Having made over 2,000 jumps since 1969, John was an old time jumper but he was different in that he always surfed the latest waves in skydiving and he always strove with all his energy to share what he learned with others.

John operated Drop Zone Publishing which published the SOUTHWIND, a unique periodical that was a poster to be posted on the wall at the MidWest DZs. Beginning with it's premier issue October 1992, the SOUTHWIND was circulated nationally.

John organized numerous MEES (Movement Efficiency Exercises for Skydivers) classes starting in October 1992. John worked with Janet Hamburg, a Certified Laban Movement Analyst who is the director of dance at the University of Kansas, and Tamara Koyn, 92 world champion freestylist, in designing the workshop. The primary goal of the MEES warm-up was to improve the skydivers' coordination and provide a greater degree of confidence that he or she can successfully maneuver the body in unexpected, as well as planned, situations. The warm-up also connects the mind and body to space, reinforces body-level connections, stretches and strengthens muscle groups, and teaches skydivers to move dynamically in space.

Since 1992, John accumulated around 800 "out-of-the-box" jumps, as he called them, which included freestyle, camera flying and mostly freeflying. John competed in the first ever held freeflying competition held at Skydive Arizona in the fall of 1994 and continued to compete in major freeflying competitions in the years to come.

Throughout his involvement with skydiving since 1969, John was famous among the Mid-West jumping community as an artist sharing many pioneering ideas involving every aspect of skydiving. John now probably has his drawing board well established where he is now and is at it again. He and his exoctic ideas will be missed by his fellow earthling skydivers.

If you would like to order a copy of The Grey Area of Flight, please write: Belinda Schuman for more information.