B47HA HALL OF FAME
RETURN TO: Bell 47 Helicopter Association
TIME TO RENEW YOUR 2004 MEMBERSHIP! USE OUR E Z MAIL IN FORM
THE HALL OF FAME AWARD IS VOTED ON BY THE TRUSTEES WITH SUGGESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERSHIP AND PRESENTED AT OUR ANNUAL CORPORATE MEETING AT ROTORFEST AT THE AMERICAN HELICOPTER MUSEUM.
SEND NOMINATIONS: ceo@bell47helicopterassociation.org
DEADLINE SEPT 19, 2008. NOMINEES RESTRICTED TO LIVING B47HA MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING.
#14/15 JACK CARSON
OF HELICOPTER SPARES INC.
Jack is a long time friend to the Bell 47 and has been very helpful to many owners and operators in their search for quality parts.
#529 GIFTON McCREARY
Gifton is a longtime Bell 47 vendor and holder of multiple STCs. He has also done work in conjunction with the show "MASH. and is widely respected among his peers and this association.
#268 ROBERT HARNESS
Bob is a longtime vendor who has ran an excellent business and supported the Bell 47 admirably. He is also widely respected among his peers and this association.
#100 DON MAGUIRE
Don Maguire is best remembered for his expertise with the 47 and his support for B47HA. Maguire has a wide range of experiences from bush pilot to exec. Don was a sounding board for BHT and his excellent relationship with President Rhodes forged the association into an effective tool to control bogus parts and shoddy maintenance. His best advice was to always keep the association focused on the singular agenda of promoting the Bell 47. In doing so Don help guide the association through the corporate channels at BHT and allowed President Rhodes to conduct business face to face with execs all the way up to the president of BHT.
"Don always put a good word in for B47HA with the execs at BHT and it was a sad day when he told us that he was leaving BHT. He remains in our thoughts and prayers and we wish he and his family great success in the years to come. He will go down in our ledger as a man with integrity that provided a great leadership for me to follow."....Joey
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#205 SCOTT CHURCHILL
Scott is one of the most avid Bell 47 operators in the world. He is well respected for his knowledge and use of the 47. He has been a good friend to the association and President Rhodes and continues to use the 47 in his diverse operations and parts inventories.
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#305 BRUCE SCHILTZ
Pic & Bio
Bruce is one of the pioneering operators of the Bell 47 and has become a fixture at Mount Rushmore with his ride concession which he has now retired from. We are proud to bestow this honor on him for his work to promote the awareness of the 47 to such a great audience via a historical venue.
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#548 AL BROUSSARD
Al is a pilot and restores Bell 47 helicopters for clients through his business at B-Copters. He is well know for his work in movies and TV. He has been a supporter of B47HA and has attended fly ins held on the West Coast.
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#72 NEAL R. TOLER
Neal is a long time friend to B47HA and has held different offices. He is well know for his work as a IA/AP and instructs students at SIUC Bell 47 Repair School. Neal has served as an investigator and recently rescued a helo from a scam operation for a client that had lost all hope of recovery.
Toler has operated the 47 for many years and has developed an expertise that is sought by many. He travels great distances at owners request to do their 47 maintenance work - because he has earned peoples trust.
"He is a respected colleague and I count it a privilege and honor to call him - my friend."...Joey
#1 JOEY RHODES 2004 HALL OF FAME HONOREE
This year the award was presented by V.P. Danny Rodriguez. Danny's remarks were received in agreement by the audience. "B47HA would not be where we are today without this man. He had made a difference and has devoted his time to our cause."
JOEY RHODES IS THE LEADING BELL 47 SALES BROKERAGE IN THE WORLD. HIS ATTENTION TO THE 47 HAS CHANGED AVIATION HISTORY BY HIS RE-EVALUATION OF THE BELL 47 IN A WAY SIMILAR TO HOW HARLEY DAVIDSON RESCUED THEIR PRODUCT. HIS TECHNIQUE FOR ESTABLISHING THE VALUE AND APPRAISAL OF THE BELL 47 IS BEING ADOPTED BY PILOTS, MECHANICS, AND BANKS ACROSS THE GLOBE. FURTHERMORE, IT HAS BEEN JOEY WHO HAS LED THE FIGHT TO GET THE BELL 47 BACK INTO PRODUCTION. THIS HAS EARNED HIM HIS NICK NAME FROM ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY OF "MR. BELL 47."
JOEY HAS SEVERAL THOUSAND ACCIDENT FREE FLIGHT HOURS LOGGED IN BELL 47s SINCE HE STARTED FLYING IN 1968. HIS EXPERIENCES AS A PIONEER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BELL 47 OPERATIONS AND HIS CORPORATE OPERATIONS USING THE AUTHENTIC WHIRLYBIRD FORMAT (G & J MODELS) HAVE EARNED HIM ACCLAIM AMONG HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AT THE GREATER ST. LOUIS HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION MIDWEST SAFETY SEMINARS.
JOEY ALSO HAS SERVED AS MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR AND HAS BEEN THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF B47HA FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. JOEY HAS PILOTED THE ASSOCIATION FROM 16 MEMBERS TO OVER 500. HE HAS UNSELFISHLY DEDICATED HIS EFFORTS TO THE BELL 47 AND THE B47HA MEGA WEBSITE. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED BY THE FAA & FBI THAT JOEY PERSONALLY RECOVERED OVER $$$$$ IN CASH FOR MEMBERS WHO WERE VICTIMS OF BOGUS BELL 47 SCAM ARTISTS. RHODES HAS STOPPED OVER $750,000 IN BOGUS HELICOPTER SALES BY EDUCATING THE CONSUMER.
