Awards & tributes to members of the Foundation

[Forrest Barber]

I think we need this to consolidate Awards our members get for themselves and their aircraft. Bob, Rob if you see something better lets do it.
For right now Forrest needs to toot his own horn . Col McGee was in town for 4 days and will be back to fly with us here in Alliance.

check out http://www.the-review.com/news/article/3489492

[Robert Lees]

Re: Awards & tributes to members of the Foundation

Well done, Forrest, and well deserved. Here's what the paper wrote:

By NANCY WHITAKER

The Review

Forrest Barber of Alliance, deemed "one of the pioneers of Aviation in Stark County," was honored with a "Meritorious Service Award" Friday evening during the East Central Ohio Pilot Association's 45th annual awards banquet at Skyland Pines County Club in Canton.

Barber and his wife, Patricia, operate Barber Aircraft Inc. and Barber Airport in Lexington Township.

Barber was presented a plaque by Dr. Robert Hamilton III of Canton, president of the ECOPA. The plaque states "In recognition of his deep interest and active participation in Aviation."

"I am deeply honored that they selected me as a recipient this year," said Barber. "I have a lot more to do in aviation."

Barber added, "I join a list of very deserving people," including many Alliance residents who have received this award: Industrialist C.J. Rodman; Russ Miller, who owned Miller Airport in North Benton; Sanford Slifkin, a retired businessman (S & S Products); World War II veteran Frank Corbi; and Clarice Bergemann and Nadine Blume, both WASPs during World War II.

"He (Barber) is so accomplished as an aviator, there are very few people who can compare with Forrest in the aviation community," said Hamilton, who also described Barber as a "moving force in aviation."

According to Hamilton, Barber is a "mover and shaker politically; he is well-connected with state representatives regarding aviation matters and initiatives."

In his introduction of Barber, Hamilton said Barber started flying at the age of 6. He was taught by his father, Al.

By the age of 10, Barber could fly the Aeronca Champ and Taylorcraft owned by his father, Hamilton added.

A retired Civil Air Patrol Squadron commander with 20 years of service, Barber holds a commercial pilot certificate with single-and multi-engine ratings, seaplane and helicopter rating, with flight instructor privileges.

Barber, who retired as a captain with the Alliance Police Department, has professional memberships in numerous organizations, including the Experimental Aircraft Association, Aircraft Owners Association, National Flight Instructors Association, Ohio Aviation Association, Airborne Law Enforcement Association, and Seaplane Pilots Association. He is a previous president and current secretary of the East Central Ohio Pilots Association.

He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Retirees, Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce, Operation HOPE of Alliance in which Barber works with disadvantaged youth, Conrad Masonic Lodge 271 of Alliance, and Akron Shrine Club.

Barber is a photographer and consultant on projects in law enforcement and aerospace.

Guest speaker for the event, which 155 attended, was Cleveland native Col. Charles McGee, 88, one of the first black pilots during World War II -- one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen -- who moved the audience to a standing ovation.

With a 30-year military career, and a veteran of three wars, McGee, holds the record of flying more than 400 fighter combat missions while serving in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

A decorated war hero, McGee chronicled phases of the "Tuskegee Experience," from the first black pilot, a woman, Bessie Coleman, who in the 1920s became a "barnstormer," introducing aviation to others; to the 1930s when the U.S. Military War College, in a report, found that "the Negro is physically unqualified and mentally inferior," to become a military pilot.

McGee said they wanted to fight for victory against Hitler in Europe, but they were fighting against racism at home.

According to McGee, in the 1940s, Eleanor Roosevelt was instrumental in putting pressure on her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to allow blacks to become pilots and become part of the war effort, to serve with the Army Air Corps.

In 1941, pilot training started at Tuskegee Army Airfield, nine miles outside of Tuskegee, Ala. The 99th Pursuit Squadron was combat-ready in the fall of 1942, he said.

McGee graduated from flight training school at Tuskegee in June 1943.

The Tuskegee Airmen, also called Redtails because the tail of each plane was painted red to distinguish them from enemy aircraft, escorted bombers. They gained fame for losing very few bombers to enemy fire during World War II.

McGee said the "unsung heroes are the mechanics who worked on the planes." He added, "They did what they did so we could do what we do."

