On Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 4:45:05 PM UTC-7, Michael Opitz wrote:
Just got sad news from Ralph Kolstad that Hannes Linke
passed away in his sleep on 10/26. He did a lot for soaring
in the USA. RIP.....

Many people wouldn't know it, but I think Hannes was probably the single greatest creator of media exposure for US soaring to the public during the 20th century and beyond. His contacts to Heublein Corp, brought us the Smirnoff Derbies, cross-continent 'races' that created local outreach opportunities for clubs and schools in the 1970's. Radio and TV interviews, newspaper articles, from LA to the Atlantic. Then while being an SSA Director, he helped bring a World Championships to Hobbs. His ties to world-wide soaring friends had him poised to assist Helmut Reichman and Barron Hilton in effecting the strengthening of international friendships with the sport of soaring by managing the Hilton Cup for three decades. The Cup was talked of round the globe, focusing international attention on US soaring. Soaring competition may have been the vehicle for the publicity or the events, but friendship and fun and stories to be told was the motivation. Such a lovely record of service to this sport that was the theme throughout his life. Thank you, Hannes Linke.