District X Report
Coverage
- Arizona
- California
- Hawaii
- Guam
- Nevada
- Utah
District Officer
- Richard Hanson — Vice President
PO Box 3312, Coolidge, AZ 85271 Voice/Fax: (888) 899-3548 E-mail: richh@ama10.org Web site: www.ama10.org
Associate Vice Presidents
- Glenn Carter — Walnut Creek, CA (925) 933-2086
- Jim Giffin — Sacramento, CA (916) 296-6165
- Wayne Hamada — Honolulu, HI (808) 521-7733
- Bill Malvey — Ladera Ranch, CA (949) 481-8621
- Jerry Neuberger — Santee, CA (619) 258-4477
- Bob Reynolds — Tucson, AZ (520) 296-8183
Frequency Coordinators
- George Steiner — Sacramento, CA (916) 362-1962
(See last month's column for additional AVPs and coordinators.)
Throughout my years as vice president of District X, I have had the pleasure of awarding many prestigious awards. All have been well deserved; certainly the AMA Fellow Award marks AMA’s highest recognition for lifetime modeling achievement and contribution to aeromodeling and the Academy of Model Aeronautics. However, perhaps the most prestigious award is the Model Aviation Hall of Fame (HOF) award, as it represents a lifetime contribution to the hobby and it is bestowed by the members of the HOF. It represents recognition of the inductee’s contribution by fellow modelers who share the joy of the hobby and cherish model aviation.
On March 14, 2004, at the California United Free Flight Model Airplane Club (CUFFMAC) annual banquet, I had the distinct pleasure and honor of presenting the Model Aviation Hall of Fame award to 76-year-old Addie Naccarato of Burbank, California.
Addie is a three-time world record holder, has competed in numerous Nats, is an AMA CD, and is co-founder of the Black Sheep Exhibition Squadron (1979). She has designed and kitted numerous hand-launched and electric models and assisted in the acquisition of indoor and outdoor flying sites throughout the San Fernando Valley.
Perhaps Addie’s greatest contribution resides in her daily involvement in the hobby through her local hobby shop, Tony & Addie’s Hobby Lobby, a landmark in Southern California for 56 years.
Mitch Poling of Port Townsend, Washington, describes the hobby shop as "the hobby store you think of as your childhood dream." When Mitch visited the store he saw models everywhere, and there was Addie, building models on a little workbench while serving customers. "I always go to T&A when I am in Southern California. Her designs have always been cutting edge, and there are probably a hundred of them!" Mitch describes Addie as "a real pioneer—her ideas, airplanes, and designs have led the way for model fliers. She has been very active in model education programs and she has been personally responsible for hundreds of kids getting started in modeling. Addie has been a pillar of support for our hobby."
Congratulations, Addie, for all your achievements! On behalf of all the members of AMA District X, thank you for helping make model aviation the hobby and sport we enjoy today.
Till next time... Keep 'em safe and keep 'em flyin'.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
