Hello District VII members. When I first started writing columns as your representative, I wrote about my beginnings in modeling and shared adventures of my first airplane and flights. That first airplane, a Sig Kadet, led to my future in modeling and contributed to my career choice.
Sig Manufacturing held large displays at trade shows back in the day and events at Sig Airport in Montezuma, Iowa. As a youth, seeing Hazel Sig at those events was like seeing someone larger than life.
I described in an earlier column how I was fortunate to attend her 100th birthday party, meeting her and listening to the stories of her life’s adventures. For those who read that article, you could sense how happy I was to meet and listen to not only her stories but to touch her, as a link, to so many historic events and people.
I write this column with a broken heart. In October, we lost a great District VII member, Hazel Sig-Hester. I write this as a tribute to her and her accomplishments. There will be much written in the future about Hazel, but this is from a personal perspective.
Hazel was a pioneer from the time she was little. Her first exposure to flight was as a 3-year-old girl in Iowa from none other than Charles Lindbergh, two years before his infamous Spirit of St. Louis solo flight across the Atlantic.
Hazel’s competitive spirit came from her father, who raced automobiles. As a linotype operator at the Montezuma Republican, Hazel was the fastest operator in the state. She shared the story that they had to change the machine to keep up with her, and when she left, two people replaced her.
Hazel enjoyed riding motorcycles. She and her first husband, Glen "Poncho" Sigafoose, opened an Indian Motorcycle dealership. The two had a great passion for model airplanes and shared this passion with Hazel’s nieces and nephews. Materials were difficult to obtain, but that did not deter the Sigafooses. They obtained the wood, cut it to sizes, and sold it to modelers from their house in Montezuma. The basement was the production facility and the second floor was their warehouse. This continued until they made the decision to buy and build the facility that would become known to us all as Sig Manufacturing.
Hazel’s need for speed never waned. From her Corvettes (of which the local sheriff was familiar) to her love for full-scale aviation, she enjoyed life. She was an accomplished full-scale aerobatic pilot, competed in air races, such as Sun ’n Fun in Florida, and even went skydiving. Hazel said that she "never had a bad landing," although she told the story of a major engine issue that caused a total engine failure in flight, resulting in her having to land in a farm field.
Many who fly Sig models might not know that several were based on Hazel’s fullscale airplanes. The Spacewalker was one of the airplanes she flew (and competed with in air races), as well as the clipped-wing Cub.
Hazel received awards for her accomplishments in full-scale aviation and her contributions to model aircraft. She received the Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman and Stateswomen of Aviation Award, an award that only two women—she and Amelia Earhart (in 1988)—have ever received.
I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet her and members of her family and learn so much about her. When you see me at events in the future, I would enjoy passing on the stories. To the Hester family, thank you for sharing so much with the members of the modeling community.
I will close out this month’s column with thanking you for indulging me in sharing this with you and knowing that, as you read this, the holiday season will be here. Give your family members a hug, share stories and love, and to all, happy holidays and a blessed new year.