Bolas 5 #201 January 29, 2007 At Skydive Carolina we did a remembrance "magic carpet" for Johnny on the Saturday sunset load. Here's a quick edit: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1837098118Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #202 January 29, 2007 QuoteAt Skydive Carolina we did a remembrance "magic carpet" for Johnny on the Saturday sunset load. Here's a quick edit: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1837098118 Thanks for sharing. Perfect song selection! ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marcorandazza 1 #203 January 29, 2007 Yeah Hoo! Just before my 100th jump, someone noted that I was sporting the same color jumpsuit as Johnny. So, I got a fake beard (there happened to be one lying around), put on a frap hat, and started walking like Johnny, and I started screaming "YEAH HOOO!" and flipping everyone off. That day, the curse of Johnny Gates was born. (My 100th ended with a broken leg). FOURTH IMPORTANT SAFETY BRIEFING -- DONT IMITATE JOHNNY GATES! I wasn't very close to him, but I was sad to hear he died. Of course, once I heard HOW he died... I just had to say "what a cool motherfucker." Blue Skies Johnny... Say Hi to Cliff for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marcandalysse 0 #204 January 29, 2007 Did you notice I posted a photo of the two of you? It's a few pages back in this thread.. "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #205 January 29, 2007 There were at least two memorial dives for Johnny yesterday at ZHills. The first was an earmuff-shaped RW formation with a simulated release of ashes (Johnny was not creamated). The rumor was that they emptied a couple of ashtrays from the Muff Bros. trailer - more than enough for a big bag. The second jump was an RW formation of the letter "M" sequenced to the letter "B". It went very well. There was a high overcast allowing for great visability of both jumps by the folks on the ground. The second load was on jumprun at 4:19 pm, with an exit at 4:20. Go figure. I think Johnny had a hand in making that work out. We'll miss you, you old Asshole. Kevin K._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cathybmw 0 #206 January 29, 2007 Hello to you all, Johnny's sister here. I am looking for the source of the beautiful picture (sitting in the bomber) that we chose to display at the funeral. That picture put me in such a place of peace. If anyone can e-mail the picture I would love to have it as a keepsake. I am almost breathless at the outpouring of love for my brother. He truly found heaven on earth in his sport and all his friends. We should all live so well. Thank you all for sharing your stories. It really helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marcandalysse 0 #207 January 29, 2007 Contact Tony Hathaway at www.tonyhathaway.com He has a few great ones of Johnny in the bomber, among others.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sistermuff 0 #208 January 29, 2007 Thanks to all for the pics. Johnny Gates muffed me on my tandem and was my mentor and inspiration. He was the angel on earth for many of us. He landed his last jump with his own wings at twilight(sunset) a magical time on earth. What an exit Johnny, I am still learning and listening. I love you Muff Muff See Ya. Joanne Muff # 2928 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boogiemon 0 #209 January 29, 2007 I dunno if ya heard yet Mark, but Darrell will be taking care of the Muff Stuff. Here's a link to a story about Johnny and the rest of us Assholes an outdoors writer did a few years ago. I'm not that great on computers but I'll try to post the photo that went with it. http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/17/Pasco/Taking_the_plunge.shtmlMuff Muff!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leroydb 0 #210 January 30, 2007 QuoteI dunno if ya heard yet Mark, but Darrell will be taking care of the Muff Stuff. Here's a link to a story about Johnny and the rest of us Assholes an outdoors writer did a few years ago. I'm not that great on computers but I'll try to post the photo that went with it. http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/17/Pasco/Taking_the_plunge.shtml QuoteOutdoors Taking the plunge Uncertainity fills the mind, fright temporarily freezes the body, but after finally braving the leap for your first skydive, it is a high you never will forget. By ERIK JACOBS Published July 17, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ZEPHYRHILLS - "It will change your life," Johnny Gates shouted as a parting shot while I found my way back to my car after my first visit to Skydive City. I had arrived at Skydive City via Freefall