RIP John Shelton, Pez D Spencer

[[email protected]]

I just learned John passed away on Sept 8th. He had been fighting brain cancer for several years. He was a good friend during my soaring days and we had a million laughs together. I will write more later as I know who most of the people he wrote about in Pez. He was one of a kind. Tom Hubbard VN

[bumper[_4_]]

On Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 6:25:52 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> I just learned John passed away on Sept 8th. He had been fighting brain cancer for several years. He was a good friend during my soaring days and we had a million laughs together. I will write more later as I know who most of the people he wrote about in Pez. He was one of a kind. Tom Hubbard VN

I'll say! Sorry I never met him. As with many here, read and enjoyed Pez back in the day. John was obviously talented and blessed with a great sense of humor.

[Mike the Strike]

I knew the folks at “Oasis”, otherwise known as a Turf Soaring in Phoenix. Tony Smolder and Alan Reeter were fixtures in those days. We had a trailer for a clubhouse, but don’t remember the scantily dressed ladies. John’s caricatures were spot on. And to many of us in that era, the 2-33 will always be the Gollywomper!

He’ll be missed.

Mike

[[email protected]]

John was a postal, always good for a chuckle! I remember turning the first turnpoint on the practice day at Avenal, when John came on the air and said, “JJ, I got to work on my speed, you weren’t even on the field when I took Off”! He seldom talked about it, but he punched out of an F-4 in Vietnam, shot down by ground fire!
Mark us a good thermal John, were all headed your way!
JJ

[gkemp]

On Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 6:25:52 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> I just learned John passed away on Sept 8th. He had been fighting brain cancer for several years. He was a good friend during my soaring days and we had a million laughs together. I will write more later as I know who most of the people he wrote about in Pez. He was one of a kind. Tom Hubbard VN

Loved his love for life and the way he expressed himself, no greater honor than being the subject of one of his cartoons. See you soon John.

Gary Kemp "NK"

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 6:25:52 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> I just learned John passed away on Sept 8th. He had been fighting brain cancer for several years. He was a good friend during my soaring days and we had a million laughs together. I will write more later as I know who most of the people he wrote about in Pez. He was one of a kind. Tom Hubbard VN

John, Mario Crosina and I had a many a X-country adventure out of Avenal back in the day.

The most funny 30 minutes of my life were when, at an Avenal contest, about 20 of us ended up rolling on the floor when John did a rift on ag spraying in Columbia. John could tell a story.

Bruce Patton
96S

[Nyal Williams[_3_]]

On Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 9:25:52 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> I just learned John passed away on Sept 8th. He had been fighting brain cancer for several years. He was a good friend during my soaring days and we had a million laughs together. I will write more later as I know who most of the people he wrote about in Pez. He was one of a kind. Tom Hubbard VN

Could someone repost his story about cropdusting and being charged with killing a farm animal in court because a veterinarian had to kill the animal in order to prove something about John's flying? I lost my copy and I had his permission to use/reprint it.

[CindyB[_2_]]

Nyla, not what you asked for, but folks new and old might want to enjoy Pez here. If Tom H and Gary K wanted to provide the names and backstories, maybe CCSC or PASCO could archive them.

I made a reference to Pez a couple months back, and passed the responses to John. I think he put this site up in response. I dont know for how long it is prepaid.

John did the art for Cal City Regional and CCSC contest tshirts for close to 20 years. Many of us enjoyed his irreverent humor.
I treasure my audio file of him singing "Cal City Diamond Mine".

Fly safely.
Cindy

[JS[_5_]]

John was great. And for those who didn't know, his actual contest ID was 05 or "Zero Sinko" in Spanglish.
The Region 12 t-shirt that was derived from a Volkswagen slogan was the best comp shirt ever! Pez is wearing it on the home page and elsewhere.
Jim

[Papa3[_2_]]

On Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 2:46:20 PM UTC-4, JS wrote:
> John was great. And for those who didn't know, his actual contest ID was 05 or "Zero Sinko" in Spanglish.
> The Region 12 t-shirt that was derived from a Volkswagen slogan was the best comp shirt ever! Pez is wearing it on the home page and elsewhere.
> Jim

My two Fukenboomin shirts are prized posessions.

[[email protected]]

On Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 12:11:19 PM UTC-7, Papa3 wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 2:46:20 PM UTC-4, JS wrote:
> > John was great. And for those who didn't know, his actual contest ID was 05 or "Zero Sinko" in Spanglish.
> > The Region 12 t-shirt that was derived from a Volkswagen slogan was the best comp shirt ever! Pez is wearing it on the home page and elsewhere.
> > Jim
>
> My two Fukenboomin shirts are prized posessions.

