John Hoover

[Yuri]

John Hoover has died in a car crash yesterday.

I can hardly talk now. Blue Skies, Black Death John!

The following has been posted on rec.skydiving.

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Norman man dies in accident
2001-01-24
By Robyn Lydick
Staff Writer

A Norman man was killed after his pickup struck a bridge footing and burst into flames Tuesday afternoon. The accident happened on Interstate 40 at the NW 10 bridge. Our units were about a mile and a half away, at Mustang Road, and they saw the smoke, said Maj. Brian Stanaland, spokesman for the Oklahoma City Fire Department. John C. Hoover, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said. Witnesses said the pickup passed them at high speed, and Hoover's head was bobbing like he had something wrong with him, Stanaland said. Troopers said Hoover could have fallen asleep. Hoover was going west on I-40 when he lost control of the pickup and went off the road, Stanaland said. The pickup exploded when it hit the bridge. Oklahoma Department of Transportation workers were called to inspect the damage to the bridge,Stanaland said. Hoover was in the pickup for almost an hour before firefighters could remove his body.


In response to Scott's e-mail...I thought I'd give all the details I've found...... Sorry to bring such sad news to all...I was aboard the last skydive John made at OSC a few weekends ago. John and I exited at about 4K after I put out a student. I want everyone to know that Johns last jump was a great one...I flew on my back and watched him as he exited into a track, taking us down to about 2K...we shared laughter on the ground that day and overall had a great day. I just wanted you all to know that his last dive was indeed a great one which I will remember.

Blue skys all

David Johnson D23029

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[guest]

I was blessed to have known John for about 10 years. A piece of my heart is know missing, for John was a great friend and a great BASE Mentor. His days of joy will live on. Thanks for everything John!

Justin :)

[guest]

From us who knew John in Norway;Love and respect.

[Yuri]

The funeral will be on Monday 10AM in Norman, Oklahoma.

[guest]

John Hoover, bless his heart, was the very first subscriber to the Fixed Object Journal. I remember it well because it was also the first piece of mail we ever received.

"Hey Ralph, look, some guy in Norman, Oklahoma sent us ten bucks." It was a heady moment.

Or, who remembers, the ruckus caused when John Hoover (freefalling) is photographed alongside his 9 year old son, Casey Hoover, who's being direct bagged by non-other than Grandma Hoover!!!

Or, John laying flat on his back on a nice carpet in a corner office after crashing through a window twenty stories up. He said, as the canopy caught wind and dragged him back out the window, "There's this guy's wife and family in this picture on the desk and I wonder how different my own life may have turned out if I'd made some different choices. And that disturbing thought ran through my mind as I repeatedly hit the building on the way down."

Or, Para-Care! This is a video John’s in where he promotes “Para-Care” a service for skydivers who are tempted by BASE jumping. “At Para-Care We Promise to get you Back to a Safe Altitude, Before it’s Too Late!”

Or, John walks into the Bombshelter (the old one) at Perris in the mid-eighties and announces, “Hey, is there any BASE jumping around here!” And his being greeted with a loud chorus of, “ SHUT UP!”

Or, he wore black trench coats before they were cool . . .

And irony of irony. We just finished an interview with Mike Allen’s niece, for a film’s she doing on him, two days ago. He also died in the dreaded automobile.

Good Night, John.

Nick
BASE 194

[guest]

We'll miss you John. It was a pleasure and honor to know you and jump with you.

My condolensces to the remaining family. Any calls to support John's family would be appreciated.

blue skies, black death,
Chris Stokely

[Yuri]

I'm flying to Oklahoma City at 5:35pm on Sunday, please email if you need a ride to Norman, i'll probably rent a car.

bsbd!

Yuri.

[guest]

My last message got accidently posted before I could tell you all what John's note said that he left with our BASE records. It said:

"I John Hoover did in fact assist in the maintenance of these BASE records as they pertain to those that have become deceased.
John Hoover
12-9-00"
Johnny, we'll put a D by your name, but you'll always live in our hearts!!
Our sympathy to his family and friends.
Rick and Joy.

[guest]

http://www.BridgeDayAssociation.com/hoover.jpg

[guest]

Sorry, but it looks like my first message didn't get posted so I'll try again. Johnny Hoover or "Hoove" as I called him was a treasured friend since the early 80's at Bridge Day. If any of you are old enough to remember some of the parties in our room at the Holiday Inn in Oak Hill, you may remember that John was always good at bringing an old friend of his he called KGB. I can't admit what that means, but it is not the old Soviet spy organization. The IRONY of his death is that just 6 weeks ago, he spent an evening here at our house. He really got a kick out of seeing the old original BASE Number records. He and Yuri went through the list with Joy. John's self appointed job was to update the records for who was dead. Little did any of us think that only a few weeks later we would add his name to the list. He was so proud to help with the records he left us a personal note that we'll keep about his helping maintain the records. The exact wording of his note is in the other posting from us.

Johnny, you've joined an elite quality group of friends and BASE jumpers up there. I think you'll really like your next load with Carl, Mike Allen, John Mjoen, Thor Alex, and many great others. We'll all be there one day and we'll come back and do the first 100 way off Half Dome.
I guess we'll put a "D" by your name, but you'll always live in our hearts!!
Blue Skies and Black Death Johnny.
Rick and Joy.

[kleggo]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-01 AT 05:48 PM (PST)[/font][p]damn hoover...............................

you were a special guy that kept battling the beast.

later days

craig fenstermaker

[guest]

MAN,THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT I CAN THINK OF TO SAY ABOUT JOHN BUT I KNOW EVERYONE THAT KNEW HIM HAS ALL OF THE SAME HEART FELT FEELINGS.I WILL DEEPLY MISS HIS "ONE OF KIND"FRIENDSHIP,IT REALLY HURTS TO SAY THAT.THIS IS A POEM THAT JOHN WROTE AND GAVE TO ME A FEW YEARS AGO:
WEIGHT
THE WEIGHT OF ONES HEART
WILL ALWAYS TELL THE TALE
AND LEAVE THE BOLDEST TRAVELER
WRACKED UPON THE TRAIL

THE HEAD IS FILLED WITH WANDERLUST
THE SOUL CANNOT DENY
AND THE BODY SHALL BE DRIVEN
TO WHERE THE SPIRIT WOULD RESIDE

JOHN HOOVER 11-13-96

[Yuri]

http://home.anet.ee/~outrager/bd98-03.jpg

[guest]

>He really got a kick out of seeing the old original BASE Number records. He and Yuri went through the list with Joy.

Mr.Harrison,

My name's been on the BASE number list for a long long time and my name is marked CONFIDENTIAL. I was promised my name would never see the light of day. Now that these two (and god knows who else) has seen the list I don't know what to think. What's next, the list gets published on the internet? I need some answers here as my career depends on the confidentiality I was promised, and never worried about until now. Besides myself, there are several government\law enforcement\public life types besides me who may need to be removed from the BASE number list. Waiting for an answer.

Compromised_BASE_jumper

[guest]

Get a life. No one cares who you are. Our friend was God fearin, Govt haten, died in the wool BASE man. That is probably why the Harrisons let him view and maintain the old #'s. John was BASE.

How dare you impose your self centered paranoia on us during this time of grief. Contact the Harrisons off line moron.

I hope they publish your BASE # in the Wall Street Journal.