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.[4] He devised a technique for freefall photography and shot a cover photo for Sports Illustrated.[5] In 1960, he was even nominated for an Academy Award for filming the skydiving documentary “A Sport is Born.”[6] In 1972, USPA honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award “for originating safe and reliable parachuting equipment and pioneering work in freefall photography.”[7] In 2000, Istel inducted him into the Hall of Fame of Parachuting in Felicity, California.[8] In 2001, the Golden Knights made him an honorary member, and in 2010, the International Skydiving Museum inducted him into its Hall of Fame.[9]

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