Jerry started skydiving in 1966 while stationed
with the U. S. Army in Germany. Since then he has made over 1100 jumps, earning the Gold
Wing Award from the United States Parachute Association. Jerry holds an Expert Parachutist
License and has received the Star Crest Award, given for participation in precision
free-fall formations. He has jumped from a plane as small as a two-seater Piper Cub to one
as large as a DC-3 carrying over 40 skydivers. Some unusual jumps include those made from
a hot-air balloon and off the side of a mountain.
Jerry jumped mainly for fun, but also jumped at several fairs and
air shows in Indiana, including the Grant County 4-H Fair, Tipton Pork Festival, Van Buren
Popcorn Festival, Greentown Glass Festival, Annual Upland Labor Day Rodeo, Fort Wayne
Three Rivers Festival, and the Marion, Anderson and Kokomo Air Show.
Combining his interest in photography with skydiving, he
jumped
with a helmet mounted motorized camera. One of his photographs was published on the front
cover of the national parachuting magazine, "PARACHUTIST" and two were
used by Dan Poynter in his book, "Parachuting - The Skydiver's Handbook".
