TampaPete

I can promise you the stunt of writing his name on the gym roof is true. He did this in the early 70’s. Neely was one of my trampoline coaches. He taught me how to do a back flip and a double back flip when I was in 5th grade (many moons ago). What most of you don’t know is he was a world champion platform diver from the 85-foot ladder as well as a world class trampolinist. He was a pure athlete. (Skydiver 33460 he wasn’t an Olympic diver he was a professional ladder diver). He climbed to the top a bridge in Lafayette (La.) and lowered a weight on a string until it touched the water. He took the string home and measured it so he would know the height. Then he climbed back up and nailed a layout reverse sommersault on the first jump from about 80 feet up. Years later I designed the bridge that replaced the one he jumped from. And any wild story you can think of I know is true. He loved life and loved sharing it with everyone. We were driving back from Houston to Lafayette after a trampoline meet. It was about midnight in November and we stopped at the interstate rest area. When we (about 7 of us) got back in the station wagon there were two hitchhikers sitting in the middle of the back seat. Neely got in last (he was driving). One of the other college jumpers asked who the two new guys were and Bobby said “they looked cold. We’re taking them Lafayette.” And that was that. His favorite sayings that I remember from way back were “that’s some neat shit” and “hello boys and girls”. If you knew him you were lucky to know a very unique, crazy, funny and kind individual.