Former Director
Search results for 'Former Director' (10)
Director Emeritus Dan Prill, a founding member of the Recreational Aviation Foundation, spent ten years on its Board of Directors; eight years as Vice President. Dan was instrumental from its initial formation to helping the organization attain 5,000 members by the end of his term in 2013. “It has been a rewarding journey,” Dan says,…
Director Emeritus Rol has a wide ranging background, having worked in aerospace acoustics, film and video production, theatre operations, and management. Along the way his enthusiasm for aviation led from avocation to advocacy of local airports to vocation, including work for AOPA and the Wolf Aviation Fund. He now lives on the Continental Divide in…
Director Emeritus Tim Clifford joined the RAF board in 2008. He is a native of Dayton, Ohio, whose ancestors, he assures, always bought Wright Brothers bicycles. Tim has flown for business and recreation for over 35 years. Today, Tim and his wife Ann, travel all across the country; camping under the wing of their Husky.…
Director Emeritus Starting out in a Piper Super Cub, Chuck got his private rating in 1960. Seeking further flying knowledge, he gained his commercial and glider licenses in 1961; then seaplane and instrument ratings. He bought a brand-new Cessna 180 in 1976 and began exploring North America from the air. He and his wife Penny…
Director Emeritus Reade joined the RAF board in July of 2012 and served as the Secretary/Treasurer for the foundation. He had long been associated with aviation and philanthropic work, primarily in the Philadelphia area. He brought financial management expertise to the RAF along with his deep love of aviation. Reade lost his life in an…
Director Emeritus Thoughts After Retirement When I raised my hand at the Montana Pilots Association’s (MPA) Board of Directors retreat in Bozeman in September of 2003, I had no idea what I was getting myself into! I had been following the MPA’s Recreational Airstrip Committee for several years and watching them try to raise money.…
Director Emeritus Alan’s business acumen and impressive experience on professional boards qualified him for a RAF board position. But he demonstrated his sleeves-rolled-up dedication to its mission when he flew from his home in Pennsylvania to Ryan Field for a work party. Raised in Pennsylvania, Alan began flying for his diversified forest products business in 1994. His…
Director Emeritus Steve “SJ” Johnson came to aviation from an unusual direction. Fear of flying on commercial airliners led him to confront the fear and start taking flying lessons in 1997. A rocky start – including an accident as a low-time pilot – fueled his determination to learn all he could about flying. Now a…
Director Emeritus Peter is President and CEO of Burwell Enterprises, Inc., based in Minneapolis. Burwell’s holdings include the Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club, a 367-room hotel adjacent to Wisconsin’s Capitol building; Country Springs Hotel and Water Park in Waukesha, WI; Echo Mountain ski area just outside of Denver in Idaho Springs, CO; and C…
Former Director Jack was introduced to flying in 1989 by son Devin, who began washing planes for flight time at age 13. Before long, Jack, his wife Patricia, and Devin were all licensed and flying as one another’s co-pilots on weekends, vacations and then college shopping. When Devin began flying for the Navy, Jack and…
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John was blessed to have two neighbors with 1000s of hours in Cessna 185s, and obtained his private pilot license with their encouragement in 2013. They introduced him to the magic of backcountry Idaho and the amazing capabilities of a 185. He purchased his own at the Big Creek Lodge in 2014. John was introduced to the RAF in 2018, at a fly-out to Seeley Lake around AOPA’s Missoula fly-in, and a few weeks later at RAF’s fly-in at Ryan Field. He is a firm believer in the RAF’s mission. Without RAF’s advocacy, he fears the steady loss of precious resources. John retired from the Coca-Cola system in 2017 after 25 years of service. His career prior to Coke included five years in operations consulting with Booz Allen & Hamilton, and three years with Hewlett Packard in Boise, Idaho – where his love of the west was born. When not flying, John enjoys tennis, photography and woodworking – a skill he is actively applying to a new house he and his wife Blythe are building in Longboat Key, FL. His border collie, Tot (pictured here perched on her RTIC cooler throne), isn’t a fan of how loud a 185 is, but thinks Johnson Creek’s airstrip is the most amazing place to chase a frisbee on the planet. jhodgson@theraf.org Submitted October 30, 2025
Liz grew up in Louisiana, but she has lived in Georgia with her husband, Mike, for the past 35 years. They have two grown sons, John and Will. Liz’s interests include reading, DIY projects, walking/hiking, hanging out with friends, and accompanying Mike on camping trips, fishing excursions, or flights in his Carbon Cub. She enjoys spending time at their lake house and especially at their home in Driggs, Idaho. Her favorite vacations usually involve a national park. ltouchstone@theraf.org Submitted October 30, 2025
Ed wanted to fly as long as he could remember. Growing up as an “Air Force Brat,” his early life involved living on air bases, watching airplanes and living among Air Force pilots. His father flew P-47, P-38 and P-51 fighters in the South Pacific during the Second World War. Ed has enjoyed GA flying since getting his license to fly in 1977. He was exposed to and fell in love with backcountry flying only a few years ago. Among other airplanes, Ed has flown several types of backcountry planes. He currently flies a C182 King Katmai. Ed believes in the RAF and wants to do all he can to support the RAF Mission. ecooper@theraf.org Submitted October 30, 2025
Posted in Idaho Ambassador
Paul Kosubinsky’s logbook tells the story of his true love affair with flight – from the J-3 Cub to the Boeing 747. Though he’s flown many different airplanes, “My heart has always remained in the Cub,” he says. Paul has stepped up to take on the role of RAF Virginia Liaison and will team up…
