Non Socialist

Mr. Dave The Boomerang Guy

        I wasn’t sure if I was standing in a room filled with magical flying animals, fantasy butterflies or, I’m not sure what I thought. Since I was visiting with David Fantone, the boomerang guy, I figured I must be looking at boomerangs, but so many colors made me doubt my own whereabouts. I was about to become educated into the world of boomerangs. Fantone, age 54, explained that what I was looking at were the recreational “boomerangs” used for leisure, recreation and competition. These are all “returning” boomerangs. “Non-returning” boomerangs, known as throw sticks or kylies, were used as far back as Roman times, as weapons for hunting small prey.

        Fantone grinned and told me he was very overweight at one time. He decided to take up kung fu and lost 70 pounds and then his weight loss plateaued. He decided to try exercising by playing Frisbee golf but that did not entice him, so he switched to boomerangs. He became hooked; he lost another 40 pounds. He told me the average age of boomerangers at any competition is or near 50 years old and most have a keen interest in things that fly, the aerodynamics of it all. 

        Fantone is originally from Pittsburgh, PA and how he ended up in Applegate, OR I never did get around to asking.  I am just glad he is here. I did however, ask him, “What else about the boomerangs fascinates you?”  He easily replied, “All my life I have been focusing to develop the spiritual side of myself and let my body go. A few years back, I realized that the mind, body and spirit must work together in harmony. For some people, this would not be a new concept, for me it was. Some people meditate, some pray; I have my boomerangs. If I have a strong thought or a wish or a prayer, I give this feeling to my boomerang, throw it out to the universe and take what ever comes back. Of course, this is not what I do all the time with my boomerangs or even that frequently, but that path is there when I need it.”

         Fantone is focused and very philanthropic with his boomerang fascination. Two years ago he started a project with fellow boomerangers called, “Boomerangs for Baghdad.” Since that time, over 300 boomerangs have been sent to the stationed service men and women in Baghdad. The USO helped with the distribution. Fantone, himself a veteran, told me,  “You have no idea how lonely and homesick those soldiers can get.”

He has also sent boomerangs to our soldiers via the Wayne Owen Fighting Arts School, in Grant’s Pass.  He said this was very personal for him as many of the students at the Wayne Owen School, where he himself trained, have family overseas. Fantone helped many of the young students make their own boomerangs, which were then shipped with a letter or a special message. “I feel the boomerang carries its own message, ‘Return Home to US’, Fantone proudly murmured.

        Not only is Fantone passionate about his boomerangs, he takes his passion and makes it happen. If he is not doing demos at the Grant’s Pass Boys and Girls Club or the Pumpkin Patch at Pacific, in Williams, he is doing demonstrations and talking to the school’s DARE programs. Fantone explained that boomerangs can be a shop project, an art project, a science project and most certainly great for physical education classes. Most of the boomerangs, if not being made in a class setting as a do-it-yourself project, are made on site, at his house in Murphy. He uses materials of light wood and plastic for kids, or heavier ply woods and paper embedded resin materials for competition. Speaking of competition, in 2005, Fantone placed first in accuracy throwing at the west coast round up in Salem, OR and first place at the nationals for best design. In 2006 he won for best craftsmanship and in 2008 for best artwork. Fantone has a ‘borrow a boomerang” program, just like a library program. As much as he loves competing in all aspects of the boomerang, he said he would much rather teach someone, in his shop, how to build a boomerang, instead of selling you one. The lesson is free, but in return you make Fantone a boomerang.

David Fantone is one amazing man of many other talents, not thus mentioned. To contact David Fantone, e-mail him at boomerangboo@peak.org.