Gene Paul Thacker, D-167, made his first jump in Jump School in 1954; his first sport jump came in Korea in 1959. Thacker has been a stellar member of the skydiving community for more than 30 years. His impressive competition credentials include membership on five U.S. Parachute Teams as competitor, coach or head of delegation. Thacker owned the Raeford Parachute Center where he provided leadership in the classic skydiving disciplines as a trainer of many national and world champions. He also served on the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights for six years. Thacker died in 2012.