Obituary of William BENNETT

Bill Bennett, 73, passed away October 7, 2004 in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Bill was born in Australia on September 26, 1931. He served in the Australian Royal Navy. Bill started out as a professional water skier. He was at one time 8th in the world as a barefoot water skier. He loved the water.In the early 60's he grew tired of ski jumps and wanted to fly higher. A friend of Bill's, John Dickerson, had been experimenting with a kite designed by Francis Rogallo, a NASA engineer. He modified the design to accommodate a water skier and tow rope, and then designed the first control bar. Bill teamed up with Bill Moyes and started doing exhibitions with the new kite and called themselves the Fabulous Australian Birdmen". They started building and selling ski tow gliders as early as 1965. The rest is history.Bill left Australia in the late 60's to come to America to introduce and promote the sport of hang gliding. He did shows all over America thrilling the crowds. On July 4th, 1969, Bill flew over the Statue of Liberty landing on Liberty Island. He flew over the Golden Gate Bridge. In 1971 at opening ceremonies of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, AZ, he reached a new altitude best of 2,960 feet after towing up and releasing. This last feat finally won Bill and the sport of hang gliding recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records. He was approached by the producers of a television show called "Thrill Seekers" to do a flying a stunt for cameras. Bill knew he had to do something new and different, so he committed to do a foot launch flight at Dante's View in Death Valley, a site with a 5,727 foot vertical drop. No one had ever foot launched from that vertical height before. BILL HAD NEVER FOOT LAUNCHED, PERIOD! Dave Kilbourne was the first man to foot launch and soar a hang glider. Bill had always been towed up by boat or car and released to fly. Thankfully the stunt went off without a hitch.The list is way too long to record here, but I must mention that he was so very proud to have been inducted into three halls of fame: The Soaring Hall of Fame, The NASA Space & Technology Hall of Fame and The Francis Rogallo Hall of Fame.Bill was also proud to have eight of his hang gliders that were produced by his company, Delta Wing Kites and Gliders, on display now at the New Smithsonian Museum.Hang gliding was Bill's life, his love. He touched so many people around the world and helped many more to get started in business.Bill was also a friendly kind of guy, always ready to help out a neighbor. He made friends everywhere he went smiling and telling jokes. He was a father a grandfather and in May 2004, a great grandfather. He loved life and worked very hard.He will be missed terribly by his friends all over the world and especially by his Australian family and American family.Bill is survived by the love of his life of 14 years, Margo Ann Brown of Lake Havasu; sons, Gary William Bennett of Melbourne Australia and Glenn Stanley Bennett of Australia; daughters, Michelle Lee Martin and Nicole Lanae McKinney, both of Lake Havasu; step son, Dennis Firestone of Loma Linda, CA; brother, Raymond Bennett of Sydney, Australia; sister, Cheryle Winkler of Goonellabatt, Australia; seven grandchildren, Caroline Little, Adrienne Bennett, Michael McKinney, Troy Bennett, Symone Bennett, Jamie Bennett and Andrew Bennett and one great granddaughter, Ruby Elizabeth Little.He was preceded in death by his parents William and Olive (Brill) Bennett and brother, John Bennett.Memorial services will be held Thursday, October 14, 3:00 PM at Lietz-Fraze Chapel. Rev. Richard Rounds will officiate.In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to go to Rogallo Foundation Museum Fund, PO Box 1839, Nags Head, NC 27959.Arrangements were entrusted to Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory.