Stanley Switlik (December 4, 1890 – March 4, 1981) was a parachute pioneer. Born in Galicia, now part of

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

, he immigrated to the United States at the age of 16. Originally, his company made heavy sewn items such as golf bags and mailbags.

Parachute tower

With his partner George P. Putnam, he built the first parachute training tower in the United States. The first jump from this tower was on June 2, 1935 by Amelia Earhart, who described the experience as "Loads of fun!".

Death

He died of a heart attack in Marathon, Florida on March 4, 1981.

Great Adventure Controversy

In 1973 Switlik initially agreed to sell of property he owned to the original company that eventually became Six Flags Great Adventure in

Jackson, New Jersey Jackson Township is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the township population was 58,544. A portion of the township is located within the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Roughly equidistant be ...

. The controversy was how the property was to be utilized. It was his position that it would be used for a drive through animal park, but the plan of the buyers was also to include an amusement park. As a conservationist, Switlik believed the amusement park should not be built. In a long protracted legal battle which eventually went to the US Supreme Court, Mr. Switlik lost his case. A judgement of $4.8 million had been originally awarded, but the long battle increased the payment substantially due to interest on the original judgement. This resulted in the bankruptcy to him and his family. Great Adventure was built and now includes both amusement rides and a drive through animal park.

Legacy

The Stanley Switlik Elementary school in Marathon, Florida is named for him, as is the Switlik Elementary SchoolSwitlik Elementary School
/ref> in

. Switlik Residents Hall at

Rider University Rider University is a private university in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. It consists of four academic units: the Norm Brodsky College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and Human Services, and West ...

Lawrenceville, New Jersey Lawrenceville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Lawrence Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States.

is also named after Stanley Switlik. He served on the Board of Trustees of Rider for 16 years and received an honorary degree in 1954.

References

External links

Parachute tower, U.S. patentSwitlik Company Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Switlik, Stanley 1890 births 1981 deaths People from Jackson Township, New Jersey Parachuting in the United States People from the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria People from Marathon, Florida Austro-Hungarian emigrants to the United States