EAA Chapter 590

Chapter 590 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) was originally organized in 1977 with 10 Charter Members: Gary Canode (served as the first president), Leon Murray, Bill Stone, John Rohrer, Bob Kramer, George Foster, Robert Smith, Robert Baldwin, Wayne Holland, and Hal Gelman. Of that group, only Wayne Holland is an active member of the present chapter.

The chapter became inactive in 1980 but was reactivated in 1989 by Forrest Walgamot and Donald Henderson. They were holding meetings at Hooker’s Palace, an indoor shooting range. Therole Miller and Jim Gillaspie attended some of those meetings and offered to help get the chapter active again. The meetings were moved to Therole Miller’s place and the chapter still meets there.

Forrest, Therole, and Jim are current members in the local chapter. Currently (2009) there are approximately 60 members of all ages and stations in life. While most are year-round residents of Yuma, several are snow-birds. Most are pilots, many own aircraft ranging from ultralight to twins, several have built their own, and all are united in their love for and appreciation of things that fly.

Past and Present Chapter Officers.