posted Sep 26th, 2011 - The NSL News had reported the induction of Jerry Bird to the National Skydiving Museum's Hall of Fame during the Skydive Expo in DeLand on 19 August 2010. It happened at the same event where skydivers celebrated the 50th anniversary of Joseph Kittinger's unique high-altitude record jump that he did in 1960. Joe Kittinger also made it to the Hall of Fame at the same time.

The inaugural class of the museum’s Hall of Fame in August 2010 also included Lowell Bachman (posthumous), Georgia “Tiny” Broadwick (posthumous), Joe Crane (posthumous), Bill Ottley (posthumous), Eilif Ness, Lew Sanborn, Cheryl Stearns, Ted Strong and Gene Paul Thacker.

Now the NSL News had the opportunity to attend the second induction of a new class of honorees last Friday at the Washington International Airport. Lenny Potts, Tee Taylor, Jacques-André Istel, Bill Booth, Steve Snyder (posthumous) and Dr. Uwe Beckman (posthumous) had their turn to accept this special honor.

The Hall of Fame recognizes and honors those, who through leadership, innovation and/ or outstanding achievements have defined, promoted, inspired and advanced skydiving at the highest and sustained levels in the past, present and for future generations of skydivers. Last Friday's event was a fund-raising dinner at the same time where each inductee was presented with an official National Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame embroidered blazer and a personally engraved plaque.

The Hall of Fame inductees are selected by a nominating committee comprised of museum trustees, representatives from the United State Parachute Association (USPA) and Parachute Industry Association (PIA) governing bodies, and two members of the Hall of Fame. The committee uses specific criteria – including leadership, innovation, promotion of the sport, philanthropy and competition. The selection process discussions include how the nominees had contributed to the sport over their lifetimes. Honorees could be alive or deceased.

One of the posthumous inductions honored former IPC President Dr. Uwe Beckmann from Germany, and the NSL News was invited to accept the honor for the German skydiving federation and community, and for Dr. Uwe Beckmann's family and friends.

Dr. Uwe Beckmann served as the IPC President for several years. One of his many great achievements for the sport was the most impressive skydiving demonstration that was ever shown to the general public in the whole world. He had opened up the door to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for BJ Worth, who then designed and organized the live display of the Olympic Rings as a freefall formation over the Olympic Stadium of Seoul, Korea, during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 1988.

Dr. Uwe Beckmann died in 1999 after suffering Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). In his last years, he had contributed to the project plans of the National Skydiving League with advice and encouragement. The National Skydiving League was eventually launched in 1998.

The fundraiser for the National Skydiving Museum and its Hall of Fame will benefit the $5 million capital program to build the museum in Fredericksburg, VA, right next to the USPA headquarters. When completed, the 20,000 square feet National Skydiving Museum will recognize and promote the sport of skydiving through public education and awareness; recognize the contribution to skydiving by its participants, suppliers and supporters; capture forever the history of the sport through is events, equipment and personalities; and enhance aviation safety as it pertains to skydiving. It is expected the museum will draw visitors from throughout the world to experience the thrill of skydiving through its history of people, equipment and events.

This is the same path that Dr. Uwe Beckmann had in his mind for the future of the sport, and he himself would proudly accept his spot in the Hall of Fame.