ALONG WITH HIS NEW WHIRLYBIRDS PARTNER & VP, DANNY "P.T." RODRIGUEZ, MANY ADULTS & CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE "BUBBLE CHOPPER" BELL 47. NWB's APPEARANCES AT AIRSHOWS, SCHOOLS, AND HOSPITAL HAVE EARN THEM THE RESPECT OF MANY IN THE ROTORCRAFT INDUSTRY.
JOEY MAIN ACHIEVEMENT IN THE INDUSTRY IS THAT HE, ALONG WITH KEY BELL OFFICIALS, FORGED A NEW ALLIANCE WHICH CLARIFIED SUPPORT FOR B47HA AND IT'S MISSION TO SUPPORT THE BELL 47.
WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK OF JOEY RHODES YOU WILL QUICKLY NOTICE THAT HE IS RESPECTED BY PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE 47 AND FEARED BY THOSE WHO ABUSE IT.
#213 DR. CARROL M. VOSS 2003 HONOREE
345 Third Street
October 18, 2003
Dear Dr. Voss;
On behalf on the Board of Trustees and the members of the Niagara Aerospace Museum, we would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to you on being selected as the recipient for the 2003 Bell 47 Helicopter Association Hall of Fame.
As an early pioneering helicopter pilot since 1949 and renowned expert on aerial application of insecticides from a helicopter you have greatly contributed to the advancement of rotary wing flight.
Larry Bell once stated “ The helicopter is ready now to go to work for the industry, agriculture, and government agencies. Later, we shall see its widespread use by individuals. It is our belief that the helicopter is designated to play an increasingly important role in the lives of all the people of this earth.” Larry Bell 1946. Dr. Voss is truly a living example of the dream and vision of Larry Bell.
Dr. Voss aviation experiences started in the early days of World War II, where he served proudly as a US Navy Aviator, flying multi-engine seaplane and patrol aircraft. In 1959 he formed his own company,
Ag-Rotors of Gettysburg, PA., acquiring a used Bell Model 47B helicopter. Ag-Rotors today carries on the fine traditions started by its founder.
Throughout his life long association in aviation, Dr. Voss has received numerous recognition from US and foreign government agencies, Federal Aviation Administration, manufacturers, and his peers in the industry.
In 1995 he was recognized by the Twirly Birds, and the award states “ In recognition of his outstanding contribution to vertical flight as a pioneer helicopter pilot”, and in 2001 Dr. Voss received the Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award that “ Honors and individual for outstanding service to the civil helicopter industry.
"Dr. Carrol M. Voss, retired CEO of AgRotors, Inc., is the recipient of the Helicopter Association International's (HAI) 2000 Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award. This award will be presented February 13, 2001 at HELI-EXPO 2001 in Anaheim California, during HAI's 40th annual "Salute to Excellence" awards ceremony.
"In the helicopter pioneering days, Joe Mashman attached a ground duster to a Bell Model 30 airframe and demonstrated the first use of aerial dusting by rotary aircraft. Bell subsequently manufactured a specific agricultural machine --- the Model 47B-3, which included spray equipment. Carrol Voss, World War II veteran, flying boat instructor, pilot, and entomologist, saw the potential for agricultural application by helicopter. His commercial helicopter work dates from 1949.
"Carrol Voss earned a Ph.D. in economic entomology from the University of Wisconsin in 1949. That same year, Dr. Voss received his helicopter pilot license at Lakehurst, New Jersey. His vision of the helicopter as an ideal machine for agriculture work was recognized two years later, when he proved the effectiveness of aerial seeding by helicopter in a Bell 47 to the U.S. Forest Service and some very skeptical farmers in California. In 1954, he moved to New England and worked for a helicopter service, where he approached vegetable farmers and fruit growers, promoting aerial application by helicopter.
"In 1958, he founded AgRotors, Inc., near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where its corporate headquarters are still located today. The company's first helicopter was a Bell Model 47B, serial number 3. Between then and 1985, Dr. Voss flew 9,000 hours of agricultural work. Orchard spraying was a relatively new field for helicopters. AgRotors led successful agricultural spray programs in conjunction with Penn State University, various fruit growers, and a handful of entomologists. The company specialized in research with state and federal government agencies and universities to improve aerial application technology for safer and more efficient pest control. Today the company operates a fleet of 18 helicopters.
"Dr. Voss devoted much of his time as an international consultant on insect control by aerial application. This has included projects for the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Food and Agricultural Organization in India. These days, Dr. Voss dedicates his time to the preservation of helicopter history by displaying his aviation memorabilia and several restored helicopters at various museums across the U.S., including a Bell 47D-1 at New York City's Museum of Modern Art. He is a frequent speaker on the use of helicopters in agriculture and has published many professional papers on the subject.
"Sponsored by Bell Helicopter Textron, the Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award was established in 1971 to salute excellence in management leadership. The award is granted to an individual who is recognized for long and significant service to the civil helicopter industry.
" HAI is the professional trade association for the civil helicopter industry. HAI embraces over 1,500 member companies and over 1,400 individual members in more than 70 countries. Members accumulate about 2 million hours of flight time in approximately 5,000 helicopters each year. HAI is dedicated to promoting the helicopter as a safe, effective method of commerce and to the advancement of the civil helicopter industry."
#4 CHARLIE HOLLINGER 2002 HONOREE
CHARLIE HOLLINGER IS AN EXPERIENCED BELL 47 HELICOPTER PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND HOURS.
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