At the recent Aktion Club of Waynesville meeting, Ricky Boone, a professional magician, was the honored guest.  Like the Aktion Club members, Boone has been dealing with disabilities most of his life.

As an infant Boone developed a rare bone disease that prevented his body from developing fully.  His family moved to Asheville in 1973, so he could attend a school for physically challenged students. He was 13 at the time.

“Meeting the school principal was the turning point in my life,” he said.

The first time he saw the man, he rode onto campus on a motorcycle, pulled up to Boone and some other students, introduced himself, and then entertained them for several minutes by doing coin tricks.

“I got hooked on magic right there,” Boone said.  Combined with severe scoliosis, it has kept him in a ...