Don Anderson makes the Hall of Fame!!!

[Josh Price]

A huge congrats to Mr. Don Anderson for make the AMA Hall of Fame.
I have had the chance to meet Mr. Anderson several times at the EFEST event in champeign (which if you have the chance to attend this event it is a must. Way worth the trip.) and he is a very approachable and down to earth kind of guy. it is people like Mr. Anderson that have made the hobby what it is today.
Thank you and congrats on your induction.

below is the story posted in the Aero news network.
http://www.aero-news.net/news/sport....12B6&Dynamic=1
Called A Pioneer In The Illinois RC Aircraft Industry

Don Anderson, who founded two businesses dedicated to the model aircraft industry, was inducted recently into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame.

Anderson has been called a pioneer in model aircraft, particularly in Champaign County, Illinois, where his businesses were based. He founded both Great Planes Model Distributors and Great Planes Model Manufacturers in the 1970's and 1980's, when construction of a model airplane took 60 or more hours, on average. Now, the models are sold "ready to fly", or "almost ready to fly", and can be airborne in as little as three hours.
The Champaign News-Gazette reports that the letter nominating Anderson to the Hall of Fame stated "Prior to 1972, there were only three people employed in the model airplane business in Champaign-Urbana. Today, there are in excess of 1,000 employees."
Anderson began flying radio controlled aircraft as an engineering student at the University of Illinois, though he had built a few models prior to that time. The paper reports that his college friend Bruce Holecek formed a mail order business called Tower Hobbies, and he persuaded Anderson to leave General Motors and get into the direct distribution business.
Hobby shops were leery of Anderson's Great Planes Distributors dealing directly with the hobbyist, the paper says, but he eventually merged Great Planes Model Distributors with Tower Hobby, which Holecek had sold, to form Hobbico.
That allowed Anderson to increase his manufacturing business, which he sold to Hobbico in 1991, and became the company's senior vice president the following year.
The Academy of Model Aeronautics, which includes the Model Aviation Hall of Fame, claims 150,000 members nationwide.

[Josh Price]

Don Anderson of Mahomet, Illinois, has been chosen by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) to receive its highest honor - induction into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame. Established in 1936, the AMA is the world’s largest model aviation association with more than 150,000 members. The group promotes model flying as a hobby and sport and serves as its official national body in the United States.

Anderson joins such distinguished Hall of Fame members as Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong and Burt Rutan, designer of the first commercial vehicles capable of sub-orbital flight. “This award was created for modelers who do extraordinary things,” explains AMA President Dave Matthewson. “It’s a well-deserved tribute to Don, who has done so much to foster the hobby industry for more than 36 years.”

An active model pilot since 1969, Anderson often designed and custom-built his own early aircraft. Today he works as the Senior Vice President of Product Development at Hobbico, headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. He is also president and founder of Great Planes Model Manufacturing Company - one of the hobby’s most enduring and respected brands. His drive for perfection shapes the concept, design, testing and manufacturing of products enjoyed by countless other model enthusiasts.
Fellow AMA member Arthur Pesch, Senior Manager of Service and Support at Hobbico, nominated Anderson for the Hall of Fame. “Don’s companies are directly responsible for many of the finest radio-control model airplane products available today,” Pesch says.

Anderson gratefully acknowledges those who helped him along the way. “I want to thank Art Pesch for the nomination, and the AMA for selecting me to receive this award,” he says. “Historically, very few of us in the hobby industry who had dreams of starting a business were successful at it. In my case, I have seen my dreams come true.

“Back in the early 1970s, Bruce Holecek - founder of Tower Hobbies - and I were the first to establish model businesses in Champaign. Clint Atkins purchased both companies in 1984 and formed Hobbico, which grew into one the largest employers in the Champaign-Urbana area. Today we’re an ESOP, and all employees share in our success.

“I also want to thank my wife, Paula, and my family for working with me through the rough times. I only wish everyone could have had the ride I’ve had!”
In addition to his many other accomplishments, Anderson has been president of the Champaign County R/C Club and twice donated the money to help build new asphalt runways. He also co-founded and has served in executive positions for RCHTA, the Radio-Control Hobby Trade Association.
Don Anderson Biographical Highlights:

September, 1969First flights with R/C plane and joined AMA;
May 1, 1973Founded Great Planes Model Distributors Company;
April, 1981Purchased Bridi Hobby Enterprises and began Great Planes Model Manufacturing;
April, 1982Purchased Andrews Aircraft Model Company;
Fall, 1984Sold Great Planes Model Distributors to Clint Atkins who joined it with his earlier purchase (Tower Hobbies) to form Hobbico, Inc.;
Summer, 1986Co-Founded RCHTA, the Radio Control Hobby Trade Association;
Oct. ‘86 - Oct. ‘87Vice President of RCHTA. Co-Organized RCHTA and held first annual Chicago Model & Hobby Show;
Oct. ‘87 - Oct. ‘89President of RCHTA. Also served as Executive Director until Larry Sperling was hired. Worked to hold shows in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Baltimore;
Spring, 1991Sold Great Planes Model Manufacturing to Hobbico, Inc. and became Sr. V.P. of Product Development for Hobbico;
2005 - CurrentFounding Member of AMA Membership Marketing Committee; proposed Park Pilot membership class within AMA;
Feb., 2008Awarded AMA’s President Award for Park Pilot and membership marketing efforts;
1982 - PresentLife Member of Champaign County R/C Club; Founding Sponsor (FS-024) of IMAA; Contest Director /Leader Member of AMA (#42786 - 4278);
organized Annual Great Plane Fly-Ins in the late 70’s and early 80’s;
sponsor and host of annual Futaba XFC E-FEST events.



*information from blog.bestrc.com

[WangoTango]

Congrats to you on making the Hall of Fame Don! Now then......... With a resume like you have my only question is: Can you huck?
WT

[SleepyC]

NICE JOB!