Space does not permit listing all of the over 200 notable speakers which included air race pilots, hump pilots, astronauts, the originator of the “Star Wars” anti-missile program, the heads of aviation museums, the founder of the EAA, three survivors of the “Memphis Belle” (one of whom included our scholarship program in his will), many military aviation heroes, the heads of aircraft factories, and many authors of aviation related books, such as “God Is My Co-Pilot”. “Hoosier Hospitality” and obtaining many notable speakers have gained a nationwide reputation for the club. This was a new beginning for the Indianapolis Aero Club. In the first year, the membership jumped to over 200. The paying of expenses for guest speakers with the increased attendance easily offset the cost. For some six years he served as a one man committee, personally finding the speaker, making site bookings, menu selections, doing the complete “Report & Meeting Notice” mailings (writing, printing, folding, addressing), and receiving the reservations.
Bob Bruce took over the presidency and instituted many changes in the operation of the club.
The club came close to dying in 1983, when membership dropped to about forty-five members with less than twenty people at the meetings.
