On September 27, 1986, Jim McGowan, paralyzed from mid-chest down, captured the hearts of the world by attempting to become the most severely disabled individual ever to complete a swim of the 22-mile turbulent waters of the English Channel. Although his attempt was cut short only by the failure of his medical equipment to function properly, it became the most publicized in the history of English Channel swimming. It was officially recognized by the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the United States Long Distance Swimming Association.

 This photo of Jim preparing to swim the English Channel appeared in the "Positive Approach" magazine, April 1986.

But Jim's heroic quest to conquer the English Channel was, in a very real sense, only the surface waters in the life of this remarkable individual. In 1951, he was a 19-year old semi-professional baseball player, a candidate for the old Brooklyn Dodgers. However, that year he was attacked by a gang on the streets of Brooklyn's Bedford Stuyvesant section and stabbed in the lower abdomen. During the operation for that stab wound, he received a spinal anesthesia which paralyzed his legs. Remarkably, Jim recovered from this paralysis. However, the injury to the spine left a cyst growing between the shoulder blades. This was discovered in 1970. A second operation caused the paralysis to return.

Jim working as a Cytotechnologist.

According to Jim, being confined to a wheelchair a second time actually liberated him. The wheelchair gave him the mobility he needed to do all the things he dreamed of. Back in 1961 he had returned to school and earned his high school equivalency diploma. Four years later he became a medical laboratory specialist, a Cytotechnologist. However, his impaired mobility continually frustrated him. He needed to move faster than his crutches allowed him. Only the wheelchair enabled his body to keep pace with his mind.

Among those who know him, Jim has been rightly labeled a "renaissance man" for his wide range of talents and achievements. In 1981, he became one of the first paraplegics in the world to sky dive. He has, to date, made 20 sky dives, including many firsts as a paraplegic, such as the first night sky dive and the first accelerated freefall sky dive. He was also the first paraplegic to earn the coveted Star Crest Award for sky diving.

Jim prior to his first skydive at Skydive East in Pittstown, NJ. - Oct. 12, 1980.

Jim was co-founder and Vice President of Freedom's Wings International, the only organization in the world that enables mobility impaired individuals to fly sailplanes. He is a student sailplane pilot.

Turning to water sports, in 1981, Jim originated the world's first All-disabled Rowing Regatta, an event that has now become an annual affair involving disabled participants from as many as five States, and has spearheaded the formation of disabled rowing clubs from as far away as Australia.

As an advocate for disabled rights, Jim was singularly responsible for initiating drives to remove architectural barriers and improve access for people with physical disabilities. He was the Barrier-Removal Consultant for
the King of Prussia Plaza, Valley Forge National Historic Park, the Free Library of Philadelphia and Temple University's Ambler Campus.

 Jim after his first sky dive May 13, 1981.

Musically, Jim played and taught classical guitar. However, he is known mostly as the lead singer of the 1950's vocal group the Four Fellows, whose hit recording, "Soldier Boy," scored among the top 15 rhythm and blues songs in the country in 1955. In 1998 the group was inducted into the internationally known United In Group Harmony Association's Hall of Fame.

Jim is the author of two books and co-author of five songs. One of Jim's songs, "We are the Same, Just Different," was selected by the Philadelphia Branch of the United Nations as their theme song to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (1995). Jim has also written numerous articles about the achievements, problems and issues of the disabled, and he did the photography for Wheelchair Champions, the country's first book on the history of wheelchair sports (Thomas Y. Crowell, 1977).

In 1979, Jim graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Liberal Arts and was named the senior recipient of the coveted Sol Feinstone Award, Temple's highest non-academic honor. Throughout his undergraduate years, he was twice elected to Who's Who Among Students In American Universities And Colleges. He has completed all the course work for his Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Temple.

In 1980, Jim was appointed Chairman of the Committee for the Disabled of the Pennsylvania Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. In 1987, he was appointed Assistant Director of Disabled Student Services at Temple University.

In 1989, Jim founded his own publishing company, The Akashic Press, Inc. He published the Cytotechnology Employment Newsletter, an international monthly newsletter to 5,500 medical laboratory technologists around the world. He recently published the Harriet Tubman Journal, a quarterly publication based on Jim's years of research into the life of this perhaps greatest of African American women

Three more operations on Jim's spine, between 1995 and 1996, as well as an amputation of his right leg below the knee, has reduced his mobility even further! And an inoperable cyst now developing on his cervical spine threatens to seriously reduce the functioning of his arms and hands. Still, Jim McGowan goes on creating and inspiring others with his indomitable spirit.

Jim's awards, honors and recognitions are numerous, including the Philadelphia Liberty Bell Award (the key to the city of Philadelphia); the PA. Governor's Distinguished Service Award; the NBC Spirit of Philadelphia Award; the Most Courageous Athlete of the Year Award; two Martin Luther King Jr. Awards, as well as awards from two Philadelphia chapters of the NAACP and B'nai Brith. Jim's television appearances include "Good Morning America;' "Evening Magazine" , "AM  Philadelphia" and "Prime Time."

INDEX - FOUR FELLOWS - DISCOGRAPHY - PHOTOS - BOOK - TODAY - LINKS - RECOLLECTIONS