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From motorcycles to planes, 81-year-old says thrills keep him young
Contributed photo
Robert D. Raiford, 81, goes skydiving. The radio personality, featured on "The John Boy and Billy Show" hasn't slowed down in his career or his life.
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Published: June 29, 2009
At 81, Robert "Bob" Raiford is best known for his work on radio for "the John Boy and Billy Show."
As a lovable curmudgeon who comments on politics and social issues, Raiford has been a part of the show for 23 years.
During his long career he has covered some of the most important events in our history, including the funeral of John F. Kennedy, the 50th anniversary of Normandy and fall of the Berlin Wall.
But his on-air accomplishments are hardly what define him.
While Raiford's career is full of impressive call letters from the various radio and television stations, it may be what he does on his off time that has him standing out in the crowd.
Raiford recently returned from his 15th adventure on the Kyle Petty's Charity Ride Across America, a 10-day journey on motorcycles to raise money for various children's hospitals. The rides have raised more than $12 million in 15 years, and traveled over 7.9 million cumulative motorcycle miles.
"I'm always the oldest on the ride," Raiford said. "There are 13 of us that have been on all the rides."
Surprisingly enough, he didn't begin riding motorcycles until he was 60. "The John Boy and Billy Show" needed someone to do commercials for Harley Davidson, and Raiford stepped up.
From the very first moment, he loved it.
"I thought 'how am I going to get this thing back home? I'm sure as hell not going to get this thing on the interstate,'" Raiford said. "So I went straight on Tryon Street at high noon, because I knew it wouldn't get over 45 mph. By the time I got out of town, I was Captain Marvel."
Raiford is also a pilot.
"I was at WBT in 1954 when I did that. I have a little airplane," Raiford said.
He still takes his plane out on weekends.
"Old people, and I call myself old people, I ain't fooling anybody," he said. "Old people need to have — and doctors will tell you this — you need to have things that stimulate your senses. If you don't, the next thing you know you'll be putting your keys in the refrigerator and things like that."
Motorcycle riding is an eye, hand and foot coordination activity. He calls his airplane a tail dragger, and it takes more manipulation than other planes.
"You have to have your hand on the throttle, your hand on the stick and your feet on the rudders," Raiford said.
Raiford doesn't just fly airplanes; he has been known to jump out of them.
He has had 85 skydiving jumps since going to jump school at Fort Bragg in 1981, including 27 military jumps, 53 sport jumps and five tandem jumps — three of them with the Army's Golden Knights.
His last jumps were tandem jumps in 2004 at 76 years old. He made two that summer.
"Everyone says they would like to make a parachute jump," Raiford said.
Former President George H.W. Bush recently jumped in tandem to mark his 85th birthday. He plans to do it on his 90th birthday.
"A lot of people say age is just a number, but you begin to feel it's not that way. You have to keep your body fit," Raiford said. "I work out at the sports center for an hour about three times a week. I have been doing that since I can remember. I've run the Charlotte Marathon a couple times, but I don't do that anymore."
Raiford's wife also helps to keep him young. Kelia is 54, and the couple has been married for 23 years. He also has four children.
Raiford feels the former president sums it up best.
"He says 'Just because you're an old guy, you don't have to sit around drooling in the corner. Get out and do something. Live life.' That's always been my philosophy," Raiford said.
• Contact reporter Robin L. Gardner:704-789-9140
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