FRANK GARCHER REMEMBERED
Jim Haught
The big guy is gone.
Frank Garcher, president of Midwest Products, model designer, and modeling industry leader, died May 22 following a heart attack. He was 71.
"I know that I, along with the rest of the modeling community, lost a truly great friend," wrote longtime friend Dixie Cutrone.
"I'm really going to miss the Big Guy. What a loss to the modeling world," said Larry Davidson, a former business colleague who is now a top competitor in Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) events. "I got to know Frank when I was in the wholesale and retail hobby business. He always treated me with great respect, and it was a pleasure doing business with him."
Born March 3, 1928, in Brier Hill, Pa., Garcher began working for Midwest Model Supply, then owned by Wally Simmers, as a teenager in 1940. After a break for military duty in the early 1950s, he returned to Midwest and eventually became its president.
Affectionately nicknamed after the old "Terry and the Pirates" character, Garcher was known to be a bit of a character himself. At the Toledo shows, Frank would host a huge party at the hotel on Friday and Saturday nights, Cutrone recalled. "He loved to play the ukulele. With his best friend playing the banjo, he would sing old-time songs long into the night. Man, he could get the place jumpin'."
"Frank was the ultimate modeler's party animal," wrote District VIII Associate Vice President Jim Simpson. "His easy manner and humble friendliness made him the man to be with (or near) in order to see all who were there."
Cutrone recalled an evening with Garcher during a Tournament of Champions event that didn't quite work out as planned: "Frank said, 'Dix, let's see if we can break the bank.' While playing a dollar machine, he hit for $500. Frank was confident that we were on our way. We were on our way, all right—straight back to our rooms about an hour later, and some dollars lighter."
Industry contributions and generosity
Garcher's legacy extends far beyond the party scene. Many individuals and companies in the hobby industry were positively affected by him.
"Frank always said, 'We have to grow the industry. If we grow the industry, everyone—including Midwest Products—will benefit,'" said Sue Burney, Vice President and General Manager of Midwest.
"Over the years, Frank's contributions to the hobby grew in importance," wrote Radio Control Hobby Trade Association (RCHTA) president Ralph Warner. "Although he was always visible, it was never a matter of self-promotion, but rather as a catalyst to get the rest of us involved." Garcher was involved in RCHTA's formation and served as a Board Director since its incorporation in 1983.
"I have no idea how far and wide Frank's generosity went," said Simpson, "but I can tell you that Frank's giving money saved many a model business, trade show, contests big and small, special events, and even the AMA."
"Frank's generosity started before he made money," wrote Robert Klein. "Even in the early days, no one ever came away from his shop empty-handed."
"He was generous to a fault," said AMA Historian Norm Rosenstock. "And he was a real people-person." Sue Burney concurs: "He loved people. He was very friendly—the friendliest person I ever met."
Although Garcher's passing leaves what Simpson refers to as "a gaping hole in our hearts and modeling lives," the staff at Midwest pledges to carry on. "We'd like to assure modelers and crafters everywhere that Midwest Products will continue to manufacture and create hobby and craft products for enjoyment by all," said Denise Taylor, Director of Advertising.
Ed Rogala, Director of Product Development, indicated during a Grand Event conversation that while Garcher's presence would be sorely missed, the company was striving to maintain day-to-day operations as efficiently as possible.
"We feel the greatest tribute to him will be maintaining the high professional standards Midwest Products represents and that he so strongly encouraged," wrote Sue Burney in a letter to customers. "With the enthusiastic spirit of Frank Garcher in our hearts, and with the continuity provisions that are in place, we will continue business without interruption."
Honors and recognition
- AMA Fellow, 1984
- Elected to the AMA Hall of Fame, 1989
- Keeper of the Flame award, 1998
"What he did for model aviation can never be appreciated enough," wrote Johnnie Smith. "He will be sorely missed," said District VIII Vice President Sandy Frank. "I'm gonna miss him big-time," wrote Simpson, "with the love only fliers feel."
Survivors
Frank Garcher is survived by:
- His wife, Rosemary
- Three children
- Three grandchildren
- One sister
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
