Author Topic: WILD BILL RUTHELFORD'...WHERE IS HE TODAY? (Read 2870 times)

Shultzie · « **on:** May 28, 2009, 09:20:30 PM »

Found an old slide of Bill Ruthelford's great looking 1967 Nats entry.....

Any old Geezer-Grunts that might remember Bill's beautiful stunt models....Lets spin a few stories and photos, JUMP IN HERE!!! I also have a slide of his modified Sting Ray;s also...somewhere in my pile of slides and old photos?

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2009, 10:35:59 PM »

I think thats Rutheford?...I have seen him, out at Scobee Field in Houston, from time to time. Usually flying with his grandson, Ryan Young. Ryan is the 2008 NATS JR Champ I beleive...
Here he is flying Dee's Ringmaster at the 2008 Roundup. The other one at chow time.

Bill Gruby · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2009, 08:15:27 AM »

He and his Grandson Ryan were at the Ringmaster Round Up/Texas Regionals this last week. Great guy.

"Billy G"

Randy Powell · « **Reply #3 on:** May 29, 2009, 10:33:08 AM »

I met Big Bill at VSC a few years ago. Great guy. He gave me quite a lot of help with the brand new plane I was flying. Even gave me a prop for it. Very nice guy.

Shultzie, you really should consider attending a VSC. You would absolutely love it.

Shultzie · « **Reply #4 on:** May 29, 2009, 04:43:13 PM »

VSC Ahhhh yes...that would be great...at least we have VSC weather today huh? but again...all I have to fly is my HQ Shadow

Shultzie · « **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2009, 06:59:39 PM »

Found that photo of Bill and his Orange Sting Ray...to the right of McMillen (gads we were young?) Especially little kidde Chris LL~LL~

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2009, 12:26:49 AM »

Bill and Ryan...one proud grandpa!

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2009, 05:31:23 PM »

Quote from: Shultzie on May 29, 2009, 06:59:39 PM

Found that photo of Bill and his Orange Sting Ray...to the right of Frank McMillen (gads we were young?) Especially little kidde Chris LL~LL~

Don, I'm guessing here but I think that might be a younger Roger Wildman, not Frank. It is, however, definitely, Bill!

Ted

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #8 on:** June 01, 2009, 07:21:31 PM »

Quote from: Shultzie on May 29, 2009, 06:59:39 PM

Found that photo of Bill and his Orange Sting Ray...to the right of Frank McMillen (gads we were young?) Especially little kidde Chris LL~LL~

That's Jerry McMillin with the Smoothie. Bill Rutherford with the Stingray, me on the tool box chewin' my fingernails.

I don't know if that top picture is of Bill, Donaldo. He flew the orange Stingray at the '67 Nats.
Chris...

Shultzie · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2009, 12:37:48 PM »

Quote from: Chris McMillin on June 01, 2009, 07:21:31 PM

That's Jerry McMillin with the Smoothie. Bill Rutherford with the Stingray, me on the tool box chewin' my fingernails.

I don't know if that top picture is of Bill, Donaldo. He flew the orange Stingray at the '67 Nats.
Chris...

GADS!
SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YER'MIND STARTS TO GO! GADS! Especially I even knew that was your Dad..and THEN called him by Frankie McMillen's name... instead of Jerry Millin!!! Gads?

?
CHRIS...U MIGHT BE RIGHT about that guy with the cream colored model?
IF KEITH TROSTLE IS LURKING...maybe that AMA # WILL NAIL THIS PILOT DOWN FOR US?
(of all the things I miss the most...is my memory and mind.

Shultzie · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2009, 12:47:58 PM »

Quote from: Ted Fancher on June 01, 2009, 05:31:23 PM

Don, I'm guessing here but I think that might be a younger Roger Wildman, not Frank. It is, however, definitely, Bill!

Ted

Ted...see whut I mean about losing it??? Maybe you can pin down the guy with the cream colored Skylark that I though was Bill R?

YES!
HELP! KEITH TROSTLE...WE NEED YER PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY HERE?

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2009, 12:56:22 PM »

Quote from: Shultzie on June 02, 2009, 12:47:58 PM

Ted...see whut I mean about losing it??? Maybe you can pin down the guy with the cream colored Skylark that I though was Bill R?
YES!
HELP! KEITH TROSTLE...WE NEED YER PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY HERE?

