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DollAnagnostis

Doc Anagnostis

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Hey, my name is Elizabeth Anagnostis. Doc Anagnostis was my grandfather. I found this forum by Googling my last name. I was so touched to see all the posts about my Papoo. Thank you all so much for sharing your memories. I turned 18 a week after he died, so I feel my time with him was cut short and it makes your stories all the more precious.

Here is a fun story about Doc that many of you probably never heard. Papoo and his girlfriend Edith came up to Bryan/College Station for an air show in 91 or 92. I went out to the field with them and Papoo asked me to be his bombadier in a target competition. He sternly warned me to throw the bag of flour out exactly when he said. I did so the first two times, but I hesitated on the third pass over the target. That's because we were nowhere near the target. We were over some road and there was a truck down below. After he cussed at me a bit, I threw the flour and then there was silence. Finally, he asked me what that truck was doing on the runway. I told him it's because we weren't over the gd runway. We continued to cuss and fuss at each other all the way down to the ground and walking away from the plane. I think we amused many people around. I earned some ouzo for being a good sport.

I would love to hear more stories about my grandpa and see pictures if you have any. Thanks so much for sharing.

Elizabeth Anagnostis

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Hello Gal. Glad to see you're getting some good info on Doc.

I jumped with him a few times in the early 90's at the old Spaceland drop zone in League City.

I remember a photo mounted on the wall of the office, titled: "Two tough old birds". In the photo was Doc, standing in front of a WWII DC-3 aircraft.

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Elizabeth,

I was one of "Doc's Boys" in the 60s and have several stories, but there is one I certainly remember.

We made a jump in Dickinson and after opening things did not look exactly right for Doc. and he was fighting to control his PC. As it turned out his new custom rig was being jumped for the first time and the guy who built it (name withheld) made a serious error. The leg and chest straps had the metal quick release fittings installed backwards. When he opened he went to the end of the straps and was saved by the safety fold at the end. He could not reach the toggles so had to control his canopy by pulling on the harness, like airborne. He landed it safety to the DZ and had a fairly hard down wind landing. Needly to say he was one mad Greek and a good thing the rigger was not there.

Doc was a major influence on me and everyone around him and will never be forgotten.

I attached one picture of me getting in the Cessna, Darryl Galloway and Doc. I do have other good pictures that I will be glad to send after I scan them in.

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I've linked this thread to the history forum -- there are a number of jumpers who post there periodically who remember Doc. We had a Texas 60's and 70's skydiving reunion in San Marcos, TX a few weeks ago; lots of people there. Most don't jump regularly any more (mostly because they don't want to, not because they can't), but they can still party with the best of them. And there were plenty of Doc stories told.

Click here for a list of the posts in dropzone.com mentioning your grandfather.

Wendy P.
There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

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Hi Elizabeth,
I jumped at Spaceland in the late 70's and early 80's. I didn't jump with Doc but he did put my shoulder muscles (Romboids) back in place once or twice. A lot of Chiropractors today are not that hands on like Doc was. The world lost a good man when he passed.

Chris

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Chris,
I was so blessed because I grew up with a dad and grandpa who could give me adjustments whenever my body hurt. A lot of people were scared of the loud noises Grandpa would make when he adjusted them. :) I still go to the chiropractor, but I've never been to a chiropractor that was as good as him. He once cured an earache I had that two penicillin shots couldn't touch!

Elizabeth

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Holy simoleons -- there's a lot of skydiving history in that picture!

Wendy P.
There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

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Quote

Elizabeth,

I was one of "Doc's Boys" in the 60s and have several stories, but there is one I certainly remember.

We made a jump in Dickinson and after opening things did not look exactly right for Doc. and he was fighting to control his PC. As it turned out his new custom rig was being jumped for the first time and the guy who built it (name withheld) made a serious error. The leg and chest straps had the metal quick release fittings installed backwards. When he opened he went to the end of the straps and was saved by the safety fold at the end. He could not reach the toggles so had to control his canopy by pulling on the harness, like airborne. He landed it safety to the DZ and had a fairly hard down wind landing. Needly to say he was one mad Greek and a good thing the rigger was not there.

Doc was a major influence on me and everyone around him and will never be forgotten.

I attached two picture of me getting in the Cessna with Darryl Galloway and Doc. I do have other good pictures that I will be glad to send after I scan them in. My email is [email protected] if you would like me to send them directly with a higher resolution.

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I persuaded my mother to let me skydive when I was 17 back in 1982. After one jump at Spaceland I headed to Doc's place. I will never forget those couple of years before heading off for college.

Doc had a patch made called "Golden Greek Airlines" that looked a lot like the Galveston Skydivers patch posted on another thread. It had a skull with a parachute in the middle. I saved one for years with a few other item, but now I cannot find it!!!! Black with yellow embroidery.

I wanted to have some custom embroidery done on a new jumpsuit. Does anyone have one of these patches, or a photo of it?

Thanks,
Jon

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