Member Adventures
Member Adventures
PLRC members have large hearts. They also have large personalities. This segment of our club's history thus presents some of their extraordinary adventures, beyond the four corners of the club's direct mission. Here, one can now savor some intriguing features of their lives outside of Rotary.
Dave Leedom
Dave is a private airplane pilot and builder. His blue biplane is a 1931 Waco RNF. "Waco" is the original
brand/manufacturer. "RNF" is the model. The Waco Aircraft Company was an aircraft manufacturer located in Troy, Ohio. Between 1920 and 1947 the company produced a wide range of civilian bi- planes. The company initially started under the name Weaver Aircraft Company of Ohio but changed its name to the Waco Aircraft Company in 1929. Dave inherited the plane from his next door neighbor. It is pictured here, flying east of Lakeside over El Capitan Lake. Photos by Clark Kent
Dave also owns a one-off called a “DAL01,” meaning Dave A. Leedom’s first “original.” He co-owns
it with his hanger mate (i.e., they are the manufacturers). They cobbled it together, using some existing parts, while manufacturing the rest. It is pictured here, over Guejito Rancho north of Ra- mona Air port.
And then there's the third plane in Captain Leedom's fleet: A Piper J-3 "cub" made in 1945. It was acquired as a "basket case" restoration project. As Dave says: "It looks good from a distance, but was a rusted hunk of non-flying steel. One hopes that its pieces will all go back together to fly again." These two photos show Dave and co-pilot Cheryl Leedom.
Dave is a private airplane pilot and builder. His blue biplane is a 1931 Waco RNF. "Waco" is the originalbrand/manufacturer. "RNF" is the model. The Waco Aircraft Company was an aircraft manufacturer located in Troy, Ohio. Between 1920 and 1947 the company produced a wide range of civilian bi- planes. The company initially started under the name Weaver Aircraft Company of Ohio but changed its name to the Waco Aircraft Company in 1929. Dave inherited the plane from his next door neighbor. It is pictured here, flying east of Lakeside over El Capitan Lake. Photos by Clark Kent
Dave also owns a one-off called a “DAL01,” meaning Dave A. Leedom’s first “original.” He co-ownsit with his hanger mate (i.e., they are the manufacturers). They cobbled it together, using some existing parts, while manufacturing the rest. It is pictured here, over Guejito Rancho north of Ra- mona Air port.
And then there's the third plane in Captain Leedom's fleet: A Piper J-3 "cub" made in 1945. It was acquired as a "basket case" restoration project. As Dave says: "It looks good from a distance, but was a rusted hunk of non-flying steel. One hopes that its pieces will all go back together to fly again." These two photos show Dave and co-pilot Cheryl Leedom.
Alan Brown
Mitch's popular restaurant is located on San Diego Bay, in Point Loma's historic fishing neighborhood. There, you can see this dashing diver, pictured just inside the entrance. He is our very own Alan Brown−who you would no doubt immediately recognize.
Various Rotary clubs periodically inject a “Who Am I?” segment into their weekly meetings. This articulation provides the opportunity to learn more about the interesting history that fellow members have amassed out- side of Rotary. This is a cog in our Rotary wheel that brings our membership story to life. It shows Rotarians as the people of action we are. Telling these short stories, in this meaningful way, builds the club’s under- standing of who we are, and what we do. It highlights the impact we’ve make in our communities and around the world.Alan's following video is back by popular demand, after its 2022 PLRC debut. It offers insight into the extra- ordinary exploits of PLRC Member Alan Brown. Rather than attempting to paraphrase it, one video is worth far more than a thousand words. Click here (then click "Open file).
Peter Phillips
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing) is the national governing body for sailing in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials; supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities; issues offshore rating certificates; and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team.
US Sailing is responsible for selection and training of the US Sailing Team representing the United States in the Olympic Games. Chall- enged Sailors San Diego has an associated fleet of eight Martin 16, and one SKUD 18, sailboats. Thery are specifically designed for adaptive sailing. The Challenged Sailors' facilities are accessible and equipped with a lift for transferring sailors from wheelchairs into the boat.
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing) is the national governing body for sailing in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials; supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities; issues offshore rating certificates; and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team.
US Sailing is responsible for selection and training of the US Sailing Team representing the United States in the Olympic Games. Chall- enged Sailors San Diego has an associated fleet of eight Martin 16, and one SKUD 18, sailboats. Thery are specifically designed for adaptive sailing. The Challenged Sailors' facilities are accessible and equipped with a lift for transferring sailors from wheelchairs into the boat.
Challenged Sailors San Diego, Inc. was founded in 2014. It was awarded the 2022 "Robie Pierce Award," at the US Sailing Association’s Leadership Forum held in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Its Robie Pierce Award recognizes an outstanding program for
sailors with disabilities. It is given annually to an organization that has made not- able contributions to promote public access sailing for sailors with disabilities. For- mer PLRC member Peter Phillips, pictured left, is the Challenged Sailors President.
Receiving this award distinguishes Challenged Sailors San Diego among all of the great organizations providing
access to sailors with disabilities in the United States. It recognizes the volunteers and donors who have given their time and their resources to help develop our adaptive sailing program over the years since it was found- ed in 2014. For more information on Challenged Sailors visit its website.
access to sailors with disabilities in the United States. It recognizes the volunteers and donors who have given their time and their resources to help develop our adaptive sailing program over the years since it was found- ed in 2014. For more information on Challenged Sailors visit its website.
Frank White
Frank is a Military Sensing Symposia (MSS) Fellow. In 2022, he received the Lifetime Achievement award
which reads:“forOutstanding Contributions to the Military Sensing Profession.” Frank was a Navy Sound Surveillance System Officer doing undersea surveillance. He finished up his active duty at the Commander Anti-Submarine Warfare Forces Pacific, working closely with the country’s Submarine Force. Frank left the Navy as an acoustic and intelligence analyst. Because of this background, he was hired by San Diego’s Naval Undersea Center.
The Military Services created the Joint Directors of Laboratories (JDL) in 1982, to implement collaborative research and development initiatives in response to a Defense Science Board report. Because of his novel research, Frank was put on the JDL Data Fusion Sub-panel (DFS) in 1984. He chaired the DFS for the next 20 years. There is now a thriving National and Inter- national Information Fusion Community, which evolved from the creation of the DFS. Frank was pressured to document the JDL history, which he accomplished this past year. Click here, for the resulting paper─submitted as Frank says “with my apologies for the necessary jargon.”
Bob Baker
Bob & Belle Ann Baker are pictured, sailing aboard their sloop─the Campana Del Mar. She is on
her way home from Mexico, en route to a First Place finish in the Yvonka International Yacht Race.
Campana Del Mar is a Kettenburg 41 vessel. It was manufactured and previously owned by Paul
Kettenburg. Paul was a past member of Point Loma Rotary, and owner of Kettenburg Marine, an iconic boat yard on Shelter Island.
Bob and Belle Ann placed first in 2010. Their race started in the San Diego Bay and ended at a
Coronado Island. As Bob comments: "Feel free to ask me more about this adventure."
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