b***@shaw.ca
2007-11-03 17:31:01 UTC
In a Google search, I ran across a posting from a "Mr. Nasty" dated
March, 2001:
"How many people would have found Bob Ingraham exceptional say, 35
years ago? Some little guy from Silver City, New Mexico who's out
there flying a delta kite with a ragged tail. Big deal!"
Nasty indeed, and a dumb comment if ever there was one!
Actually, quite a few people found him exceptional, although as his
son I have a reservations. But you can't fault his enthusiasm for
kiting, or his beautiful kites, for that matter. "Ragged tail"? Don't
think so. His kites were as much artistic as functional, and the
craftsmanship was about as perfect as you can get, working out of a
garage with hand tools, a jig that he designed, and a sewing machine.
No CAD programs here! Those sturdy kites, which would fly in a zephyr
or a hurricane, helped put food on his table for many years, and they
are still flying today. So much for "a delta kite with a ragged tale."
When my dad began building kites, around about 1958 as I recall, you
could scarcely buy a kite that wasn't a paper-stick-and-string affair.
I had never seen an adult flying a kite, except perhaps with a kid. He
wa working as a reporter at the time, and decided to start the AKA. He
wrote a story about the organization, of which he was the only member,
and sent it out on the UPI wire. Big city newspapers across the nation
ran it on their front pages, and memberships started coming in. Within
a few years, there were 2,500 members and my mom was enlisted to help
with production and mailing of Kite Tales. My mom and dad were
eventually invited to kiting events and conventions all over North
America and eventually to Hawaii, all expenses paid. Among the notable
members of the AKA were Jimmy Stewart and Charles Schultz and, if I
recall correctly, astronaut Harrison Schmidt, who was born and grew up
in Silver City.
Mr. Nasty didn't sign his real name, but I will.
Bob Ingraham
Vancouver, BC
March, 2001:
"How many people would have found Bob Ingraham exceptional say, 35
years ago? Some little guy from Silver City, New Mexico who's out
there flying a delta kite with a ragged tail. Big deal!"
Nasty indeed, and a dumb comment if ever there was one!
Actually, quite a few people found him exceptional, although as his
son I have a reservations. But you can't fault his enthusiasm for
kiting, or his beautiful kites, for that matter. "Ragged tail"? Don't
think so. His kites were as much artistic as functional, and the
craftsmanship was about as perfect as you can get, working out of a
garage with hand tools, a jig that he designed, and a sewing machine.
No CAD programs here! Those sturdy kites, which would fly in a zephyr
or a hurricane, helped put food on his table for many years, and they
are still flying today. So much for "a delta kite with a ragged tale."
When my dad began building kites, around about 1958 as I recall, you
could scarcely buy a kite that wasn't a paper-stick-and-string affair.
I had never seen an adult flying a kite, except perhaps with a kid. He
wa working as a reporter at the time, and decided to start the AKA. He
wrote a story about the organization, of which he was the only member,
and sent it out on the UPI wire. Big city newspapers across the nation
ran it on their front pages, and memberships started coming in. Within
a few years, there were 2,500 members and my mom was enlisted to help
with production and mailing of Kite Tales. My mom and dad were
eventually invited to kiting events and conventions all over North
America and eventually to Hawaii, all expenses paid. Among the notable
members of the AKA were Jimmy Stewart and Charles Schultz and, if I
recall correctly, astronaut Harrison Schmidt, who was born and grew up
in Silver City.
Mr. Nasty didn't sign his real name, but I will.
Bob Ingraham
Vancouver, BC