March 3, 1966

Randy Rabb is seen gliding down Furches Street under the mighty power of wind on an early March day in 1966.

From the original Associated Press article, “While many youngsters were dragging out their kites in the March winds, Randy Rabb of Raleigh, NC, was different. He unfurled a parachute, held onto it and rode his skateboard. Randy caused raised eyebrows along his street and the other youngsters were a little envious. At times, however, the wind got so strong that Randy had to get off the skateboard to slow down the ‘chute.” 

Once the AP distributed the photos and content, over 200 newspapers across the country printed the story that week. Randy made the front pages of The Richmond Times, The Springfield (MA) Daily News, The Ventura County Star, and others. 

*Click/tap on a picture to enlarge.

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NO_66_3_62_001, NO_66_3_62_002, and NO_66_3_62_003: From the N&O Negative Collection, State Archives of North Carolina. Photo copyrighted by the News and Observer. Illegal to use without express permission from the N&O.