Jim was surely a great in the model aviation field and will be missed by our club. Below is the obituary from the local newspaper, Highlands Today.

James H. Messer, 78, of Sebring, Fla., died Friday, December 5, 2008, in Sebring. He was born May 4, 1930, in Olean, N.Y., and had been a resident of Sebring since 1994, coming from Allegany, N.Y. He was an engineer with Dresser-Clark in Olean, N.Y., retiring in 1986. His hobbies included golf and square dancing with the "Ridge Rollaways." His lifelong hobby was building and flying model airplanes, as a life member of the Southern Tier Aero Radio Society and the Highlands Radio Control Club. He was known worldwide as an innovator, designer and teacher in model aviation, culminating in his induction into the Academy of Model Aeronautics Hall of Fame in July of 2008. Mr. Messer is survived by his wife, Margaret Tapp Messer of Sebring; six daughters; three sons; 18 grandchildren; and brothers, Robert (June) Messer, Sebring and William (Dorothy) Messer, Knapp Creek, N.Y. A local visitation with family members and friends will take place 2-4 p.m. Monday, December 8, 2008, at Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home Chapel, Sebring. Additional services will take place in New York, handled by Guenther Funeral Home, (716) 372-7133. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Highlands Radio Control Club, c/o Herman Groezinger, 2308 Dog Leg Drive, Sebring, FL 33872. Local arrangements are being handled by Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home Sebring, FL 33870 (863) 385-0125