2012 Hall of Fame Inductees: (from left) Jennie Cooney (Muriel & Hank Simbro’s daughter), Muriel Simbro (inducted along with her husband Hank – posthumous), Victoria Hinojosa and Toni Evans (daughters of Bob Buquor - posthumous), Dan Poynter, Craig Girard, Claude Gillard - not represented in the photos – Carl Boenish – (posthumous)

SEVEN TO BE INDUCTED INTO SKYDIVING MUSEUM HALL OF FAME

Fredericksburg, VA…Seven more sport parachutists will be inducted into the National Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Eloy, Arizona the weekend of November 9, 2012. Parachute enthusiasts from around the world will attend.

Those being inducted are Carl Boenish, CA (posthumous); Bob Buquor, CA (posthumous); Claude Gillard, Australia; Craig Girard, AZ & Dubai; Dan Poynter, CA; and Muriel Simbro, CA/Hank Simbro, CA (posthumous).

The Hall of Fame recognizes and honors those, who through leadership, innovation, and/or outstanding achievements have defined, promoted, inspired, and advanced skydiving at the highest and sustained levels in the past, present and for future generations of skydivers. After two ceremonies on the East Coast, the National Skydiving Museum and the Hall of Fame celebration heads west to the legendary Skydive Arizona in Eloy.

The Hall of Fame inductees are selected by a nominating committee comprised of museum trustees, representatives from the United States Parachute Association (USPA) and Parachute Industry Association (PIA) governing bodies, and two members of the Hall of Fame. The committee use specific criteria--including leadership, innovation, promotion of the sport, philanthropy, and competition. The selection process discussions include how the nominees had contributed to the sport over their lifetimes. Honorees could be alive or deceased.

The fundraiser will benefit the National Skydiving Museum’s $6-million capital program that will raise the necessary funds to build the museum in Fredericksburg, VA. The museum has already acquired 4 acres of land that is situated adjacent to the U.S. Parachute Association. When completed, the 15,000 square foot National Skydiving Museum will recognize and promote the sport of skydiving through public education and awareness; recognize the contribution to skydiving by its participants, suppliers and supporters; capture forever the history of the sport through is events, equipment and personalities; and enhance aviation safety as it pertains to skydiving. It is expected the museum will draw visitors from throughout the world to experience the thrill of skydiving through its history of people, equipment and events. The National Skydiving Museum is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation governed by a Board of Trustees.

For more information about the National Skydiving Museum, Hall of Fame, visit www.skydivingmuseum.org or contact museum administrator, Nancy Kemble, at 540-604-9745 (direct line) or nkemble@skydivingmuseum.org.

Download this press release 

The 2011 National Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame Inductee Dinner was an outstanding success and a wonderful celebration to honor six skydiving legends! 

The second National Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame dinner left guests in awe. In addition to the six skydiving legends being inducted into the Hall of Fame Class of 2011, many of last year’s inductees were also on hand to congratulate their new classmates.

The location, the Historic Terminal A at Reagan Washington National Airport , provided a perfect backdrop for the evening’s festivities. Outside, guests could watch jets coming and going over D.C.’s beautiful skyline. Inside, beautiful floral centerpieces and pink dessert boxes filled with the famous “Georgetown Cupcakes” dressed the tables. The guests were treated to a delicious chicken saltimbocca dinner and the good company of fellow skydivers and friends.

The induction ceremony included a “through the years” slide show for each honoree and then they were presented with a plaque and their official blue blazer embroidered with a Hall of Fame patch. The six inductees were Uwe Beckmann (posthumous), Jacques-André Istel (Felicity, CA), Lenny Potts (Port Orange, FL), Steve Snyder (posthumous), Tee Taylor (Tucson, AZ), and Bill Booth (DeLand, FL). Parachute Industry Association (PIA) generously served as the title sponsor for the dinner. Other sponsors were Pope Valley Parachute Ranch (Reception Sponsor), George and Sue Frey (Dinner Sponsor), Cliff Schmucker (AV Equipment Sponsor), Henry Ottley (Inductees’ Blue Blazer Sponsor), Skydive Dallas (Program Book Sponsor), Philip Chiocchio (Inductee Slide Show Sponsor), and Michael (Kearnsey) Kearns (Centerpiece and Dessert Sponsor). There were also several Gold Table Sponsors: Complete Parachute Solutions, Inc., Sun Path Products, and United Parachute Technologies, LLC. & Vigil USA. Lenny Potts was a Silver Table Sponsor.

