Earl Cooley - The 1st Smokejumper

[Para_Frog 1]

November 12, 2009
Pioneer smokejumper Earl Cooley dies in Mont.
- The Associated Press

Earl Cooley, the smokejumper who took the Forest Service's first leap into a flame-riddled wilderness, died Monday in Missoula. He was 98.

Cooley made the jump into the Nez Perce National Forest on July 12, 1940. His chute nearly failed to open and he landed 140 feet above ground, stuck in a spruce tree. Still, Cooley and fellow jumper Rufus Robinson had the fire under control by the next day.

In 1958, Cooley was named the smokejumper base superintendent in Missoula. He retired from the Forest Service in 1975 to start Cooley Realty.

Cooley also helped found the National Smokejumper Association and served as its president for three years. In 1984, he chronicled much of the Forest Service's early smokejumping history in his book "Trimotor and Trail."



Story

- Harvey, BASE 1232
TAN-I, IAD-I, S&TA

BLiNC Magazine Team Member

[Krip 2]

Hi P_F

Sounds to me like earl set the benchmark for "back in the day" 1940, first smoke jumper etc etc.

Another person from the greatest generation that is no longer with us.

One Jump Wonder

[wmw999 2,121]

Obituary in The Economist. I really like that he presented the pins to the new smokejumpers. It's a great tie to the past.

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)

[JerryBaumchen 1,048]

Hi Para,

Last week's issue of TIME magazine had a write-up on him in their MILESTONES section.

He is quoted as saying he was never afraid to jump.

JerryBaumchen

[pookieland 0]

R.I.P

Stop Touching Me!!!

Muff Brother# 4466