Written & Submitted by RWC (07/1996); Transcribed by NR (08/1996); Edited by SS (2002)
Honors
- 1979: AMA Fellows
Career
- 1938: Joined the AMA # 174
- Contest Director of many (AAA) meets
- Radio Control Flight Judge
- Associate Vice President for 8 years
- Taught Contest Management to future contest directors
- 1969: Instrumental in formation of first AMA Hall of Fame
Hobby Industry
- Radio Control Equipment Repair Station, since 1971
I joined the AMA around 1938 and received my number then. I have had it every since and have been a member since. I began modeling (carved solid wood at first) and then got into Free Flight with a high school chum in 1939. He and I worked two paper routes to acquire funds for first Brown Junior engine. Later on, I was able to buy an Elf Twin, which ended up in a fly-a-way. I got it back three years later (in June of 1943), when home on leave from the Navy. A farmer found it 25 miles from where it had been released. It was chewed full of holes by mice. After various Navy Schools in aviation, I ended up on a carrier where a number of us modelers flew U-Control on the flight deck when we could. A number of interesting stories exist about where we got the information to build some of the models we flew! I attended the University of Montana and got out in 1948 with a forestry degree. I continued with Free Flight until I built my first radio in 1952-3. I have been in the Radio Control field ever since.
I worked my first National Competition (Nats) in about 1968 at Glenview NAS in Illinois. My responsibility lay in Control Line scale. Since that time, I have worked in about 20 Nats. The last one was in Vincennes, Ill.
I organized the Spokane Internats in 1968 and obtained sponsorship from the Washington Air National Guard. I was the contest director. It was sanctioned as an AAA contest. We (Barons Model Club and the Air Guard) ran it for three years until there was a policy change by the Spokane Airport Commission that disallowed the use of the Air Guard Facilities at the Spokane International Airport.
I also instituted the formation of the first AMA Hall of Fame that was supported by the AMA and held in Spokane, Wash. on May 31, 1969. The guard flew in all the recipients as well as the editors or their representatives, of all model magazines published at that time. After the first year, the AMA handled it entirely. I was the master of ceremonies for the affair and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the folks from around the United States and Canada who came to Spokane. Many have continued to be friends since that time.
The Spokane Internats became the biggest contest in the Northwest for a number of years (until the model club got burned out organizing and running it). It eventually became the seventh regional U.S. Scalemasters and the second on the West Coast. It is still being run in this area but by different clubs.
I became a contest director in 1966 after helping to organize the Barons model club. That club is still very active in the modeling affairs of the “inland empire” and the largest. Its interests lay in all areas of Radio Control and helping young folks get started in model aviation. As a contest director, I ran a number of various contests and trained a number of modelers in contest management who became contest directors themselves. This continues to the present time. I had the privilege of being a flight judge (and ended up chief judge) at the international scale contest (scale 80) in Canada.
In 1969 I was asked to help a teacher at a grade school explain airplanes and modeling to her fifth graders. From that request, a massive Delta Dart building program began in the Spokane grade schools. The first year we had 10 schools, grades four and five, involved. The Midwest Company furnished the models. Teachers were trained through a program developed by members of the Barons Model Club. Members were assigned to each class in each school as advisors. The program became too successful when 47 grade schools wanted to participate and Midwest could not supply the nearly 10,000 kits required and the club did not have the manpower to handle the project. It was written about in several magazines and newspapers.
I was appointed to be an associate vice president by Bob Stalick and continued on when Homer Smith became District 11 vice president for some eight years. I was nominated for the office of District 11 vice president, but did not get elected (by some 10 votes). I have been an officer in several model clubs and traveled around the district speaking to numerous clubs. For some five years, I served as the newsletter editor of the Barons Model Club in Spokane. In 1985, I was elected a fellow of the AMA.
In 1971, a friend and I established a Radio Control electronic repair business in Spokane. After three years, I became the sole owner. Then for the last eight years, it has been a partnership with my oldest son. We are known for anything Radio Control. We have enjoyed a fine reputation and made many friends throughout the U.S., Canada and other countries.
My background includes 23 years of active and reserve in the U.S. Navy and 16 in the Washington Air Guard and U.S. Air Force. I have been president of a research and development company, which specialized in glass spheres for product use by different manufacturers. I have been very active in several service organizations over the years, the BSA Explorer Scout Program and the Kiwanis International sponsored Circle K Program for college and university students. (signed) Richard "Dick" Carson
July l4, 1973 From: The Associated Radio Controlers of Spokane William C. Hill, President W. 509 Hawthorne Road Spokane, Washington 99218 To:
Academy of Model Aeronautics Nominating Committee Chairman 806 W. 15th St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Subject: Nomination of Member For Vice President
1. The members of the ASSOCIATED RADIO CONTROLLERS OF SPOKANE, (ARCS), Charter number 644, at a regular meetings, on the 16th of June 1971, voted unanimously to place the name of Richard W. Carson, a member, in nomination for the Vice Presidency of AMA District XI.
2, Therefore, acting for the members of the ARCS, I do nominate Richard W. Carson, AMA #174, for the position of Vice President of District 11, to be placed before the membership in the forthcoming elections.
3. Dick, as he is known by his many friends, has been an active modeler since1938 when he joined the AMA as a youth.
4, He has been an active Contest Director since 1968, conducting several contests each year throughout our Inland Empire. As a past President of the Baron's Model Club for two terms (another Spokane model club), he organized and ran the first "Spokane Internats.” In doing so, he secured the participation of the Washington Air National Guard. The Guard continued the "Internats" and it has become one, of the largest contests in the U.S., which encompasses Free Flight, Control Line, as well as all Radio Control, phases. He also organized and conducted a Delta Dart project in the local School District # 8l. It has since become a project carried out in more than 50 grade schools with 4,000 to 6,000 youngsters participating last year. 5. Two years ago, he was selected to be the first of several Assistant Vice Presidents for District XI by Vice President Bob Stalik. The area assigned to him included half of two states and all of one. This has since been subdivided among three other assistant vice presidents. Last year Dick assisted -V.P. Bob Stalick with the first sub-district meeting ever held in the eastern portion of District XI.
6. July of 1972 found him at Glenview NAS and the 25th Nationals where he was charged with the responsibility of putting, together and running the final show. It seemed well received by approximately 3,000 people who viewed it.
7. In November of 1972 AMA President John Clemens appointed Dick, as one of two new members, to the Nationals Executive Committee, which met in Chicago to plan the 1973 Nats. After accepting the task of Control Line Director for the 1973 Nats, initiating organizational work and lining part of the volunteers he was forced to back out due to unforeseen employment commitments.
8. His background includes Free Flight until the early forties when he joined the U.S. Navy, Then Control Line until the middle 50's when he "stumbled" into Radio Control where his interest still lies. Employment background includes 11 years as a Boy Scout Executive, eight years as a Junior Achievement Executive, several years in Forestry (his major in college), several active years in local and state politics and police work and five years as vice president and president with a research company, he helped organize and finance. He is co-holder of several patents in the glass field.
9. As an enlisted man and officer, he spent 23 years on active and reserve duty with the U.S. Navy. At present, he is on active duty with the Washington Air National Guard as a Race Relations specialist and minority Recruiter.
10. The members of the ARCs feel that Dick has the business background, modeling interest, personal enthusiasm and employment ability to be an excellent District Vice President. They urge his selection by the nominating committee that it sees fit to place his name on the ballot in the forthcoming AMA elections.
For The President
(signed) William E. Hill (signed) Ray C. Kelleher Secretary
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