Author Topic: De Hill (Read 1616 times)

Joe Gilbert · « **on:** January 30, 2024, 04:08:00 PM »

Ruby Hill just called to let me know that De passed away this morning. De was a spark plug to the Tulsa Gluedobbers for many, many years. He will be greatly missed. Rest in peace, my friend.

Joe Gilbert

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2024, 04:32:17 PM »

That is very sad news. Dee was a good friend and a great supporter of control line in general. Rest in peace.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2024, 04:34:14 PM »

Oh NO. Worst news. Dang. Thanks Joe for telling us.

Dave

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2024, 04:47:23 PM »

This is sad news. 🥺

Our condolences to the family.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2024, 04:59:30 PM »

Oh no!! That’s really sad to hear!!

Roy DeCamara · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2024, 05:23:53 PM »

Control modeling has lost another friend. De originated and sponsored the spark ignition event at the VSC in Tucson Arizona. In addition, De made the beautiful trophy's awarded to Spirit of 46, 52 and 64 and several other awards over the years. Those of us fortunate to have won one of these trophy's know the value we place in them. De was a good friend to me for over thirty years and I feel a great loss. My deepest regards to Ruby. Also to the Tulsa Glue Dobers which De served for many years. Farewell De. Roy DeCamara

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2024, 05:44:37 PM »

Roy, I know what you mean. Of all the trophies I have received, the three first place ignition trophies, the Spirit of 46 Trophy, the Spirit of 52 trophy, and the Nobler trophy are some of my greatest possessions. The Spirit of 46 has an Ohlsson 19 front valve on it with batteries, capacitor, and a switch. Beautifully made as all his trophies are.

He gave of his time to promote our passion. He also had a great amount of control line history in his head. I remember once saying, if Dee did not know about it, it probably never happened. It is a sad day indeed.

Paul Wescott · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2024, 06:23:21 PM »

In an odd bit of irony, De Hill is/was the sole moderator of the section “In Memory of our friends”.

James Lee · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2024, 06:38:36 PM »

De was iconic in Tulsa Glue Dobber history. He was the impetus in getting the control line Glue Dobber's going in the late 1980's. Myself and a couple more from Topeka went to their inaugural contest in 1990 at the original Tulsa Glue Dobber field. They didn't know a lot about running a contest, but they quickly learned how to run an excellent contest.
He has been a Contest Director, Stunt Judge and indefatigable Glue Dobber spark plug.
And, as Jim said, his plaque trophy's are highly prized by their recipients.
De also had a world class collection of control line handles, ranging from antique to unique to the one used by George Aldrich to win the Nats way back when.
Fair winds, De.

Jim

Bill Schwagerman · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2024, 07:34:23 PM »

This is such sad news! De helped bring even more joy to this hobby of ours! I loved watching him run (or try to run) the old slag ignition engines at Ward Hallenberg’s place way back when. He also ran the Morton M5 for us. I also enjoyed watching him fly OTS at Topeka’s TOPCLASS contest back around 2000. A kind man he was.

Bill

Gary Mondry · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2024, 08:16:05 PM »

A sad day, for sure. De was a great guy and great supporter of stunt in Wichita as well. He and Elwyn would often come up to help judge and take photos. We’ll miss him for sure. My sincere sympathy to Ruby and the Gluedobbers.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2024, 09:00:11 PM »

Not much that I can say that hasn't been said. Another one of the great building blocks that our event was built on. I liked talking to De about the old days and OTS but just didn't get to do it enough!! I wanted to go to his Mirror Meet Recreation Meets but never got the opportunity, but we did send a guy down there from our club that actually placed in the contest as a youngster! My son Sean got to fly in at least one while he was posted at Fort Hood one time and said he had a ball. Never second guess about whether or not to go somewhere and have a good time!!
Condolences and deepest sympathies to his family and close friends,
Dan McEntee

Gerald Arana · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2024, 06:37:58 AM »

R.I.P. De

Jerry

Mark Gerber · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2024, 07:34:57 AM »

Sad to hear this. De had an encylopedic knowledge of the hobby and our history.

Mark Gerber

john e. holliday · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2024, 11:16:01 AM »

This is such a shock. I thought for sure he would out live me. All has been said already except I asked him at Wichta why he didn't fly second round and beat me. He stated," I did I would have to move up". He will be missed by everybody.

RC Storick · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2024, 01:56:03 PM »

Quote from: Paul Wescott on January 30, 2024, 06:23:21 PM

In an odd bit of irony, De Hill is/was the sole moderator of the section “In Memory of our friends”.

This is sad news. So he was the Mod if anyone would like the position send me a PM. Rest in peace Dee

Andre Ming · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2024, 08:53:41 PM »

Very sad news.

I last talked to De just a couple months ago. He sounded very weak and had no stamina.

I can't remember when I met De... but it may have been in the late 1980s or so. He was always involved with the Tulsa CL Gluedobbers and tirelessly promoted them for years.

He gifted me with several items over the decades. One of his gifts was a VHS copy of his "Scarinzi's Basement" tape. On his own tape, his love for the sport came through loud and clear at the GSCB's event he attended while he videoed, as well as during his epic visit to Larry's basement.

He will be missed by many, this old CL fan included.

Andre

Phil Spillman · « **Reply #17 on:** February 02, 2024, 10:11:23 AM »

Certainly Sad News. Dee was a very nice man whom I am proud to have known both at the Circle Burners Contests and at the Brodak FlyIns over the years. My prayers to him and his family.

Phil Spillman

Doug Moon · « **Reply #18 on:** February 02, 2024, 03:22:06 PM »

This is very sad news. I hadn't seen him in a very long time but we corresponded from time to time about contest results as the years went by. Every time we communicated it was like we had just seen each other the day before. He was a really great guy. We are all better for having had him in this little world we call control line. He will be missed...

SteveMoon · « **Reply #19 on:** February 02, 2024, 08:31:54 PM »

Geez, I really hate to hear this. De was just such a nice guy.
RIP De, and condolences to family and friends.

Steve

Jerry Higgins · « **Reply #20 on:** February 03, 2024, 08:47:20 AM »

So sorry to hear about the loss of De. I always enjoyed visiting with him at contests.
Jerry Higgins

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #21 on:** February 06, 2024, 03:23:13 PM »

That is very sad news.

This is one of the elegant trophies that De made and presented at the Tucson VSC. It is an old O&R 23 engine with gas tank, coil, battery, and actually ready to run with some fuel! The award is called "Spirit of 46", to remember the "old days" of model flying.

Joe Gilbert · « **Reply #22 on:** February 07, 2024, 07:20:05 AM »

Floyd, you are so right. I received a trophy made by De at VSC in Tucson. It is one of my prize possessions The guy sitting next to me at the banquet wanted to put a few drops of scotch in the Venturi and see if it would pop. I wouldn’t let him, but I did close the switch and hold plug and flip. Yes sir it bit me. It just might have popped. De was definitely an ambassador of control line.

Joe Gilbert

john e. holliday · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2024, 02:06:31 PM »

If only De knew how much he was admired and respected. Rest in peace De.