Your BAC board of directors decided to pay tribute to the irreplaceable Mike Rellihan by developing a special member award called the Mike Rellihan Distinguished Service Award. The award is intended to recognize BAC members who have followed Mike’s leadership and commitment. This prestigious award goes to the member who best epitomizes the ongoing support, work and contribution that made Mike such an invaluable asset to our great organization.
The award encompasses more than the service and mechanical aspects that Mike is renowned for. Rather it is designed to acknowledge a member’s contribution be it in the service arena, the flying aspects of our planes, the parts issues associated or any other characteristic of the club. It is an all-rounder award for long-term, ongoing effort and contribution.
The very first winner of the Mike Rellihan Distinguished Service Award goes to Louisiana member, Bill Manhein. The award was presented to Bill at a long-distance ceremony during BACFest 2010 in San Antonio. Bill was unable to attend BACFest this year but due to the wonders of technology, Bill was able to connect with the people at the event and address the group as the award was presented to him by Paula Rellihan and the entire BAC award committee.
Bill has worked for years behind the scenes of BAC. Bill spent countless hours (if not days) redoing, enhancing and organizing dozens and dozens of documents and drawings that we can all see and read by simply clicking on the “Download” button on the BAC website. While it is easy to say and take advantage of now, Bill did a yeoman’s job making these documents available to the club members.
In addition, Bill has worked with many BAC members in their search for parts for their planes. Specializing in the Sierras, Bill has even purchased salvaged planes and sold the parts to members at considerably discounted prices saving members time and money!
Plus, Bill has played an integral role in the shoulder harness STC project by providing a space for the fuselage the club purchased for testing. He helped prep the fuselage and provided support through the maze of FAA bureaucracy.
And, in an ongoing effort, Bill monitors the BAC membership data base ensuring that the aircraft information is accurate and current. This administrative task serves the club by providing complete and correct data when we need help with projects….like the shoulder harness STC and the turbo-normalized Sierra effort.
This is the kind of ongoing, thankless effort that Bill gives to BAC. He is a gentleman, a “do-er” and a real asset to BAC! Congratulations, Bill, for a well deserved piece of recognition!