Drive and Skydive Lane and was set to inquire about skydiving when I was distracted by a white tent with the words "Muff Oasis" printed on the canopy. Walking past a "Residents Only" sign, I approached a half-dozen people relaxing in the shade. The Muff Oasis, I discovered, is a shelter for the Muff Brothers, an international skydivers organization of more than 3,400 men and women worldwide who live to jump out of planes. The association started in Texas when Dennis McGlynn donned a pair of earmuffs during a jump just for a laugh. Soon it turned into an ideology. "We take all the negative stuff in the world and make fun of it," said Gates, a 65-year-old grandfather, retired auto mechanic and Muff Brother No. 65. "If you are goofy enough to put on a set of earmuffs and fall through the sky, then that's what it is all about." Gates made his first jump "November 1, 1981; I remember it like an anniversary," he said. Since that day, Gates has been hooked. "My whole life changed," Gates said. "When I worked, I always put money away to go to local boogies (skydiving rallies). Everything I didn't have to spend I put away." Two weeks later, I was ready to try it myself. As the Muff Brothers choreographed their free-fall formations, my altimeter sitting comfortably at 0 feet above sea level, I watched gray clouds threaten to fill in the last few gaps of blue sky needed for us to jump. Sweating under my jumpsuit, I decided to review my game plan: Jump. That was all I had to do. But today, that little bit of knee extension and hip flexion I had been perfecting since my preschool days on the jungle gym possessed a threat greater than a scraped up knee. I was going to be doing a tandem jump, which meant I would have a licensed skydiver attached to my back. Jody Conn was my man. Never before had I trusted my life so entirely to a single person. After three minutes of instruction, Conn deemed me ready to jump. Though Conn was going to carry the parachute, pull the rip cord and steer us to the ground, three minutes didn't seem sufficient to instruct someone to jump out of a plane. "Are you certain you want to do this?" Conn said. "Yes?" I replied with as much certainty as I could muster. "Great," Conn said sarcastically. "I was hoping for a break." As I gathered myself and started approaching the airplane, a skydiver walked past. The first three words on the back of his shirt caught my eye. "You'll be fine," it said. "Just don't do anything stupid." "What, like jump out of a plane?" I thought. From then on, my memory becomes foggy. I had been told the experience was so intense your senses become overloaded and memory is compromised. In fact, before loading the plane, Joanne Lyons, another skydiver on my load, leaned over and said, "Try and remember this." Ironically, that is one of the few details I remember. It is a simple matter of deduction that the plane took off, but I can't recall it. About 20 of us sat in between each other's legs on the floor facing the rear of the plane. When the first two exited, I looked out at the miniature neighborhoods framed in the open doorway and thought to myself, "Boy, are we high." A quick glance at the altimeter, however, indicated we were at 5,000 feet - not even halfway to our 13,500-foot jump altitude. I knew I was running out of time when the pilot announced "13,500." Without any good-byes the plane began hemorrhaging people from the hole in its side. I was one of the last. Standing at the doorway, I looked down at the ground, my stomach knotted with the realization of what I was getting ready to do. Before any rational thoughts could interfere however, Conn began the count, "3-2-1-JUMP!" When faced with the danger that jumping out of a plane presents, the old fight or flight response becomes confusing and invalid. I had two options: A. Fight. Confront my fear and jump out of this open door. Or B. Take flight. But wait, wouldn't that require me to jump out of this door too? My will to stay alive obviously was confused. So for no better reason, I jumped. As I left the safety of the plane and began accelerating up to 115 mph, my mind flooded my body with a panicked message, "Warning, you have just made a fatal error in judgment. Prepare to die." I'm certain I screamed the whole way down. Fortunately, I couldn't hear my own hysteria over the roaring sound of the air rushing past. Eventually, I got up to speed, the error message subsided and everything became strangely calm and serene. The ground was headed quickly toward me but seemed to be a safe distance away. In the meantime, Gates and fellow Muff Brother Joe Rogers floated over to me as smoothly as if we were underwater. After we locked arms in a formation