The initial officers were: President Larry Moses, Vice President George Robertson, Secretary/Treasurer Leonard “Butch” Walters, and Newsletter Editor Mike Lewis.
From the inception until 2007, the Kelso FBO flight training room was the meeting place on the first Thursday of the month.
One of the first goals of the chapter was to hold fund raisers towards a clubhouse to be based at the airport. Through these activities and the hard work of members, the chapter raised over $22,000 and put this towards the remodel of a former on-field café. Our clubhouse, which opened for occupancy in the summer of 2007, has a kitchen and dining area on the first floor and a combination conference room / multi-media library and flight simulator upstairs.
The chapter has seen a variety of aircraft built, being built or owned by members over the years. These aircraft include:
Aeronca Champ, Aeronca Chief, Decathlon, Aero Commander 100, Beech Duke, Cessna 150 Aerobat, Cessna 140, 172, 182, Cozy Mark –4, Cygnet, Enstrom 280-C, E-Racer, Ercoupe, Europa, Fisher Classic, Glastar, Glasair, Great Lakes Biplane, Jeanie Teeny, Kolb, Lancair ES-2, Lancair 360, Mustang 2, Murphy Rebel, Flybaby and Flybaby Bi-plane, Marquart Charger, Piper J-5 and PA-18, Pitts S-1, Pitts S-2, Pietenpole Aircamper, RV-3,4,6,7,8,9,10,12,14, Sonex, Onex, Steens Skybolt, Taylorcraft, Thorp T-18, Quick-Air, Wheeler Express, Wag Aero Cub, and Zenith 701. It’s just about everything from “A” to “Z” along with a variety of Ultralights.
Our chapter maintains a ground lease for hangars 44-45 and a lease for the adjoining hanger to the clubhouse. This has been a key financial support for us over the years.
Our chapter continues to evolve and represents the largest organized aviation group on our airport. We also have members serving as volunteer advisors on the airport board, and also assist in the preparation of state and local grant applications for airport improvement projects.
At EAA 1111 we like to reach out to the youth of today to encourage a future career in aviation. We do this by inviting youth to our monthly meetings & events and provide Young Eagle Flights. We have also recently started a scholarship program which will provide up to $500 in matching funds to be applied to an aviation related activity which will further their goals towards an aviation related career.
The most interesting bit of local history was local aviation legend Molt Taylor. The Longview/Kelso area was the home of Molt Taylor and his famous Aerocar which first flew in 1949. During the early 1960’s one of the Aerocars was flown for traffic reports on an almost daily basis by a local radio station. Molt passed in 1995 but is fondly remembered by several club members who were personal friends of his. Click HERE to read more about the Aerocar and see one of the few existing Aerocars which is located in the EAA museum.
Chapter Officer History
Below is a history of our officers since inception of the chapter in 1995. With the help of these officers and all the hard working members we think we have one of the best chapters around.
