Maytown Sport Parachute Club in Marietta, Pennsylvania, honored founding member Dick Gochenaur, D-1404, at its February club meeting. The club presented him with a plaque and a check in recognition of his many years of selfless service dedicated to the continuing success of the club.

Gochenaur made his first jump with the Army in 1958 and served with the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1963, he began sport parachuting with Berks Parachute Club, a drop zone in Palmyra, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Flying Dutchman club in Maytown, Pennsylvania, and the Falling Stars club in Palmyra when they merged around 1970 to become Maytown Sport Parachute Club.

Gochenaur served as the USPA Area Safety Officer and then Safety and Training Advisor (after USPA renamed the position) for 52 years from 1966 through 2018. He competed in Mid-Eastern Parachute Association and Parachutists Over Phorty Society meets and was an instructor. He is also a Federal Aviation Administration-certified rigger. He has used these skills in service to MSPC running manifest, serving as equipment officer, talking students in by radio, keeping records and generally doing a myriad of tasks to keep the club running smoothly. He is now in his sixth decade of parachuting activity and is still active as the equipment officer for MSPC and packs pilot emergency rigs.

Cheryl Whitford | D-5164
Marietta, Pennsylvania