1990-1999
Gil Antes
Born: May 14, 1954
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Died: August 5, 1990
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Buried: Meadowlawn Memorial Gardens, New Port Richey, Florida
Age: 36
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Full Name: Gilbert John Antes
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Nickname:
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Location: Cross Florida Barge Canal, Inglis, Citrus County, Florida
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Event: Southeast Drag Boat Association race
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Accident Date: August 5, 1990
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Boat: Rabco Hustler tunnel hull boat
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Biographical: In a race against Bob Crockford, he was speeding about 94 MPH and in the lead. As he accelerated the front of the boat began to slowly rise out of the water. The boat flipped about 150 feet from the finish line and smashed upside down before flipping again. He suffered a broken neck upon impact. He had a faint pulse and was rushed to Seven Rivers Community Hospital, but died before reaching it. He was from New Port Richey, Florida.
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Sources
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"'Just an act of God'," St. Petersburg Times, August 7, 1990
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"Barge canal drag boat accident claims racer's life," Ocala Star-Banner, August 6, 1990
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Florida Death Index (Gilbert J. Antes, born May 14, 1954, died Aug. 5, 1990 in Citrus Co., Florida, age 36)
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Photos
Jim Benson
Born: February 24, 1944
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Died: April 28, 1991
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Buried: Lone Tree Cemetery, Hayward, California
Age: 47
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Full Name: Jimmy Lloyd Benson
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Nickname:
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Location: Lake Ming, near Bakersfield, California
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Event:
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Accident Date: April 27, 1991
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Boat: "Hot Blooded" pro gas hydro
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Biographical: He died of injuries when his boat flipped several times. He was transported to Kern Medical Center, then to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, where he died. He was from Castro Valley, California, and was survived by his wife, Lori, and daughter, Denni.
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Sources
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"The Sports wire," Press Telegram, April 30, 1991
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"Names in the news," Los Angeles Times, Apr. 30, 1991
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"Speedboating," San Francisco Examiner, Apr. 30, 1991
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California Death Index (Jimmy Lloyd Benson, born Feb. 24, 1944 in Calif., died Apr. 28, 1991 in Kern Co., mother’s maiden name was Randall)
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California Birth Index (Jimmy Lloyd Benson, born Feb. 24, 1944 in Alameda Co., mother’s maiden name was Randall)
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Social Security Death Index (J. L. Benson, born Feb. 24, 1944, died Apr. 15, 1991, SS# issued in California in 1957)
Photos
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The late Jim Benson driver of comp-hydro, Hot Blooded (Pinterest)
Tom Black
Born: December 28, 1943
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Died: July 12, 1997
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Buried:
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Age: 53
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Full Name: Thomas Sumner Black
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Nickname:
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Location: Berenda Reservoir, near Chowchilla, California
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Event: International Hot Boat Association Hot Summer Nationals
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Accident Date: July 12, 1997
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Boat: blown fuel flat-bottom
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Biographical: He was from San Pablo, California.
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Sources
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"Drag boat racer dies in crash," Augusta Chronicle, July 16, 1997
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"Two die in boat crash," San Jose Mercury News, July 27, 1997
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California Death Index (Thomas Sumner Black, born Dec. 28, 1943 in Ohio, died July 12, 1997 in Fresno, mother’s maiden name was Wilson)
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Social Security Death Index (T. S. Black, born Dec. 28, 1943, died July 15, 1997, SS# issued in 1959 in Calif.)
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Photos
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Tom Cantrell
Born: February 26, 1951
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Died: July 14, 1997
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Buried:
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Age: 46
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Full Name: Thomas Patterson Cantrell
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Nickname:
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Location: Berenda Reservoir, near Chowchilla, California
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Event: International Hot Boat Association Hot Summer Nationals
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Accident Date: July 12, 1997
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Boat: "Beautiful Noise" top fuel hydro
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Biographical: His boat got off to a bad start by shooting into the air. It landed off kilter and flipped upside down. He was from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Sources
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"Drag boat racer dies in crash," Augusta Chronicle, July 16, 1997
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"Two die in boat crash," San Jose Mercury News, July 27, 1997
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California Death Index (Thomas Patterson Cantrell, born Feb. 16, 1951 in Texas, died July 14, 1997 in Fresno Co., mother’s maiden name was Patterson)
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Social Security Death Index (Tom P. Cantrell, born Feb. 26, 1951, died July 14, 1997, SS# issued in 1963 in Texas)
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Texas Birth Index (Thomas Patterson Cantrell, born Feb. 26, 1951 in Gaines Co., to Floyd Jackson Cantrell and Alice Nannelle Patterson)
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Photos
Tim Capaldi
Born: October 11, 1962
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Died: April 10, 1994
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Buried: Paso Robles District Cemetery, Paso Robles, California
Age: 31
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Full Name: Timothy John Capaldi
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Nickname:
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Location: Puddingstone Lake, San Dimas, California
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Event: International Hot Boat Assn. Springnationals
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Accident Date: April 10, 1994
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Boat: "Mission Possible" blown alcohol hydro
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Biographical: During the first round of eliminations, he was going nearly 200 MPH past the finish when his boat crashed. He was from West Hills, California, and was a three-time IHBA blown alcohol hydro world champion. He the first to race a blown alcohol hydro boat over 200 MPH. He was inducted into the Drag Boat Racing Hall of Fame in 2019.
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Sources
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"Drag boat racer Capaldi dies in crash at Puddingstone Lake," Los Angeles Times, April 11, 1994
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California Death Index (Timothy John Capaldi, born Oct. 11, 1962 in Calif., died Apr. 10, 1994 in L.A. Co., mother’s maiden name was Capaldi)
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California Birth Index (Timothy J. Capaldi, born Oct. 11, 1962 in L.A. Co., mother’s maiden name was Kelley)
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Photos
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Ricky Comer
Born: January 13, 1952
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Died: August 15, 1992
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Buried: Levelland Municipal Cemetery, Texas
Age: 40
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Full Name: Richard Lee Comer
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Nickname:
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Location: Cedar Creek Lake, Dallas, Texas
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Event:
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Accident Date: August 15, 1992
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Boat: Vision Craft
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Biographical: He was was killed when his boat blew over during testing and he was trapped underneath for almost ten minutes. He was transported to a Tyler hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was from Georgetown, Texas, and was the owner of Vision Craft. Jeff Renegar, whose father was close friends with Ricky, commented on his death. "On the maiden race they were testing it and Ricky took her for a spin. He most likely had a seizure at about 105 mph and lost consciousness, allowing a violent blow over which resulted in his death. With the amount of seat time that Rickey had in a Vision, I find it too hard to believe that he just lost it. They say, and you may remember, that it got high, then kind of settled back down, got really high again, stayed there for about a second and then finally went over in a pretty nasty landing. It sounds like he would have had every opportunity to get it down, and that is one reason I and most everyone else thinks he was unconscious. He also had a record of previous seizures in the past."
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Sources
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"Boat racing champion Comer killed in testing accident," Austin American-Statesman, Aug. 18, 1992
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http://www.screamandfly.com/archive/index.php/t-8985.html (accessed 7/26/10)
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Photos
Ronnie Dew
Born: September 13, 1963
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Died: September 22, 1990
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Buried: Lakeview Memorial Park, Greensboro, North Carolina
Age: 27
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Full Name: William Ronald Dew, Jr.
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Nickname:
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Location: Cane Creek Lake, near Waxhaw, North Carolina
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Event: U. S. Drag Boat Association World Finals
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Accident Date: September 22, 1990
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Boat: "Fool's Gold"
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Biographical: His throttle apparently stuck and he slammed into the shore at 100 MPH. He was from Guilford, North Carolina.
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Sources
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"Boat racer was killed after saving others," Greensboro News and Record, September 26, 1990
"Guilford man dies in drag boat crash," Greensboro News and Record, September 25, 1990
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"Cane Creek Park hosts 4th annual drag boat race," Charlotte Observer, September 19, 1991
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Charlotte Observer, September 24, 1990
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North Carolina Death Collection (William Ronald Dew, Jr., born Sep. 13, 1963 in North Carolina, lived in Guilford, died Sep. 22, 1990 in Union Co., North Carolina, age 27, never married)
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North Carolina Birth Index (William Ronald Dew, Jr., born Sep. 13, 1963, in Guilford Co., father’s name was William Ronald Dew)
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Social Security Death Index (William R. Dew, born Sep. 13, 1963, died Sep. 22, 1990, SS# issued in North Carolina in 1979)
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Photos
Tom Kunzeman
Born: August 25, 1960
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Died: July 19, 1992
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Buried: Oakland Cemetery, Meredosia, Illinois
Age: 31
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Full Name: Tommy L. Kunzeman
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Nickname:
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Location: Savannah River, Augusta, Georgia
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Event: U. S. Drag Boat Association 7th annual Hardee's Augusta Southern Nationals
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Accident Date: July 19, 1992
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Boat: "Sting" unlimited outboard
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Biographical: He was running at more than 100 MPH against Jon Wright's "Doo Dad Too" during final eliminations. Suddenly his boat swerved and cartwheeled to the right. Parts of the disintegrating boat struck him after he was ejected from the boat. He was from Meredosia, Illinois.
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Sources
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"Plus sports," Chicago Sun-Times, July 20, 1992
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http://www.augustasouthernnationals.org/history.html (accessed 7/29/10)
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Georgia Deaths (Tommy L. Kunzeman, died July 19, 1992 in Richmond Co., 31 years old, residence in Hall Co.)
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Social Security Death Index (T. L. Kunzeman, born Aug. 25, 1960, died July 1992, SS# issued in 1966 in Illinois)
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Photos
Denver Mullins
Born: September 23, 1944
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Died: October 4, 1992
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Buried: Green Acres Cemetery, Bloomington, California
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Age: 48
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Full Name: Denver Marvin Mullins
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Nickname:
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Location: Puddingstone Lake, San Dimas, California
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Event: International Hot Boat Association Fallnationals
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Accident Date: October 4, 1992
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Boat: top fuel hydro
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Biographical: He was making a driver's license pass in a brand new top fuel hydro. Just after leaving the starting line, his boat took a sudden violent hop on the water surface and the nose dived. It immediately plowed under the water. He was only going about 50 MPH at the time of impact. The safety capsule failed to break away from the hull and Mullins remained trapped inside as the craft settled to the bottom of the 25-foot deep lake upside down. He was pinned inside and before rescue crews could extricate him, he had drowned. Ironically he owned the company which manufactured the safety capsules. A longtime friend and co-worker thought that Mullins' fear of drowning may have caused him to panic, interfering with and impeding the capsule's design features which could have brought him safely to the surface. He was from Rialto, California, and was survived by his wife, Lynda, step-daughter, Lisa, and brother, Mick. He was renowned for his custom choppers and was one of the first bike customizers.
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Sources
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Mondo Porras, "Denver 'The Legend': He Still Lives On" on http://community.heywhateversocial.info/ website
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California Death Index (Denver Marvin Mullins, born Sep. 23, 1944 in California, died Oct. 4, 1992 in L.A. Co., mother’s maiden name was Brown)
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Capsule Builder Killed When His Boat Crashes Racing: Mullins, who built safety compartments for drivers, dies in his at Puddingstone Lake,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 5, 1992
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Social Security Death Index (D. M. Mullins, born Sep. 23, 1944, died Oct. 15, 1992, SS# issued in California in 1962)
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California Birth Index (Denver Marvin Mullins, born Sep. 23, 1944 in San Bernardino Co., mother’s maiden name was Brown)
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“Rapid fire dragboats: Too fast for their own good?” Boating (Apr. 1994)
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Photos
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Harley Davidson Motorcycles (Pinterest)
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"Looking back on our way forward," Cycle Source (March 2018)
Larry Stephens
Born: August 1, 1954
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Died: April 13, 1996
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Buried: Henley Cemetery, Fulton, Alabama
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Age: 41
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Full Name: Larry Wayne Stephens
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Nickname:
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Location: Tombigbee River, Campbell's Landing, Morvin, Alabama
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Event:
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Accident Date: April 1996
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Boat:
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Biographical: He died while testing his boat. He was from Thomasville, Alabama, and was survived by his wife, Cindy, and daughters, Sandi West and Shelley McKinley.
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Sources
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"Hole shot returns," Thomasville Times, June 14, 2007
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Photos