Congratulations to Bevan and Margo Brown of Burtonsville, Maryland who received the annual award for “Kitefliers of the Year’ at the convention. The nominating letter was submitted by Valerie Govig, Mel Govig, A. Pete Ianuzzi and Arnold Simon; it has been excerpted as follows:
Bevan and Margo were present and involved in establishing the AKA in 1978 in Maryland and in following years. Both Bevan (1980-81) and Margo (1985-86) served as President of the Association, in both cases bridging difficult times for the AKA and keeping the organization going with limited resources.
Bevan and Margo have been active, helping members of the Maryland Kite Society since 1968. They have also participated most years at the Sunfest kite festival in Ocean City, Maryland, and the East Coast Stunt Kite Champion· ship in Wildwood, New Jersey, as well as many smaller events. Bevan and his stopwatch and Margo and her parasol are a welcome sight wherever they appear; their good spirits and good sense virtually guarantee that whatever the weather, there will not be a disaster.
Bevan and Margo have contributed to Kite Lines as well as the AKA News on many occasions. Both have served as judges at many kite events, both dual-line and single-line, and Bevan wrote the first draft of the AKA rule book for comprehensive judging. The Browns’ generosity has been less visible but no less appreciated by those who know their contributions to both publications. Recently, Margo has undertaken the editing of The Windy Notice, the newsletter of the Maryland Kite Society.
Bevan is well-known for his eagle kite (which is now in the Smithsonian kite collection), his pair of seagulls, the various versions of his delightful, kinetic carousel kite (especially the one with the impossible 13 spokes for the Bicentennial), and his rokkakus. Bevan issued the original Rokkaku Challenge of 1982 that has kept running for an amazing 11 years and is still going strong Internationally.
Margo’s kites include several fine, faciful fliers, beautifully decorated, and a rokkaku to match Bevan’s and to make a pair (since Bevan and Margo are an example of that rare breed these days, a truly devoted couple). Margo was a Founding Member of the Mama-sans International Women’s Rokkaku Team and in 1985 provided lavender t-shirts for all the teammates.
Bevan and Margo have either given or helped with kite workshops on a regular basis for many years. Every year since 1976, the Browns have taken on responsibility for the pre-festival educational Smithsonian workshop and lecture, which are now very largely in their hands.
Bevan and Margo have been participants in the Smithsonian kite festival since 1968. With their children Rochelle, Vincent and Stephanie, they would regularly sweep up the trophies, always including the Family Trophy. Now “retired’ from competition, they watch as their grandchildren come along and get closer to the age to compete, although competitiveness is not a dominant feature of their personalities. Sharing is. They have been sharing bigtime since about 1976 when they started the tradition of the Browns’ Open House each year after working all day at the Smithsonian. In addition, they have for several years opened their home to overnight kite guests who travel from distant locations to attend the festival.
Of course, the biggest help the Browns give to the Smithsonian festival is in directing it, which they have been doing gradually since 1976, when Paul Garber and his wife Buttons began to need help. Also, the Smithsonian Resident Associates, who run the festival, did not have the thorough grounding in kites that the Browns brought to the job. The Browns have worked quietly to improve the Smithsonian without violating the traditions set up by Paul and Buttons and without alienating the institutional sponsorship. The latest 1993 Smithsonian, the first after the death of Paul Garber, was an unusual, valiant effort to beat the rain. which the Browns and recruits managed to do in style.
Perhaps the Brown’s most important services for kiting have been those relating to Paul Garber personally. They cared for him in their home for several months after he suffered a stroke in 1991.
These days, the Browns are serving as conservators of historic kiting materials, including some left to them by Paul. Furthermore, the Browns are giving three days a week of time to the Smithsonian, especially to the Paul Garber Preservation, Restoration and Storage Facility in Silver Hill, Maryland, where aircraft is cared for before transfer to the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum. The Garber Facility is home to a number of historic kites collected by Paul over the years. With the aid and encouragement of the Browns, the kites will be placed on display in the Museum once again in 1997 for a five-year period. Finally, Margo is continuing to work for a series of U.S. postage stamps in commemoration of kites, as first outlined some years ago by Paul Garber.
