An excerpt from Chuck Yeager's autobiography entitled "YEAGER"

"When President Truman presented me with the Collier Trophy in 1948 for breaking the sound barrier, my dad attended the White House ceremonies, but refused to shake hands with the President. He glowered at Truman, acting like a revival preacher trapped into meeting the Pope. As far as Dad was concerned, the first good Democrat had yet to be born."

Instantly, I knew I was going to like this book. This book in not about politics, its about a down home kind of guy who learned to fly and then do extraordinary things with an airplane. It's a great read.

What E'er Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part

Last night I was channel surfing and I ran across a program on BYUTV about David O. McKay, 9th president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

When he was on a mission to Scotland, he was not having a particullary good time. He was homesick and there was a lot persecutions towards Mormons. One day he saw a sign that read:

What E'er Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part

I've had a chance to reflect on this for a while. What a powerful statement this is!

Who is your favorite teacher?

Who is your favorite teacher? Mine was Noel Brown at BYU-Idaho, formerly Ricks College.

Mr. Brown was a music instructor at the college. I signed up to be in the Sound Alliance Jazz band, and on the first day he handed me the music for 1st chair tenor sax. This was a big deal to me as I had always played 2nd. You musicians know what I'm talking about.

We had been working hard preparing for a concert. The day before the concert, Mr. Brown called me into his office. He said that the lead Alto sax player was ill and would I play his part in the concert. I said that I have never played his part and I don't have an Alto Sax. I also knew that the alto had a 16 bar solo that scared me. He said that they have an Alto that I can use. Then what he said next has been permanently etched into my mind: "Wayne, if you can't do it, nobody can".
Wow, he had a lot of confidence in me!!!

The concert went fine. To this day I can't remember the music we played. But I'll always remember Mr. Brown for the confidence he showed in me. Thanks Mr. Brown!

Light the Fire Within

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqaLoR2YBxw

On Saturday December 11, I went skiing at Copper Mountain with Scott and Chris. Conditions were cold but beautiful. Copper had gotten about 9 inches of powder overnight.

I wore my Olympic uniform which I only pull it out maybe once a year. While standing in a lift line a man says to me: "I haven't seen one of those uniforms in a while". Come to find out he produced the video of "Light the Fire Within" for the Salt Lake Olympics. His name is J.R. Hildebrand. He told us that he was up there by himself. So I invited him to ski with Scott, Chris and I. We spent most of the day together. I feel like I have a new friend. J.R. skis on old PRE 1200 skis with 80's Solomon clamshell boots. Old school stuff. But his skiing is nearly flawless. My own skiing was marginal that day because I'm not used to skiing in a lot of powder.

When I got home last night, I looked on youtube and found that video I was talking about. It reminded me of the hard work and sacrifice that I put into the Olympics. Now I only had a small role as a course worker in the men's downhill at Snowbasin. But we, all 2,000 of us at that venue, helped create an Olympic moment for all of the people there, racers and spectators alike. I will always have fond memories of the Olympics and Snowbasin.

Thanks J.R. for the great skiing and reminding me that the Olympics were a real high point in my life.

Don't Tread On Me

The Gadsden flag was designed in the late 1700's as a symbol of defiance. This particular version was flown on naval vessels. Of late, this flag has become a symbol of those who feel as if our liberties have been taken away by a government that seems out of touch with its own people.


I've never been a very political person. But reading some of the quotes from the founding fathers has stirred my soul. These men who developed our government and wrote the constitution were truly gifted individuals. They spoke from their hearts. Give me liberty or give me death! One of the more famous quotes from Patrick Henry- What a rallying cry!

The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty – John Adams

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.

Thomas Jefferson

Okay I think you get the point. We as Americans need to look back and see where we came from. By understanding our past we can determine our future.

I once had hair!

I finally found this picture! It proves once and for all that I once had hair!!!!

Flying in a Duo Discus

August 5, 2010 - I got the opportunity of a lifetime to go flying in a Duo Discus sailplane piloted by my brothers' instructor and friend, York Zentner. Being the day after Warren's funeral, this was probably not the best time to fly as far as my emotions were concerned. But what better way to experience what Warren already knew? Plus this was something I felt I had to do.

For a rookie pilot, getting towed up was a bit unnerving. The air was very buoyant so we were bobbing up and down while at the same time being literally jerked into the air by the tow plane.
Once up to a good altitude, York told me to pull the yellow tow release handle. With a thud, we were free from the tow plane and on our own. York made a sharp bank to the right. To me it felt like a 45 degree turn. But I'm sure I'm exaggerating.

We took off from Morgan County Airport, Mountain Green UT and flew to Evanston WY then to Bear Lake UT, Logan, UT and then back to Mountain Green. We got as high as 16,000 feet and were flying at the base of the clouds. Very COOL! It was a fantastic day with great weather and strong thermals. We were up for about 3 1/2 hours. Yeah, it was a great day, one that I'll never forget.

I always thought that you needed a Lear 35 or a Gulfstream IV to have fun flying. But these simple yet elegant sailplanes have shown this pilot wannbee the true joy of flying like an Eagle. And as Leonardo da Vinci said: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"

Warren, now I understand. Someday when I get enough money, I'll learn how to fly so I can continue your legacy.