1995
President: Larry Moses
Vice President: George Robertson
Secretary: Butch Walters
Treasurer: Butch Walters
Charter members included the above officers plus the following:
Jim Ylvisaker
Phil Phillips
Charles Rosenzweig
Mike Murphy
Mike Lewis
Jerry Sorrell
Harold Blair
1996-1997
President: Jim Ylvisaker
Vice President: Jay Tabor
Secretary: Terry Tack
Treasurer: Butch Walters
Newsletter Editor: Mike Lewis
1998-1999
President: Jim Ylvisaker
Vice President: Jay Tabor
Secretary: Charlie Rosenzweig
Treasurer: Harold Blair
Newsletter Editor: Charlie Rosenzweig
Young Eagles Coordinator; Terry Creamer
Tech Counselor; Jerry Sorrell
Tech Counselor: Butch Walters
2000-2001
President: Jay Tabor
Vice President: Jerry Sorrell
Secretary: Terry Creamer
Treasurer: Mike Lewis
Newsletter Editor: Terry Creamer
Young Eagles Coordinator: Karen Fenton
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
2002-2003
President: Jerry Sorrell
Vice President: Mark Edwards
Secretary: Eric Hoppe
Treasurer: Al Drewry
Newsletter Editor: Eric Hoppe
Web Editor: Eric Hoppe
Young Eagles Coordinator: Sam and Sandy Archer
Flying Start Coordinator: Jim Ylvisaker
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Tech Counselor: Jay Tabor
2004
President: Jerry Sorrell
Vice President: Mark Edwards
Secretary: Eric Hoppe
Treasurer: Al Drewry
Newsletter Editor: Eric Hoppe
Web Editor: Eric Hoppe
Young Eagles Coordinator: Sam and Sandy Archer
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Flight Advisor: Jay Tabor
Historian: Terry Creamer
2005
President: Charlie Rosenzweig
Vice President: Paul Brown
Secretary: Jerry Sorrell
Treasurer: Al Drewry
Newsletter Editor: Jerry Sorrell
Web Editor: Bob Taylor
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Tech Counselor: Jay Tabor
2006
President: Charlie Rosenzweig
Vice President: Steve Steinhoff
Secretary: Jerry Sorrell
Treasurer: Al Drewry
Newsletter Editor: Jerry Sorrell
Web Editor: Bob Taylor
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
2007
President: Dwight Irby
Vice President: Gary Trenner
Secretary: Terry Creamer
Treasurer: Al Drewry
Newsletter Editor: Terry Creamer
Web Editor: Bob Taylor
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Facilities Manager: Jerry Sorrell
2008
President: Dwight Irby
Vice President: Gary Trenner
Secretary: Eric Hoppe
Treasurer: Al Drewry
Newsletter Editor: Eric Hoppe
Web Editor: Eric Hoppe
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Facilities Manager: Jerry Sorrell
Executive Member: Bob Taylor
Executive Member: Bill Pieper
Historian: Terry Creamer
2009
President: Dwight Irby
Vice President: Gary Trenner
Secretary: Eric Hoppe
Treasurer: Al Drewry
Newsletter Editor: Eric Hoppe
Web Editor: Eric Hoppe
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Facilities Manager: Jerry Sorrell
Member at Large: Bill Heath
Member at Large: Gary Kessler
2010
President: Dwight Irby
First Vice President: Gary Trenner
Second Vice President: Bill Heath
Secretary: Eric Hoppe
Treasurer: Al Drewry
Newsletter Editor: Eric Hoppe
Web Editor: Eric Hoppe
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Facilities Manager: Jerry Sorrell
2011
President: Bill Heath
First Vice President: Gary Trenner
Secretary: Eric Hoppe
Treasurer: Al Drewry
Newsletter Editor: Eric Hoppe
Web Editor: Eric Hoppe
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Facilities Manager: Jerry Sorrell
Membership Coordinator: Mark Pearson
2012-2013
President: Mark Cattell
First Vice President: Randy Rienhofer
Second Vice President: Al Drewry
Secretary: George Ford
Treasurer: Jerry Sorrell
Newsletter Editor: George Ford
Web Editor: George Ford
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Tech Counselor: Mark Cattell
Tech Counselor: Randy Rienhofer
Facilities Manager: Jerry Sorrell
Membership Coordinators: Mark Pearson, Fernando Cuglievan
2014-2015
President: George Ford
First Vice President: Loren Sievila
Second Vice President: Al Drewry
Secretary: Mark Cattell
Treasurer: Jerry Sorrell
Newsletter Editor: Mark Cattell
Web Editor: Mark Cattell
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Tech Counselor: Mark Cattell
Tech Counselor: Randy Rienhofer
Facilities Manager: Jerry Sorrell
Membership Coordinators: Mark Pearson
2016-2017
President: George Ford
First Vice President: Dwight Irby
Second Vice President: Al Drewry
Secretary: Mark Edwards
Treasurer: Jerry Sorrell
Newsletter Editor: Mark Edwards
Web Editor: Mark Edwards
Tech Counselor: Jerry Sorrell
Facilities Manager: Jerry Sorrell
Membership Coordinators: Jerry Sorrell, Dwight Irby
Chapter History compiled by charter member and club historian Jerry Sorrell.