In 1947, President Harry Truman made the Air Force a separate service, mandating, by executive order, that all U.S. military service branches be integrated.

Because a battle was waged so that black men could serve America during wartime as pilots, McGee, now of Bethesda, Md., often speaks to young people in schools, telling them they have opportunities, but they have to be prepared to take advantage of those opportunities. One way he suggested is taking all the English, mathematics, and science courses available to them.

On March 29, 2007, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to approximately 350 Tuskegee Airmen or their widows. The medal is on display at the Smithsonian Institute. Each individual received bronze replicas. McGee displayed his medal during the banquet.

McGee, who said the P-51 Mustang was his favorite airplane, was presented a model replica of the plane from the ECOPA.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Awards & tributes to members of the Foundation

Got back from Sun-N-Fun had to work hard at getting Airport out of Winter and into Spring, then went down to my IAC34 meeting at Waynsville, Oh. www.IAC34.com
below is link to our newsletter, check it out This is the ship Mark Ohlinger & Judy will bring to the Fly-In this year, I flew her in Airshows and competition

https://www.iac34.com/News2008/IACnewsApril2008.pdf

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Awards & tributes to members of the Foundation

Forrest;
Congratulations on this accolade. You are richly deserving of every tribute. You are a fine aviator. May I offer you an additional tribute. You sir, are a hell of a man!
With respect;
ED OBRIEN

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Awards & tributes to members of the Foundation

I will buy the steaks this time when you visit!!

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Awards & tributes to members of the Foundation

I think this is the best place to post this news: It is a combination of awards, obituaries, and tributes to a great person.

It is with a tear in my eye that I post that Darrell C. Romick has Gone West
on Tues , May 13th, around 5PM EST. Darrell had been the Engineer for Mrs. Feris and had been with Goodyear for 30 years prior to that and then Taylorcraft back in the 1940's.

One obit:
Darrell C. Romick, age 93, resided over 50 years in the North Canton home he personally built. The former resident of The Inn at Belden Village passed away Tuesday in the Altercare of Nobles Pond Rehabilitation Center, where he was recovering from a fall. Born in Adair, Iowa on March 4, 1915, he was a 1937 graduate of the University of Illinois with a bachelor of science degree in engineering physics. He was a retired Aero Physicist for Goodyear Aerospace, retiring in 1977 after over 30 years of service. While working at Goodyear, he worked with the Army's guided-missile projects, which led him to develop the Project METEOR, instrumental in developing space shuttles. Mr. Romick is considered a true space pioneer. During the 1950's, and into the 60's, he was the most well-known American proponent and visionary in space travel. Following his retirement he was associated with the Siberling estate in Akron, Stan-Hywett, where he succeeded in finding gas on their property, a major event in the costs-conscious maintenance budget of such a property. He attended the Community Christian Church, and was a member of the International Astronautical Federation, The American Rochet Society, the local chapter of Moon Watch. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Romick, a sister, Madeline Romick and brother, Wilbur Romick.
Survivors include his daughter, Darra Romick of North Canton and sister, Wilma Price of Dixon, IL. There are three nephews and three nieces also surviving. To say that he enjoyed a full life is only part of his story... but if you remember his resolve, his determination, and his dedication in all endeavors, you will realize that his biggest success was this: "I did it MY WAY!!"
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 11 a.m. in the REED FUNERAL HOME NORTH CANTON CHAPEL, 801 Pittsburg Ave. NW., North Canton with Dr. Donald Baird officiating. Burial will be in North Canton Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home on Friday evening 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ECOPA Flight Scholarship Program, (for ages 15-23), please send c/o Reed Funeral Home. Those wishing to share their condolences or a fond memory may sign the Reed on-line guestbook at our website www.reedfuneralhome.com.

For other information do a goggle search on Darrell Romick.

I have been real busy notifing numerous groups ; Darrell belonged to very many : QB's , AOPA, EAA, OX-5, & many scientific groups.

go to https://www.twcac.org/onlinehorizon/...rep/romick.htm for another great story. There he talks about the Taylorcraft Glomb ( the Navy Glider LBT1 , my father Al Barber was the test pilot) and other things.
He was a great source of information more soon!! Forrest