OH, H.E. double toothpicks. All those guys in crew cuts looked alike anyhow. It's not my fault, it's Jerry's!

The guy with the Skylark isn't familiar to me but you've got the right neighborhood, those are WAM stickers on the wing and one hidden under the tail on his left sleeve. This was prior to the time I got involved in WAM and the face doesn't ring a bell. Maybe Uncle Jimby might know him.

Ted

Jim Pollock · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2009, 04:37:47 PM »

Well,

Let's see here, I don't think Jimby would know because he's too young to know anyone from 1967. It's also the year before I re-entered WAM myself after my discharge from the Air Force. I know it isn't anyone from Modesto, or Fresno. I don't think it's anyone from Stockton. Could be from San Jose, let's just say from Calif possibly!

Jim Pollock

john e. holliday · « **Reply #13 on:** June 10, 2009, 08:59:58 AM »

Looks like the name on the shirt is Wagner or Wayne on the guy holding the Skylark. DOC Holliday

Could it also be..."Roger?" Hummm?

Howard Rush · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2009, 11:01:05 PM »

Here's Bill watching grandson Ryan at the 2009 Walker Cup flyoff.

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #15 on:** August 14, 2009, 12:46:48 AM »

Quote from: Howard Rush on August 13, 2009, 11:01:05 PM

Here's Bill watching grandson Ryan at the 2009 Walker Cup flyoff.

WoW! Ryan is growing like a weed! I havent seen him in a year,He must get that from the other side of the family!

Matt Colan · « **Reply #16 on:** August 14, 2009, 06:04:10 AM »

That plane that ryan has, who designed it? And if you look close at the picture, you can see the plane has down elevator in it.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #17 on:** August 14, 2009, 08:14:02 AM »

I missed seeing them at the NATS this year, in fact I missed everybody. I see he is wearing T-shirts so he doesn't have to keep replacing buttons.

With the grandson getting better each I wonder if grandpa's hat is adjustable. Just kidding I would be very proud too if my grandson was whipping up on everybody in stuntdom. Or even my grandaughters. Having fun, DOC Holliday

Shultzie · « **Reply #18 on:** August 14, 2009, 12:55:30 PM »

Quote from: Matt Colan on August 14, 2009, 06:04:10 AM

That plane that ryan has, who designed it? And if you look close at the picture, you can see the plane has down elevator in it.

I would betcha' that this shot was taken at the instant he POPPED the handle and the air stream hasn't been effected by the sudden control input from the handle...

Matt Colan · « **Reply #19 on:** August 14, 2009, 01:33:17 PM »

Quote from: Shultzie on August 14, 2009, 12:55:30 PM

I would betcha' that this shot was taken at the instant he POPPED the handle and the air stream hasn't been effected by the sudden control input from the handle...

And you can see if proud grandpa bill were in the way of the plane, he wouldn't have a head, right at 5 feet

Les McDonald · « **Reply #20 on:** September 29, 2009, 11:56:54 AM »

Many years ago Bill and his wife visited us here in Miami several times. They were "Fun" folks and on their last visit Bill was getting ready to make the move to Saudia Arabia, primarily to be a pilot but also to open a hobby shop. I remember them going to the "Movieplex" one Friday and they spent the entire day and evening watching three or four "new release" films. It was obvious that an airline pilot can sit in one place for many ,many hours.
They had a dream.
He wanted to work for a year or so in the Middle East and then sell everything, buy a sailboat and travel the world.
I still remember his unmuffled Mustang at an early seventies Glenview Nats. It sounded like a refugee from a tractor pull and was, without a doubt, the loudest stunter I've ever witnessed. Good times with good people!

Les McDonald

Shultzie · « **Reply #21 on:** September 29, 2009, 01:53:42 PM »

CONGRATS...ON YOUR NEWLY PUBLISHED PAMPA ARTICLE IN STUNT NEWS!
I hear the photos were awesome!!

Hey Grunts...check Les and Robin's latest Stunt News article if you can be so blessed to "snag" hold of a copy!

Darkstar1 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 29, 2009, 07:43:49 PM »

The airplane is A Trivial Pursuit without the fancy cowling. As I type I hope Grandpa is working on dual take aparts
for the worlds. That plane suits Ryan really well!