*By Adam Ashton and Tim Moran, Modesto Bee staff writers, February 9, 2006.  Oakdale, CA-

  A two-seat airplane crashed Wednesday afternoon, killing a prominent Modesto businessman

  and a flight school owner near Oakdale Airport.  Sources close to the investigation said the

  victims were former Modesto Irrigation District Chairman Chuck Billington, 65, and Modesto

  Flight Center co-owner Dave Mesenhimer, 61.  Billington, who served for 20 years on the

  MID board until this fall, owned three Modesto manufacturing companies: Billington Welding and

  Manufacturing, Modesto Steel and Modesto Welding Products.  He participated in a number of

  community groups, including the North Modesto Kiwanis Club and Modesto's Salvation Army

  Advisory Board.  He also raced cars for more than 40 years, and had plans for eight races this

  year, said Dick Hagerty, a longtime friend and business partner who raced with him.  "Whatever

  he did, he did with total enthusiasm," said Hagerty, 66.  "He was the most creative, innovative,

  energetic man you absolutely ever met.  This town never had a guy like him."   Billington bought

  the plane less than a month ago and had planned to spend more time on his hobbies now that he

  was finished with his MID tenure, Hagerty said.  "We told him, 'Chuck, you're 65.  Let's enjoy

  life.  Let's do all the fun stuff,'"  Hagerty recalled telling Billington recently to talk him out of run-

  ning for another elected office.  Don Monaco, 71, a friend who was involved in car racing with

  Billington, said he went to Hemet with Billington to look at the plane before he bought it.  "I'm

  just absolutely sick. He's just had a golden life, all good stuff happened to him. He was looking

  forward to spending time with his grandchildren," Monaco said.  (Chuck Billington was a member

  of the Gear Grinder's Club in the SCTA, from Robert Webb  gagrip@earthlink.net)