Western WFA Reunion

Western Willards Meet at Site of 1910 Airmeet

by Karen Willard

The first weekend of October all the Willards who could travel gathered in Carson, California. Headquarters was the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills, which has been built literally on the grounds where in 1910 the first international aviation meet in the United States was held. All our activities were ably planned by Carol Benner and Rodney Willard.

After Friday night dinner we saw a preview of a documentary being made by Dr. James Sudalnik and Dr. Judson Grenier. They have focused on the 1910 Airmeet and have collected photos, posters, newspaper stories, early movies, etc. as well as interviews with historians and family members of participants. The documentary will be in the style of the Ken Burns films.

Saturday morning Karen Willard explained Charles Forstner Willard's family and his place in our extended lineage. Learning the background of his extended family helped us to understand how and why Charlie became a flyer, inventor, and engineer. Andy Anderson, early aviation historian, shared with us his memories of Charles Willard and early aviation. Bob McCaughey, whose father was an "Early Birds" member and knew Charles Willard, was also present to answer questions.

Before we left the campus for lunch, Father Pat McPolin laid out for us the history of where we were, from the earliest Spanish explorers to the present-day city of Carson. He told about the Dominguez family that owned the land where the Airmeet was held, what has become of their adobe home, and how he personally came to make this history his final project in life. With that background, we collected our box lunches and drove a short distance to the Dominguez family rancho buildings.

While we ate our picnic in the shade of the trees outside the Dominguez Rancho Seminary and Museum, Father Pat told us the story of Charles Willard's final years and their friendship, and of the funeral that he himself planned and held for Charlie when he died. With that, he guided us through the museum.

The weekend formally ended with the presentation of a thank-you gift to Father Pat, which, given the many stories he'd told that began with "So over wine..." gurgled appropriately. That evening, at the restaurant supper that has become a hallmark of our Willard reunion weekends, a collection was taken up and more than $250 was donated to Drs. Sudalnik and Grenier's Video Project in the name of the WFA.

Betty Pex is spearheading the planning of our 2003 meeting which will be in the area of the greater San Francisco Bay region.

Websites to Visit

The Great 1910 Airmeet: http://www.csudh.edu/1910airmeet/

Lewis & Clark Heritage Trail Foundation: www.lewisandclark.org

Willard House and Clock Museum: www.willardhouse.org

Genealogy Forum on the Willard surname: http://genforum.genealogy.com/willard

Emma Willard School: www.emma.troy.ny.us

Willard Chapel, Auburn, NY: http://ci.auburn.ny.us/willardchapel