My biggest influence was and still is Steve Stricker. I was fortunate enough to grow up with him and other young pattern fliers in our club. We also had local big guns like Bill Hinnet, Wayne Abernathy, Joe Solko, and Bob Violett in the PGRC club. I watched then helped Steve at many TOC's during the nineties and built one of his two Ultimate's and the Extra 300 he flew to win the 1996 TOC. My proudest moment was when he aggreed to be my best man in 2002. Every time I fly with him is a joy and now we are flying turbines together.