and posed for a few pictures, there was a harsh tug at the straps wrapped around my legs and the parachute was open. Sixty seconds after leaving the plane, the roar in my ears stopped and at 4,000 feet we danced above 20 canopies open below my feet. Did it change my life, as Gates said it would? The Hardee's Thick Burger on the way home tasted the same as it always did. And the traffic was no more or less tolerable. But fooling my body into thinking it was near death then coming out alive has seemed to make some of those mundane aspects of my day seem a bit more enjoyable and well deserved. "Don't take life too seriously; you are only going to be here once," Gates said. He logs every jump he makes into a diary. At the end of his entry on his 3,375 plunge, he finished with "Yahoo, fun-." I couldn't have said it better. "Yahoo, fun." [Last modified July 17, 2004, 01:00:37]Leroy ..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #211 January 30, 2007 From Skydver in the Incidents forum: QuoteAs the leader of the Muff Brothers, Johnny was a legend in his own time, organizing fun loads at the WFFC, assigning Muff numbers, hosting the annual Muff Brothers Reunion at Zephyrhills, doing his 4th of July fireworks for the dropzone, and chairing various safety meetings. His departure leaves a void in the Skydive City family which we cannot yet begin to think about filling. Johnny was our friend, and we will miss him dearly. MUFF MUFF my brother Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zee 0 #212 January 30, 2007 Blue Skies, Johnny..... Johhny Action©Sports Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pizzapong 0 #213 January 30, 2007 Ohhhh now that was funny. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #214 February 1, 2007 At WFFC 04, Johnny Gates jumped with me on a magic carpet ride and presented me with my Muff Brothers card afterwords. It was a great jump, and I'll never forget him and everyone else giving me the "one finger salute" in freefall. I'm sad to hear of his death, but I would imagine that going out after a great skydive would suit him fine. Blue Skies Johnny!!! MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
filmcarrie 0 #215 February 19, 2007 beautiful! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toronto_bill 0 #216 March 25, 2007 Take Care Johnny, Thanks for all the hospitality at Zhills. Bill muff #3305 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt36 6 #217 April 2, 2007 I like to think the WFFC took a break in his honor.Practice random acts of kindness, and senseless beauty... And, give money for Mr Douglas! www.mrdouglas.org Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Funintheskies 0 #218 April 3, 2007 Blue skies to Johnny. I always had fun jumping with you at Z-Hills and Quincy. Cathy Crownover Elvy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #219 April 6, 2007 Love his memorial in parachutist ... although I was shocked there was no HIM HIM FUCK HIM... nice job who ever submitted itSudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danaudet 0 #220 May 1, 2007 First met Johnny at Skydive Pheonix in Z-hills in 94, almost lost my muffs so with one hand on my head I couldn't dock on the 10 way! That pissed me off for a couple of years until I went on another muff load at Quincy in '97. I was the only one to actually dock with Johnny on an 8 way zoo load, and then he tried to kiss me! What a guy :) Blue Skies, Black Crotchless panties! Won't be the same without you brother. Salsa Rodriguez, Muff # 1528 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 798 #221 July 9, 2007 This coming Friday is Johnny's birthday...please be sure to hoist "one" in mis memory. I'm planning on it. Miss you Johnny...muff muff muff.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stitch 0 #222 December 25, 2007 Merry Xmas Asshole. Muff Muff"No cookies for you"- GFD "I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65 Don't be a "Racer Hater" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonstark 8 #223 December 25, 2007 Quote This coming Friday is Johnny's birthday...please be sure to hoist "one" in mis memory. I'm planning on it. Miss you Johnny...muff muff muff.... Already hoisting and misty-eyed. jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dannydan 5 #224 December 26, 2007 Quote Merry Xmas Asshole. Muff Muff I can still hear His voice coming up to the table getting His group of boarding passes for the next load uttering "muff muff...muff... muff muff..." yeah..MerryChristmas Johnny heres to ya BRO!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #225 January 20, 2009 Blue Skies... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
