Story and slideshow: Taking the plunge for his 80th

By CARRIE KIRSCHNER - The Independent

CHESAPEAKE June 02, 2008 02:16 pm

— Jimmy Stewart is having a wonderful life.
At 79, the Raceland native has been to each of the 50 states and has had more than his share of adventures in each one.
For his 75th birthday, he took a hot air balloon ride. In search of another grand experience to celebrate his 80th birthday, which is June 7, Stewart tried skydiving for the first time Sunday evening. Strapped to Tri-State Skydiving owner Larry Lemaster, Stewart jumped from 11,000 feet, and enjoyed a 5,000-foot freefall before opening his parachute and gliding back to earth.
Although first delayed by scattered storms and with strong upper air currents causing a rougher than planned landing, Stewart said the experience was worth the bumps and bruises.
“It was fine but when you first come out, it was a rush. It really hits you there ... the speed and everything,” Stewart said afterward.
He described the feeling of the parachute opening as “really reassuring,” adding, “It really jerked you, actually I didn’t feel like we fell as far as we did.”
Stewart couldn’t chose a favorite part of the experience. The entire thing, he said, was thrilling, but floating down with the chute open and enjoying the view got a mention, too.
Half a dozen friends and family greeted Stewart on the ground after his jump, including his daughter, Sharon Boehm, of Mason, Ohio.
None of those present said they were suprised by his decision to jump. They laughed, saying it would give Stewart one more story to add to his long list of tales.
“He’s always found life interesting,” said Boehm, adding her daughter and son-in-law jumped last year, which in part prompted Stewart’s decision. It didn’t take much, she said, to convince him to try it.
“He likes adventure and he’s willing to try new things,” she said. “I think it’s great that he enjoys life and wants to try new things. It’s nice to be able to see people do fun things.”
Stewart has always had fun, according to him and those who know him well.
He’s ridden a motorcycle continuously since he was 16 and believes he may be the oldest continuous rider in the area. “Motorcycles keep you young if they don’t kill you,” he jokes.
He gets around on a 1979 Harley Davidson, but an Army surplus Indian he bought from his brother-in-law in 1944 sparked his passion for riding. He started off doing some stunt riding but quickly turned to racing, becoming an expert in just three years.
One of his greatest achievements included qualifying to ride on the beach in the Daytona National 200 in 1953. He finished 11th and hit speeds up to 130 mph. One of the Indian motorcycles he rode on the circuit is on display in the Indian Motorcycle Museum in Springfield, Mass.
Since retiring from CSX in 1988 after 44 years as a machinist at the Roundhouse in Russell, Stewart has traveled the country in a motor home with his wife Margie.
He been to the Arctic Circle and the pair were caught in a freak summer snowstorm in the Canadian Rockies during their 101-day trip to Alaska. He’s also cruised the sky over Hawaii in a helicopter and made numerous trips to Europe.
“I just like to go,” he says of his passion for travel and adventure.
Staring down 80, he’s not sure what he’ll try next.
“I’ll have to think about it,” he says with a wide grin spreading across his face.
CARRIE KIRSCHNER can be reached at ckirschner@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.

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