2011 Hall of Fame Inductees: from left to right, Kurt Gaebel (accepting on behalf of Uwe Beckmann – posthumous), Bill Booth, Tee Taylor, Lenny Potts, and Barbara Snyder Forer (accepting on behalf of Steve Snyder – Posthumous) not pictured: inductee Jacques-André Istel. Photo by Jerry Irwin

The Hall of Fame recognizes and honors those, who through leadership, innovation and/ or outstanding achievements have defined, promoted, inspired and advanced skydiving at the highest and sustained levels in the past, present and for future generations of skydivers. The Hall of Fame inductees are selected by a nominating committee comprised of museum trustees, representatives from the United State Parachute Association (USPA) and Parachute Industry Association (PIA) governing bodies, and two members of the Hall of Fame. The committee use specific criteria – including leadership, innovation, promotion of the sport, philanthropy and competition. The selection process discussions include how the nominees had contributed to the sport over their lifetimes. Honorees could be alive or deceased.

The fundraiser will benefit the National Skydiving Museum’s $5 million capital program that will raise the necessary funds to build the museum in Fredericksburg, VA. The museum has already acquired the land which is situated adjacent to the U.S. Parachute Association. When completed, the 15,000 square feet National Skydiving Museum will recognize and promote the sport of skydiving through public education and awareness; recognize the contribution to skydiving by its participants, suppliers and supporters; capture forever the history of the sport through is events, equipment and personalities; and enhance aviation safety as it pertains to skydiving. It is expected the museum will draw visitors from throughout the world to experience the thrill of skydiving through its history of people, equipment and events.

To nominate someone for induction into the Hall of Fame, click here  or contact museum administrator nkemble@skydivingmuseum.org or 540-604-9745.

FREDERICKSBURG, VA. . . The National Skydiving Museum is pleased to introduce its Hall of Fame Class of 2011. The deserving honorees are: Lenny Potts (Port Orange, FL), Tee Taylor (Tucson, AZ), Jacques-André Istel (Felicity, CA), Bill Booth (DeLand, FL), Steve Snyder (Philadelphia, PA - posthumous), and Uwe Beckman (Braunschweig, Germany - posthumous). The Hall of Fame recognizes and honors those, who through leadership, innovation and/ or outstanding achievements have defined, promoted, inspired and advanced skydiving at the highest and sustained levels in the past, present and for future generations of skydivers.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2011 will be formerly inducted at a fund-raising dinner to be held later this year in Washington DC. Each inductee will be presented with an official National Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame embroidered blazer and a personally engraved plaque. They will also be included in a display honoring all Hall of Fame inductees in the museum upon opening.

This is the second class inducted into the Hall of Fame. The inaugural class of the museum’s Hall of Fame was inducted in 2010 at a weekend celebration in DeLand, Florida. The inductees were Lowell Bachman (posthumous), Jerry Bird, Georgia “Tiny” Broadwick (posthumous), Joe Crane (posthumous), Joe Kittinger, Eilif Ness, Bill Ottley (posthumous), Lew Sanborn, Cheryl Stearns, Ted Strong, and Gene Paul Thacker.

The Hall of Fame inductees are selected by a nominating committee comprised of museum trustees, representatives from the United State Parachute Association (USPA) and Parachute Industry Association (PIA) governing bodies, and two members of the Hall of Fame. The committee use specific criteria – including leadership, innovation, promotion of the sport, philanthropy and competition. The selection process discussions include how the nominees had contributed to the sport over their lifetimes. Honorees could be alive or deceased.

The fundraiser will benefit the National Skydiving Museum’s $5 million capital program that will raise the necessary funds to build the museum in Fredericksburg, VA. The museum has already acquired the land which is situated adjacent to the U.S. Parachute Association. When completed, the 20,000 square feet National Skydiving Museum will recognize and promote the sport of skydiving through public education and awareness; recognize the contribution to skydiving by its participants, suppliers and supporters; capture forever the history of the sport through is events, equipment and personalities; and enhance aviation safety as it pertains to skydiving. It is expected the museum will draw visitors from throughout the world to experience the thrill of skydiving through its history of people, equipment and events.

For more information about the National Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame, contact museum administrator, Nancy Kemble, at 540-604-9745 (direct line), 302-897-4051 (cell) or nkemble@skydivingmuseum.org.

Download this press release

The National Skydiving Museum is proud to introduce the inaugural Class of 2010 inductees into its Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes and honors those, who through leadership, innovation and/ or outstanding achievements have defined, promoted, inspired and advanced skydiving at the highest and sustained levels in the past, present and for future generations of skydivers.

Congratulations to:
Lowell Bachman
Jerry Bird
Tiny Broadwick
Joe Crane
Joe Kittinger
Eilif Ness
William H. Ottley
Lewis Sanborn
Cheryl Stearns
Ted Strong
Gene Paul Thacker

Honorees were inducted into the Hall of Fame at a special dinner Saturday, August 14, during the Museum’s weekend of activities in DeLand, Florida.

Read more about the 2010 Hall of Fame Weekend here.