On Monday, September 3, 2012 4:15:46 PM UTC+5:30, Mike J. wrote:
On Monday, September 3, 2012 4:21:51 AM UTC-5, Fox Two wrote:

John Hardy, Sr. was a close friend and he will be greatly missed. He was the patriarch, heart and soul of the El Paso Soaring Society. The club's tow plane has been grounded for weeks waiting for a new engine, and two of the three club gliders were to be sold to pay for it. The remaining club glider, the Grob 103, would have been kept and shared among the fourteen club members. The winch, which has rarely been used, was intended to keep the club alive until the tow plane could be repaired. Let's all lift our postflight cans of beer high: John, I will miss you dearly. Thank-you for all you have given to me, and to your club. I'm off tow, Chris Fleming F2



I have to agree with Chris. John WAS the heart & soul of the El Paso Soaring Society. He was a CFIG, a DPE, and Chief Tow Pilot. He'd probably done close to 11,000 tows over the years. It will be impossible to replace him.



Enjoyed flying with you, John. Gonna miss you.



Mike J.

B7

It has been over a year after we lost John and I would like to say that John not only was but he still IS the heart and soul of El Paso Soaring Society. Unfortunately, I got to know him for a very short time, but I am proud and lucky enough to sa that I washer student, and that I will never forget what he taught me in terms of flying because he made me love this more, he made flying for me more than a hobby, he made think of flying as something different, as a way of living, as a passion.
We miss you John.
Melissa M. Carrillo