Juggler, 73, shares hobby with would-be enthusiasts

PEKIN, Ill. -- Seventy-three-year-old Bill Thurmond offers proof that you're never too old or too young to learn how to juggle.

"Anyone can learn how -- or at least try," the Minier resident told a crowd of about 45 would-be jugglers of all ages at a recent Pekin Public Library family activity night.

Thurmond learned how to juggle just 12 years ago in his early 60s. He took up the sport because he needed something to add to the animal act he performed at fairs and circuses.

"I had dogs, monkeys and goats," Thurmond said.

On nights and weekends, he took his animal act all over Illinois, including the state fair and the Heart of Illinois Fair in the '70s. He also performed in Alabama and Tennessee.

"It was real hard when I first started juggling," he said. "Because I didn't have anybody to teach me. I had to get some books and finally I got some tapes. It's easier to learn from a person because you have the hands-on experience."

Nonetheless, Thurmond said he could juggle three balls within about two days of starting.

"The secret is to just keep practicing," he said. "Don't give up. There are so many different patterns you can learn."

Judging by the number of balls flying through the air at the workshop, the crowd at the library took his words to heart. But at least one youth seemed a little doubtful after watching Thurmond's demonstration.

"Were you using anti-gravity balls?" asked Patrick Durst, 9, of Pekin.

Thurmond laughed heartily at the suggestion.

"Anti-gravity balls? I've never heard of that," he said. "He's a modern kid -- looking for that easy explanation."

Thurmond retired from Caterpillar 20 years ago. He later gave up the dog and monkey show when the animals got to be too much to handle.

Performance preferences

"I'm a juggler and a yo-yo artist and a balloon artist now," he said. "I mostly do it for libraries now because I don't like working outside anymore. Outside you have to worry about the wind and everything. Inside you've got a controlled atmosphere."

One father in the audience, Eric Lane of Pekin, is himself a longtime juggler and was enjoying sharing his hobby with his daughters.

"We try to participate in anything that comes to town like this," said Lane, who learned how to juggle about 25 years ago. "I just started learning in school with our lunch oranges and stuff. It was just a thing to do in school, and I've done it ever since."

Half the fun, though, was watching his 9-year-old daughter, Tiffany, learning the art of juggling, he said.

"I'm pretty impressed with her being able to throw three balls and get in front of them," he added.