Tragic news - NICO has lost one of its own...

[AZhitman]

I am deeply saddened and pained to announce that NICO has lost one of its brothers.

NICO Moderator Paul Souder (MovingViolation240) was killed yesterday in a plane crash in Florida.

Paul was an accomplished pilot, and loved to fly.

He was the builder of one of the most beautiful S14's ever, and a good friend to many of us.

Please take a moment to pray for Paul and his family... God Bless you brother.

Feel free to share any thoughts or memories of Paul in this thread, as we'll be keeping it to share with his family.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth.And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings,Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds - and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,I've chased the shouting wind along and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.Up, up the long delirious, burning blueI've topped the wind swept heights with easy grace,Where never lark, or even eagle, flew;And, while with silent, lifting mind i've trodThe high untrespassed sanctity of space,Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.





From The Orlando Sentinel: The passenger killed in a plane crash Monday has been identified as Paul Souder, 24, of Kissimmee, Lake County sheriff's officials said today.

Souder was killed along with Bryan Uridel, 41, of Fruitland Park, the pilot of the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza. The plane crashed at the private Flying Baron airport, part of a fly-in community off County Road 44.

Two other passengers were injured. Eric Frazier, 25, of Leesburg, and Marty McClellan, 32, of Wildwood, were flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Frazier and McClellan remain in stable condition today, a hospital spokesman said.

Witnesses and authorities said the plane crashed 200 feet short of the runway after taking too sharp of a turn. The Flying Baron is where Randy Rhoads, lead guitarist for rock star Ozzy Osbourne, and two others were killed in 1982.

Uridel was pilot with Entertainment Coaches of America in Leesburg for 15 years, according to the company's Web site. The company has two jets that it uses to carry clients for business and emergency travel.

[tpeezy]

Rest In Peace Paul.my condolences to the Souder family.

[Altiman94]

Deepest sorrow goes out to his family. He is in a higher place now.

[c-rad]

Wow...just wow. I was talking to him just a couple days ago on AIM. His old CA was the first 240 I ever drove and he is the one who got me into them. My thoughts and prayers go out...

[SmithSR]

RIP Paul. I knew you only briefly, and distantly, but was always honored to speak with you about our hobby. May you rest in peace.

[Nismo1182]

He lived down the road from me. Hes the one that got me into CA's. I even helped him put the SR in that S14. He was a great friend and will be missed. R.I.P

[1WheelWonder]

RIP Paul, You and yours will be in my prayers.

[yoozef]

R.I.P ['] ['] ['] [']

[Slappy]

that's horrible, i got a lump in my throat. i did'nt the know guy, but that's just terrible to pass at such a young age.

my prayer's and wishe's go out to his family.

R.I.P

[NeedCAforS13]

Hes the one that got me into CA's. I even helped him put the SR in that S14.

I was there for that! Man I'm going to miss him...

Paul was hands down the friendliest, nicest, most inviting car guy I've ever met. He had no problem sitting down and explaining things, or helping me work on rebuilding my CA, or installing parts on the s13.

He always had a smile on his face. I worked on his s14 numerous times, installed the motor with him and Kevin, installed RAS in my driveway, drove that beast up and down University Blvd.

So many wonderful memories. You will be missed my friend RIP Paul.

by far my favorite picture of him...

Sean

[EZcheese15]

Words can not express how I feel right now. It was only minutes ago that I have finally stopped shaking from hearing the news. I received several IM's and phone calls about this within about five minutes of one another.

Paul was not only a never-ending source of technical information, but was a best friend as well. During my time living in FL, Paul and I hung out nearly every day. Whether it was replacing a headgasket on Jay (PSI240SX's car) or attending the 24 Hours at Daytona, we were constantly involving ourselves with learning more about cars.

I spoke with Paul less than a week ago. He had told me he had recently taken a position as a pilot for an Airline company that was operated by United Airlines. I was extremely happy for him, as this would have been his first job with a very comfortable salary. He was scheduled to start in March.

I can proudly say that Paul was one of my best friends ever. There are few people in the world that help others as much as Paul did. He was always striving to educate new comers in the Automotive hobby. He also took care of his friends elsewhere as well, even if unrelated to cars.

Paul will be missed by us all. He will never be replaced.

Rest In Peace

[Jesda]

Way too young...

Paul is in a better place now.

[drifter_for_life06]

although i never met this good chap, hearing this tragic news has really touched my heart, it actualy brought a tear to my eye.

when i was a newbie, Paul was the one here more than a year ago, showin me "the ropes of the forum" as i had never belonged to one before. He was a great man, very knowledagable, very kind and caring of others. When others couldnt or wouldnt help, he was always one i could turn to and ask any question. I almost feel as if one of my best friends is gone as well as my technical dictionary

Paul, my friend you will be greatly missed. We all love you bro!

To Pauls family, his legacy will live forever, not just in your hearts but among the thousand of us here at NICO who will remember him for years to come.

