Written by AMA Staff (1984); Transcribed by JS (11/2009)
Myrtle Robbers-Coad needs no introduction to most West Coast modelers. In 1946, Myrtle was the All-Western Open Lady Champion. A tough competitor dedicated to giving her best at all times, she has directed local, regional and national events. In AMA volunteer service, she was District X Vice President in 1952 and served as Contest Coordinator for many years. During World War II, Mrs. Robbers-Coad wrote the Oakland Cloud Dusters Propwash newsletter, allowing members to keep in touch with the model scene and each other, regardless of where their wartime duties took them. She also organized and conducted “Keep ‘em Flying” classes, producing all-black silhouette models used in aircraft recognition training for servicemen.
She competed over the years in every class of Control Line and Free Flight event, was the first women known to fly microfilm, placed in the top ten against all competitors at the 1948 Nats, and won against greats like Bilgri and Andrade. She chaperoned the 1951 Plymouth Meet team to Detroit and has been the kingpin of WAM (Western Associated Modeler,) the largest regional model organization in the US.
Always willing and seemingly tireless, she encouraged her three sons to build, fly, and compete with the result that they all held records at one time or another, often simultaneously. She and her husband made a great team, together winning Rubber Class C in Free Flight in 1948. Myrtle Robbers-Coad is an exceptional woman who is still an active modeler and well deserves this honor.
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