simply for our leaders of the past, as well as their miss guided beliefs that everyone deserves our western world concepts on the rest of the world.....
NOW IRAQ! (I promised I would cuss' policies or pollytickin'
Like the song says: "When will we EVER learn." Sadly seems like we will NEVER learn.
That brings me to Chuck and the tragic loss of him son Charlie!!!
Gene Matheny...of Portland, was single....when I knew him and stayed with his invalid mother for most of his life. I thought he remained single? Maybe not?
His model building and stunt flying expertise were so paramount in both Tim Dunlop and me...
when I lived in Portland Oregon. He helped Tim and I develop our model finishing skills and always was available to help us with our "lifting fillets and blushin-paint peelin paint jobs?
Jim Parson....my wife and I loved that panoramic view of the Kent Valley from his beautiful home and observation deck.
Jim could see our flying site at the Space Center from his deck. Like clock work....Jim would show up to my "stoogie-practice sessions" out of no where.
Truth is...he would look through his spotting scope...see who was flying, and within 3 minutes..he would show up and offer his help and seemingly endless supply of new plugs, fuel, props, and best of all...his VERY SOBERING AND HONEST ADVICE...
about my errors in flying, from MY DOUBLE D'S on my both my vertical and Horz. 8's.
He had a very good eye memory for not only seeing mistakes...but also could convey them to you.....virtually before my old Sting Rays, Avengers, or that ol' Super Chipmunk even stopped rolling after a botched landing approach.
STEVE, GOD KNOWS WE ARE ALL FALLEN CREATURES...and because of his promises...
I have little or no doubt that we'll both see them again when its time for our golden chariot ride in da mornin'LORD!"
So keep the faith...and keep lookin' up. Surely these guys must be lookin down and laughin at our mortal ways...n' woes.
I choose to remember this:
'THEY ARE NO MISTAKES...JUST LESSONS TO BE LEARNED"