John Atwood was born in Newport News, Virginia.  His home is on the James River, and his earliest memories are of seeing hundreds of work boats and buy boats on the James tonguing for oysters.  He built his first twelve-foot flat-bottom sailboat at the age of 10 with help from his mother by teaching him how to sew unbleached muslin into "sails" with mast rings made from shower curtain holders and a mast of galvanized pipe.  He then began designing small free-sailing pond boats.  At the age of 16 he and a friend built a boat house/workshop which still stands today and is used for designing, constructing and repairing his boats. After high school he graduated from Miami Dade College’s pilot training flight school.  He is a Vietnam-Era veteran and was a Crew Chief flying helicopters in the U. S. Army.  After his tour of duty, he resumed his education and graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an airframe and power-plant mechanics license. John’s racing experience includes racing Hampton One Designs, Moths, International Canoes, 505’s, and skippering/crewing on a number of various large sailboats. His experience in RC began with constructing various types of gas, nitro and electric models.  He built for himself a CR-914, J-boat, several schooners, work boat, Mississippi Tow Boat, buy boat, side paddle wheeler and a Skipjack.  John is actively building from kits and repairing CR-914’s for race enthusiasts who need his help with the construction and maintenance of their boats.  In addition to kit construction and race ready set-up of the models, he will paint and add graphic designs to the customer’s specifications. John is currently working with the Mariners Museum in Newport News, Virginia, to include a model yacht racing program to be run on the lake at the museum.