AVweb
Photo by Willy Boeykens
In early 2006, the world’s most experienced skydivers assembled in Thailand to build a record, 400-way formation. What did it take? The resources of an entire air force, 300 tons of Jet-A, a trainload of oxygen bottles and the determined endurance of a marathon runner. On the 15
th anniversary of that record, weâre republishing this article, which first appeared in February 2006.
To those unschooled in the sport â and that is all but the tiniest slice of the dull, normal population â skydivers merely jump from airplanes and gravity does the rest. Weâll concede the gravity part for the moment, but getting out of an airplane with your wits intact is a practiced skill that deserves the more refined term all skydivers prefer: exiting.
Lt. Col. Jerry Koontz remembered for a life of military and civilian service to others James A. Jones Jr., The Bradenton Herald
Jan. 28 MANATEE Gerard F. Jerry Koontz Sr. of Bradenton, a career Air Force officer, who later led the United Way of Manatee County for 18 years, is being remembered for a lifetime of service.
Retired Lt. Col. Koontz died Jan. 19, 2021, at home, with his family at his side, following complications from a fall in October. He was 77. I am so blessed that he was my father. He was very loving and taught respect and kindness for others, his daughter, Kathe Neely, said. We always had dinner together with a prayer. He was the last to sit down and the last to get his plate. He was no different at home than in front of others: always generous and giving. It was a great family to grow up in.