I still have two unworn t shirts with the bikini clad babes and a glider. Also a “Mario’s Land-out camp Survivor” shirt with the English and Spanish messages. You had to land out to get one. Mario was famous for over calling tasks. John did the shirts without his knowledge and had great pleasure in presenting them to the losers (winners.). I don’t think Mario got one, but there are several out there.

Bruce Patton

[CindyB[_2_]]

And then this flush stupidity kept me from posting the link.....
Pezdspencer.com.

He also wrote an incredibly realistic "game" for video called Yankee Air Pirate.
It didnt make tons of cash, but folks who flew in SE Asia claim it is very reslistic.
He updated and allowed others to add to this program over ~a decade easily.

Lots of talents . .

Cindy

[Tango Eight]

On Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 7:10:04 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 12:11:19 PM UTC-7, Papa3 wrote:
> > On Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 2:46:20 PM UTC-4, JS wrote:
> > > John was great. And for those who didn't know, his actual contest ID was 05 or "Zero Sinko" in Spanglish.
> > > The Region 12 t-shirt that was derived from a Volkswagen slogan was the best comp shirt ever! Pez is wearing it on the home page and elsewhere.
> > > Jim
> >
> > My two Fukenboomin shirts are prized posessions.
>
> I still have two unworn t shirts with the bikini clad babes and a glider. Also a “Mario’s Land-out camp Survivor” shirt with the English and Spanish messages. You had to land out to get one. Mario was famous for over calling tasks. John did the shirts without his knowledge and had great pleasure in presenting them to the losers (winners.). I don’t think Mario got one, but there are several out there.
>
> Bruce Patton

If someone can recreate all these shirts, I want to buy 'em. Maybe use some proceeds to keep the Pez site running?

best,
Evan Ludeman

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 9:25:52 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> I just learned John passed away on Sept 8th. He had been fighting brain cancer for several years. He was a good friend during my soaring days and we had a million laughs together. I will write more later as I know who most of the people he wrote about in Pez. He was one of a kind. Tom Hubbard VN

RIP, John Shelton. I, too, am sorry to say I never had the pleasure to meet the man, but he blessed us all with his humor. I spent many an hour rereading Pez, always having a chuckle and never growing tired of the adventures. Great man.

[gkemp]

On Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 11:02:27 AM UTC-7, CindyB wrote:
> Nyla, not what you asked for, but folks new and old might want to enjoy Pez here. If Tom H and Gary K wanted to provide the names and backstories, maybe CCSC or PASCO could archive them.
>
> I made a reference to Pez a couple months back, and passed the responses to John. I think he put this site up in response. I dont know for how long it is prepaid.
>
> John did the art for Cal City Regional and CCSC contest tshirts for close to 20 years. Many of us enjoyed his irreverent humor.
> I treasure my audio file of him singing "Cal City Diamond Mine".
>
> Fly safely.
> Cindy

The flight Pez makes from "riceland" with Rex Mayes to Oasis (Estrella). Rex's comment, "I'm just a cartoon, not Gary Kemp" refers to the time I flew from El Mirage to Estrella with no crew, and two days later flew almost all the way back, landing at Apple Valley. The competition letters on the trailers. NK is me, 7v is Ray Gimmey, PK is Pete Kelly and Juan Bravo Is Jim Darke.

Gary Kemp

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I forgot what a crackup his stuff really was. I’m re-reading his Diamond adventures.....landout at the ho house he calls Delilah...”honey you don’t need to come, the gal here says she will tow me for fifty bucks”......”I didnt say I would “tow” you for fifty bucks...”

My sides are sore from laughing!

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 6:25:52 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> I just learned John passed away on Sept 8th. He had been fighting brain cancer for several years. He was a good friend during my soaring days and we had a million laughs together. I will write more later as I know who most of the people he wrote about in Pez. He was one of a kind. Tom Hubbard VN

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 6:25:52 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> I just learned John passed away on Sept 8th. He had been fighting brain cancer for several years. He was a good friend during my soaring days and we had a million laughs together. I will write more later as I know who most of the people he wrote about in Pez. He was one of a kind. Tom Hubbard VN

CCSA (the successor the CCSC) just received a new shipment of club t-shirts.. You'll see that the club's logo - a raven - is a Pez design and I believe the back of the shirt is also an image John created. So, reminders of his work continue!
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mnn2oq7pxow1b5e/AABmEvJ4-YaSW2Xb0u12OqeOa?dl=0