USCG model maker Tony Kloska

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USCG model maker Tony Kloska

by tijuana » August 15, 2016, 8:36 am

Does anyone remember an older gentleman from Chicago, Tony Kloska?
Mr Kloska would craft hand made models of each new class of USCG vessel and deliver them to the USCG Academy in New London, Conn.

I came across Mr Kloska while attending US Navy League luncheons in the 80's. I was by far the youngest attendee and had little in common with the WWII and Korean War vets in attendance, but I had to eat and I worked very close to the venue at the Chicago Yacht Club. Lunch was followed by over an hour of "war stories" from those attending but I waited around to talk with Tony after he presented his latest creation for viewing and I was hooked.

I gave a short presentation during one of these lunches to update the board on the Cadet training vessel Manatra, a retired "buck and a quarter", a 125' USCG steel hulled revenuer/sub-chaser. After that short talk Tony sought me out and wanted to know if he could see it, take pictures and really do a nice cook's tour of the vessel. Some weeks passed and I received a call from Tony asking me if I would like a model of the old 125' vessel as she looked when in service. Quickly agreeing, he got to work. In a few months Tony showed up at the office I worked at with a unique carrying case and wanted to present the model to me.
I used an empty conference room to do the unveiling. It was a pretty nice piece of work. After 10 minutes, word got out, and there had to be a dozen brokers and traders filing into the room to see what hard work really produces! Tony was the hit that day. He was a simple man, who dedicated his days to helping with maintenance at a local Catholic church. A year after that, a former captain of the vessel contacted him and he made another model.

Just a topic that came to me as I passed the scale model on my mantle today. I hope some one out there remembers Tony Kloska and his talented hands. Thanks for reading.
Tijuana

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