Paul We Love You!
Modified by drifter_for_life06 at 12:07 AM 2/16/2005

[w1ngzer0]

Well, never knew the guy. But, i understand what a family goes through when they lose a loved one. RIP Mr. Souter

[Rex]

The best are always taken too young, the good works they do are never fully realized until after they've passed. We all knew Paul (to some extent), but most of us never knew the man that his famil has lost. Say your prayers for the ones left behind that will live the days without him and take time to realize what you have and who it's important for you to make sure knows how you feel about them and how important they are to you.

Rest In Peace

Quote »Flight is freedom in its purest form,To dance with the clouds that follow a storm.

To roll and glide, to wheel and spin,To feel the joy that swells within.

To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,and know the warmth of a clear spring sky.

Then back to earth at the end of the day,Released from the tensions which melted away.

Should my end come while I am in flight,On the brightest day at a fabulous height,

Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain,Secure in the knowledge that I'd do it again.

For each of us born is destined to die,yet within me I know

I was born to fly.

~ an anonymous Pilot[/quote]

[Dirtylou]

I didn't know Paul but it's obvious to me that he was a dear friend to many of you. I'm sure he was a good man. I send my condolences to his family.

[nnkfws333]

Paul was a great friend and the most coolest guys Ive ever met. Paul taught me a lot about cars and if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't even have been inspired to have my own 240sx powered by SR20DET. He was the first to let me drive and ride in a turbo car(S13 CA18DET) and showed me a whole different world. He even helped me in the late nights while I had to fix my car just to get to school. I just wanted to say may God be with you and we all miss you dearly.

[RMiller]

Paul was like a legend within the community. He always had something meaningful to say, and everybody had a great deal of respect for him--and we still do.

[Stardust]

I only met Paul twice through Torry but I can say that he was a very friendly and likeable guy. He will be missed greatly.

[AZhitman]

I think Paul would have liked this:

Last Flight

I hope there is a place, way up in the sky,Where flyers can go when they have to die.

A place where a guy can buy a cold beerFor a friend and a comrade, whose memory is dear,A place where no doctor or lawyer can tread,Nor a management clone would ere be caught dead,Just a quaint little place where a lady could goAnd be safe and protected by the men she would know.

There must be a place where old flyers go,When their paining is finished and their airspeed gets low,Where the whiskey is old and the women are young,and songs about flying and dying are sung,Where you'd see all the fellows who'd flown west before,And they'd call out your name as you came through the door,Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad,And relate to the others: "He was quite a good lad."

And then through the mist you'd spot an old guyYou had not seen in years though he'd taught you to fly,He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear,And say; "Welcome, my son. I'm pleased that you're here.For this is the place where the true flyers comeWhen their journey is over and the war has been won.They've come here at last to be safe and alone,From the government clerks and the management clone.Politicians and lawyers, the Feds and the noise,Where all hours are happy and these good 'ol boysCan relax with a cool one, and a well deserved rest,This is Heaven, my son...You've passed your last test."

[Nismo_Freak]

The 240 community has lost one of it's best members...



RIP Paul

[jacob360]

Rest In Peace



It's a damn shame

[SHIEF]

Really sorry to hear this Most of us have been there and have lost a close friend. My thoughts go out to his friends and family.

[jdmfreak]

Damn...

Im goin through a death right now and now this....I dont even know what to say right now...

R.I.P.

[c-rad]

The last profile he had on AOL Instant Messenger...

"Intentional Straight and Level Flight Prohibitedhttp://musclebiplane.org/splash/flashopen2.html

2 rules to follow as a fr8dog:

#1 - Don't go below mins.#2 - Never go missed.

The question is not how far. The question is, do you possess the constitution, the depth of faith, to go as far as is needed?

I beleive the risks I take are justified by the sheer love of the life I lead. - Charles A. Lindbergh

You can always tell when a man has lost his soul to flying. The poor bastard is hopeless commited to stoping whatever he is doing long enough to look up and make sure the aircraft purring overhead continues on course and does not suddenly fall out of the sky. It is also his bound duty to watch every aircraft within view take off and land. -Ernest K. Gann, Fate Is The Hunter"

[EZcheese15]

Here are some more pictures of Paul. God Bless.

[darkeagle]

I just found out a few minutes ago when I got home. Torry left me a AIM message about him. I was just thinking of him yesterday when I was running through the memebers and notice I hadn't seen him on in a while. Breaks my heart to hear about that. I don't recall if I met him at one of our meets or not (that I've been too). Sorry to hear the tragic news and my prayers go out to his family and friends.......

[Jennie9569]

Sad...

rip

[MaineExport]

I don't even know what to say... Paul was one of the first NICO guys I ever talked to off the boards. I wish I had known him better, but the few times I got to talk to him it was very clear that he was a hell of a guy... smart, funny, take no prisoners attitude...

My thoughts and prayers are with him, his family... and our NICO family...

[hammyox85]

R.I.P. Paul. I remember when I first joined I used to see the posts he would make helping other people with their 240sx problems. My prayers go out to the family.