DAILY NEWS PEOPLE : RALPH TRUGLIO.Byline: - Kathleen Cole It was 1955 when Ralph Truglio, a high school teacher, was persuaded by his principal at San Fernando High School San Fernando High School, located in San Fernando, California, is a secondary school that is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school colors are black and gold. All girl teams are referred to as Lady Tigers, all boy teams simply as Tigers. to start a flying club through Air Explorer Scouts
Explorer Scouts (shortened to Explorers), a section of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom for 14 to 18 year olds, was introduced in 2003 . The vision was simple enough: Give kids who otherwise could never afford it a chance to learn how to fly. His first students were three eager boys from his regular classes. Last November, the three students, now in their late 50s, reunited "Reunited" was a #1 hit in the United States in 1979 by the Washington, D.C.-based group Peaches & Herb. Preceded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 5 1979 Succeeded by "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer with their former flight instructor A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor certificate vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an . All three are still flying, just like many of the hundreds of young people Truglio took under his wings during four decades. ``This keeps me young,'' Truglio says. AGE: 75 RESIDENCE: North Hollywood. BORN AND RAISED IN: Born in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , Ralph has lived in North Hollywood since 1957. OCCUPATION: Now retired, Ralph taught high school for 36 years - five years at Belmont High School Belmont High School may refer to:
MARITAL STATUS marital status, n the legal standing of a person in regard to his or her marriage state. : He has been a widower for two years. CHILDREN: Two children, Nancy Truglio of Irvine and Constance Davis of San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. . And two stepchildren, Richard Metz of Fairfax, Va., and Carolyn Cadis of Monument, Colo. Five grandchildren. VOLUNTEERISM: Ralph is a federally licensed flight instructor who teaches young people how to fly. The ground school is operated under the auspices of Boy Scouts of America Noun 1. Boy Scouts of America - a corporation that operates through a national council that charters local councils all over the United States; the purpose is character building and citizenship training and is free to all members. Flight training comes under the jurisdiction of the Optimist Youth Foundation. The students pay $25 an hour for gasoline for the airplane. The airplane is owned by the Optimist Club. All of the staff as well as both of the instructors - Ralph and a former flight student of his - are volunteers. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?: ``In 1955, I got a call from my school principal to start a flying club; we joined up with the Air Explorer Scouts, and I got my instructor's license. In all these years of 200 to 300 kids (taking the course), all but one have been successful.'' WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER?: ``I'm giving the kids something they might not otherwise be able to do.'' BIGGEST DILEMMA: ``No dilemmas really. Life has been very fair to me. I miss my wife, but I am doing things I enjoy.'' BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: ``When my first marriage went to pieces and when my second wife died.'' GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: ``Helping kids in my classes and with flying. Letting go and watching them. These are the big parts for me. I like to see these kids accomplish something. It just pleases me to no end.'' GOALS FOR THE FUTURE: ``To continue; just keep on going and hope the good Lord put me here for this. Life can be fun if you let it be.'' WHO RELIES ON YOU THE MOST AND WHO YOU RELY ON: ``I'm self-sufficient. I don't rely on others, but I do help whenever asked.'' ROLE MODELS: ``My mother. When I had polio, my mother stayed with me and massaged my legs every day with olive oil olive oil, pale yellow to greenish oil obtained from the pulp of olives by separating the liquids from solids. Olive oil was used in the ancient world for lighting, in the preparation of food, and as an anointing oil for both ritual and cosmetic purposes. . When she became an invalid, I took care of her for her last five years.'' FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: ``Taking and collecting pictures of streetcars from all over the world. And electric railways; I give slide talks on electric railways. It's lots of fun. Lots of things to keep me busy.'' HOBBIES: Ralph collects model streetcars and model trains. He has the full range of sizes from HO to the outdoor N. ``If there're tracks, they fascinate me. I like to see where they go.'' WHAT WOULD BE A PERFECT DAY FOR YOU?: ``Most important is being with family.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: ``I like to see these kids accomplish something. It just pleases me to no end,'' says retired high school teacher Ralph Truglio, who has been a flight instructor since 1955. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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