A Dear Friend of ANN's, Bob Was One Of The 'Good Guys'

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has remembered President Emeritus Robert L. "Bob" Brown for his deep love for model aviation, as well as his many contributions and service to AMA. Bob sadly passed away after a brief illness on May 14, 2020.

"Bob's contributions to AMA and the model aviation community are many and span his entire adult life. He served this community tirelessly, advocating for the hobby he loved dearly," said Rich Hanson, president of AMA. "Words cannot express our gratitude to Bob for his service to AMA through his advocacy and leadership. Bob was both a colleague, a role model and a friend and he will be sorely missed."
 
Bob Brown served as president of AMA for two terms from 2012 to 2016. Before that, he served AMA in various capacities for more than 30 years, including as Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) subcommittee chairman, chairman of the AMA Publications Committee and as the AMA District III vice president for 21 years. Bob was a longtime member of the Southern Tier Aero Radio Society (STARS) club in western New York. In November 2016, Bob and his wife, JoAnne, were presented the AMA Outstanding Service Award for Couples in recognition and appreciation of their consistent, selfless and untiring service to AMA.

In 2017, Bob was awarded the prestigious FAI Aeromodeling Gold medal for his service as an FAI Jury Member at the World and Continental Championships, as F3D Subcommittee Chairman from 1984 to 2009, as the National Airsport Control Delegate to the United States from 2011 to 2016 and for his role as president of AMA.

Bob began flying model aircraft at age six in his hometown of Bradford, Pennsylvania. He enjoyed attending the MultiGP International Open and many other events held at the International Aeromodeling Center. In addition to modeling, Bob also enjoyed toying with his garden railroad and automobile racing.
 
Donations to the Cliff and Nancy Telford Scholarship Fund are being accepted in Bob's honor. The scholarship is awarded annually to a youth AMA member who shows dedication to the hobby through participation in competition activity at a national or international level. Donations in Bob's honor can be made here.

FMI: www.modelaircraft.org