Lew Sanborn
Lewis B. Sanborn (born: July 10, 1930 Cleveland, Ohio) is an early developer of the freefall method of skydiving who along with Jacques-André Istel helped popularize sport parachuting in the United States.[1] He is considered by many to be a pioneer and legend in the sport.[1] In 1959, Sanborn and Istel co-founded Parachutes Incorporated, the first commercial parachuting center in the United States.[2] An accomplished pilot, member of the United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Division from 1948 to 1952, national skydiving champion in 1954 and 1959 and hall of fame skydiver (introductory class 2010)[2] He continues to jump on a regular basis and is still very active in the skydiving community.
Lewis “Lew” Sanborn, D-1 and Jacques André Istel, D-2, established sport skydiving in the United States in the 1950s.[3] Sanborn started jumping with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and later became a member of the U.S. Parachute Team, master rigger, private and commercial pilot, instructor, national judge and world-record holder.[3] He devised a technique for freefall photography and shot a cover photo for Sports Illustrated.[3] In 1960, he was even nominated for an Academy Award for filming the skydiving documentary “A Sport is Born.”[3] In 1972, USPA honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award “for originating safe and reliable parachuting equipment and pioneering work in freefall photography.”[3] In 2000, Istel inducted him into the Hall of Fame of Parachuting in Felicity, California.[3] In 2001, the Golden Knights made him an honorary member, and in 2010, the International Skydiving Museum inducted him into its Hall of Fame.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Lew Sanborn". ParachuteHistory.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ a b "2010 Hall of Fame Inductees". Skydiving Museum & Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Lewis "Lew" Sanborn | D-1". Archived from the original on 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2019-04-20.