Johnny, We Loved You
John E. Clemens (November 3, 1913 – June 13, 1991)
By John Worth
John E. Clemens, AMA’s 18th president (1971–1978), died in his adopted hometown and state — Dallas, Texas — after many months of complicated health problems. For years he had resisted friends’ and family’s urging to seek hospital care for his various ailments, apparently fearing that if he went in he wouldn’t come out. That proved true in the end, although much of his decline resulted from having gone too long without adequate treatment.
During a previous hospitalization in 1974, Johnny nearly died — his weight dropped below 100 pounds and he looked like one of the starved victims of Hitler’s Holocaust. Yet he recovered then, as he had recovered many times before, thanks to an indomitable will, a bright spirit, and a determination to keep going. Even in his final weeks in May and June he confounded doctors and nurses with several recoveries from seemingly impossible situations. He was well enough at one point to leave the hospital for a rehabilitation center and later a nursing home, but almost daily crises eventually proved insurmountable. At the end he went peacefully.
Early life and career
Often called the "Biggest Little Texan," Johnny Clemens was originally from Indiana and spent many years at the Indy 500 racetrack. In the late 1930s he traveled for the Comet Model Airplane Company, where he became friends with noted modeler Carl Goldberg.
Johnny’s travels brought him to Dallas, where in 1940 or 1941 he opened his own hobby shop, the Hobby Counter. For over 50 years the shop bore the stamp of his personality: part museum, part store, and a place where Johnny freely expounded his homespun philosophies. He loved making people laugh; he often joked that he couldn’t see his own smile, so he made others smile to enjoy the reflection.
Prior to his retail years, Johnny taught school — a role many say he cherished most. He was also well known as a Free Flighter, winning contests with his famous Hellsfire version of Carl Goldberg’s Zipper design. Later he created and flew with a Control Line Air Show Team: four fliers (including Johnny) flew together in one circle performing aerobatics and formation flying.
Leadership, service, and honors
Johnny Clemens made lasting contributions to the AMA and the modeling industry through decades of leadership and service. Highlights include:
- AMA President (18th), 1971–1978 — a record eight years when presidential terms were two years each.
- Regional Vice President for 12 years, spanning the years before and after his presidency.
- AMA Fellowship recipient, 1964.
- Inducted into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame, 1979.
- Longtime member of the Nationals Executive Committee (20+ years), helping plan and run the National Model Airplane Championships — the world’s largest model meet. He played major roles when the Nationals were held in Dallas in 1950, 1951, 1956, 1960, and 1964.
- Leader among hobby retailers and a prominent figure in the Hobby Industry Association of America; received the industry’s Meritorious Award of Honor in 1978.
- International involvement with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Committee for International Aero Modeling (CIAM): led the annual U.S. delegation to Paris meetings, chaired the CIAM Information and Education subcommittee, and received the Paul Tissandier Award for his FAI efforts — one of only about ten U.S. modelers to earn that honor.
Throughout his postwar years Johnny preached public relations for model aviation. He was a frequent master of ceremonies, after-dinner speaker, air show announcer, signature-maker, and writer. He loved being on a microphone, using humor to explain model airplanes to the public and to make audiences laugh.
Legacy and memorial
The many facets of John E. Clemens made him a legend: hobby shop proprietor, competitor, showman, teacher, administrator, and industry leader. Many current modelers credit Johnny’s teachings during their childhoods with setting the stage for later successes. He left behind stories, jokes, and memories that will be told again and again — exactly the sort of legacy he enjoyed.
Approximately one hundred people attended a special memorial service for Johnny in Dallas on June 19. It was a grand tribute to his 77 years of service to others. He had a great life, and many around the world will miss him. He left his friends with smiles on their faces — a fitting end for a man who loved to make others laugh.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
