SEN 1306<
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- Category: Archive 2009
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Table of Contnets SEN 1306
- MMM
- Don Blackam
- Larry Conover
MMM 14 Rounder
We are little more than five weeks away from the MMM 14-Rounder in Denver, July 3, 4, 5. Besides being America's Cup sanctioned, it is also a Hartill Trophy contest. Additionally, we will hold all the NC events plus a few others. Please see link to the information flyer/entry form on our website: http://www.themmmclub.com/pdf/2009FAIContestFlier.pdf. Thanks, Chuck Etherington
Don Blackam
Hi Roger
just to let all our FF friends know that my father Don Blackam passed away last Thursday morning. As many know he has battled cancer for several years. Although he had been making promising progress with a new drug over the past several months a number of complications occurred in the last couple of weeks. Kim and I as well as the rest of the family were very fortunate to have enough notice and to be able to spend the last couple of days and nights with him. Even though he was not conscious I do believe he was aware of the people around him.
He was a great aeromodeller, a great philanthropist and a great Dad. I'm proud to have spent time on the FF fields of the world with him.
regards
Richard
Larry Conover - World Champion
Lawrence H. (Larry) Conover of 324 Crompton Road, Waynesboro, VA 22980, died early Thursday, May 21st, at Avante Nursing Home in Waynesboro. He had suffered a stroke the previous month. Larry was born October 19, 1925 to Emma Swann and Clarence Irving Conover, in Iowa City, Iowa. After graduating from high school there in 1944, Larry went on to one year of college at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, but the responsibilities of marriage prevented his completing that degree.
Larry's life long passion was the design, building, and flying of free flight model airplanes.
He began building model airplanes at the age of 8. Later, he worked in aviation research and design with Dr. Alexander Lippisch at Collins Radio Company, Cedar Rapids, IA, in the 1950's. He also worked in research and design for Nissan Trampoline Corp. in Cedar Rapids, in the 1960's. Larry was creative and an entrepeneur. Along with being a top ad salesman for the National Roster of Realtors, he built a successful grain bin business near Center Point, Iowa, called Harvestall Eastern Iowa, in the 70's and 80's.
Larry became a famous name in the model aviation world when he was a first place winner at the 1960 FAI World Championships in Cranfield, England. His original design, the "Lucky Lindy" is still being built and flown today. Larry continued to fly and to write articles for several model airplane magazines, such as Air Trails, and American Aircraft Modeler. Larry had the privilege of mentoring other young model enthusiasts, such as Don Gurnett, who went on to be a professor in the University of Iowa Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Even in retirement, Larry designed and produced kits for beginners and taught model flying in after school enrichment classes in the public schools in Longmont, Colorado, with his wife, Dorothy, until failing health necessitated his retirement.
Larry and Dorothy have lived the last five years sharing life together with their daughter, Susan Taylor, and her husband, Aaron, in Waynesboro, Virginia. This has kept them close to their granddaughter, Tammie Walker, and great-grandchildren Colin Kovacs, 18, and Amanda Kovacs, 15. Their grandson, Major Matthew Lawrence Walker, USMC, lives in Meridian, MS. Matt built and flew models with his Grandfather, and was inspired to become an F-18 pilot for the Marines, flying several missions in the Middle East.
Larry was a member of the Church on the Hill, in Fishersville, VA. He was also a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and was inducted in 1982 into the National Free Flight Society Hall of Fame.
Larry was preceded in death by his sister, Marilyn Joan Conover Curry in 1990, and his brother Wallace, in 1932, and by his parents. Larry was married to Dorothy Cotter in 1946, and they have one daughter, Susan Stephany, born 1947.
A memorial service for Larry Conover will be held in the gardens of the Belmont Hill Bed and Breakfast, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 5, at 10 am. Interment will be that afternoon at the Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, Iowa. Pastor Larry Johnson will be officiating. There is no visitation or calling hours.
The family wishes to express special thanks to the staff, nurses, and aids of the Avante Nursing Home in Waynesboro, VA, for the exceptional care they gave Larry in his final month. They were attentive, warm, and genuinely caring. Special thanks, too, to the many friends at Church on the Hill and Staunton Grace Covenant Church for coming alongside with visits, phone calls, and prayers. Also to the students and parents of Mrs. Taylor's music studio who also prayed and cared in unique ways. God bless you all!
Condolences to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Roger Morrell