BILL HORTON: 1946 - 2023
Photos provided by Roy Glenn | rglenn4@comcast.net
ROY GLENN (Southampton, New Jersey) submitted the following about his friend, Bill Horton, who passed away January 20, 2023:
One of the best ascended to the heavenly skies that are occupied by those we might call airheads. Airheads are those who love airplanes and flight. Bill Horton was a superb modeler for 66 years. We had been friends since 1954. He was an active member of the New Hampshire Flying Tigers.
Back in 1961, Bill and I flew our models at the Nats. In the 1960s, it was Free Flight, Control Line Combat, Racing, and Speed. One funny story from the 1961 Nats is how he conned Duke Fox out of a brand new Fox Combat Special.
Standing with Duke and some other competitors one evening, Bill waited patiently to speak. When this happened, he told Duke that he would be flying in the Junior/Senior Combat finals the following day. The next words were, “I’ll be using my Johnson Combat Special.” Duke was no fool and looked Bill up and down. He then said, “If I give you one of these new Fox Combat Specials, do you think you will use a Fox tomorrow?” Duke then handed Bill the new engine.
The following day was a disaster. Back then, a new engine needed to be broken in and it wasn’t, so Bill lost the next match and was eliminated.
Bill was an avid reader. It was because of this that we joined AMA, and then started flying competition. At that time, a man by the name of Joe Coles took us under his wing and mentored us. The knowledge he shared with Bill helped him become an outstanding modeler.
Joe was one of 10 men who became the original AMA Life Members. These 10 men made major contributions to AMA, so Joe set an example on giving. Bill learned this well and was always ready to help and share his knowledge with anyone he could.
Bill also started a hobby store business called ABC RC & Hobbies in Windham, New Hampshire. There are not enough of these, and this one will continue with Bill’s partner, Fred, at the helm.
Shown are two photos of Bill. One was taken at the New Hampshire Flying Tigers field in 2020. The other shows Bill and me as teenagers holding Combat models. Bill will be missed by his club, along with many other modelers who he helped throughout the years. It’s people such as Bill who make AMA the fine organization it is.
