OCR Text |
Show ST. GEORGE NEIGHBORHOODS www.thespectrum.com — The Spectrum For the week of September 26, 2008 — 7 ° 93-year-old celebrates birthday in high style BY BOB HUDSON bhudson@thespectrum.com ST. GEORGE — As Barnard Seegmiller approached his 93rd _ birthday recently, his children looked for a unique As they were discussing family history, they found something that’s impressed everyone for over half a century. In 1943 Barnard’s grandfather, Charles William Seegmiller, took an airplane ride over the family’s Arizona Strip property to celebrate his 100th birthday. Why not do something similar, they asked? Why not take him for.a helicopter ride over the same property? His daughter Sally Brown expressed some _ concern that Barnard mig be timid about the trip... Submitted photo Ninety-three-year-old Barnard Seegmiller is miked up and ready for a helicopter ride to celebrate his birthday. Following a smooth liftoff, Fitts headed the Robinson R44. Raven. II Seegmiller Mountain. “It was amajestic sight and Dad couldn't wait that trip... to start telling stories as we flew over roads he had built and ponds he had dug, mostly with a shovel,” Brown said. She - said the foursome “During World War I, I flew in a B25 over four invasions, he said beforehand. “So. I guess I'm not timid about flying in a helicopter over Seegmiller Mountain, where for 30 years I Spied a cattle business.” south - to — which included her husband Rod — flew low over a catchment basin where Seegmiller had nearly died trying to rescue his glasses when they fell in. “We -took a quick trip past the farm and the Hela Seegmiller Memorial Park; *“Brown said. Then it was on to his current house and the one in which the family grew Seegmiller spent cae years. =U p. as the Washington County ~ “We were having such a Assessor. ‘ea time that we extend“Dad was like a kid on ed our flight and the pilot Christmas; Brown said. “So” took us up the backside of we arrived early on ae 2 “Snow Canyon; she said. at the airport’ “After an hour in the air we landed and were greeted by Shauna (Nikolaus), Dad's caregiver. He was all smiles tooka Title bit of work to get him into the helicopter. Pilot: .and couldnt wait to call his Josh Fitts of A Flight Above © “friends aie them on removed the door to make his adventure.’ it easier. When Seegmiller’s grand- father landed following his sightseeing flight, he told his daughter. Fern, “By jolly, Ferny! What a day, what a day!” That expression is a oftquoted part of family history. Seegmiller said he expected to tell his daughter the same thing. The flight on the helicopter wasn't his first on that type of aircraft either. “One time when I was on the BLM board we went out on Blackhawk Mountain, Barnard recalled. His daughter Corri Theobald guessed that took place in the 1980s. Theobald noted that the Seegmiller family roots are deep in Washington County. Washington City is in the process of building a park honoring his father, Hela Seegmiller. After serving as a bomb loader during World War II he returned to St. George. He and his wife Deloris, who died six years ago, raised five daughters and one son. While serving in the Army in 1944 Seegmiller earned the soldier's medal for pulling an injured airman from an airplane which had crashed. LiteStyle KIDS I1Q Lenses Grades K-6 @ SAFE POLYCARBONATE @ ANTI-RELECTIVE @ TD2 SCRATCH RESISTANT @ UV PROTECTED @ SINGLE VISION @ 12 MONTH ONE-TIME Re (Loss, Breakage, or RX Change) Only $99 Kids Frame & IQ Lens Package Only $129 DIXIE OPHTHALMIC SPECIALISTS -G& Laser Eye Center 435.628.3600 1085 S. Bluff - St. George |