What's that Sound?

By Rose Dorcey

A long-standing tradition at AirVenture Oshkosh is the daily 0700 wake-up yodel. Bill Rickets was the EAA volunteer who encouraged sleepy Camp Scholler visitors out of bed each morning and welcomed early convention-day visitors. Sadly, Bill passed away on June 21st after a battle with lung cancer.

A former high school teacher in Baltimore County, Maryland, Bill volunteered in the Communications Center at Oshkosh for over 25 years. His yodeling will be missed by many, but to his "Green Gang" Communications Center co-volunteers, it's his cheerful personality that will be missed more.

Ron Scott, Chairman of the Communications Center, said Bill was the kind of man who never said a bad word about anyone. His yodeling was distinctive. "He was not a pro, but his personality is what did it. I remember talking to one of Bill's former students," said Scott. "He said that Bill always made subjects interesting. If a history lesson got boring, Bill would jump up on a table with a guitar and sing out the lesson."

While Bill is gone, and no one can replace him, the tradition will go on.

On Wednesday evening, a yodel-off competition took place. There were two entrants.

One was a local. Jason Cotherman, 32, Appleton (WI) is interested in light-sport aircraft and saw the Yodel-Off announcement on the LSA grounds. He is also the Tuskegee Airmen Historian for the Milwaukee Academy of Aviation, Science and Technology. Cotherman's yodeling sounded good, but came out as the first runner-up. He's looking forward to a chance to fill in for the winner, if the opportunity presents itself.

Coming out on top was Russell Lee, Goshen (IN).

"My friends heard about it, and they thought it would be good for me to tryout," Lee explained. "I've been yodeling for my friends and family for years."

Lee, 24, learned to yodel when his older brother, Norrell, took an interest. "We bought tapes and CD's, and taught ourselves," he continued. "I really enjoy yodeling, I've been doing it since I was 12-years old."

What did the judges think of the two competitors?

"It's about what you bring with you. Russell brought his guitar, and it added so much," said Leslie Poberezny, the Yodel-Off Chairperson.

"He was very polished," added Scott.

Lee, a Cessna 182 pilot, says he looks forward to being at Oshkosh in coming years to continue the morning yodel tradition of Bill Rickets.

FMI: www.airventure.org/2005/sunjuly24/yodeler.html