From Eddie Koonce, Class of 1952

One of my favorite memories is of an old airplane I saw up close when I was about seven. Hugh Zimmerman, a member of the Flying Farmers, who lived near Loyal, had built an airplane from a kit. It was called a Curtis Pusher, with the propeller facing the rear of the plane. I later learned that the first engine he used was from a Model A Ford, with all the excess parts removed, and much of the cast iron block ground off to lighten it. Hugh used the plane largely for hunting coyotes, flying low to scare them out of hiding. He had trouble with the spent shells flying back into the propeller, but devised a screen to deflect them to the side. Hugh would fly the plane to all kinds of public gatherings and enjoy the attention. A neighboring farmer once saw Hugh flying high above the road in front of her house and thought it strange, because he usually flew low and across the fields. She later learned that the bank in Loyal had been robbed and Hugh was following the getaway car so he could lead the police to them. Unfortunately, he ran out of gas and had to land on the road. The robbers were never caught. I recently learned that someone found the plane hanging from the ceiling in a restaurant in California, bought it, restored it, and it is still in flying condition!