Thanks for the inspirational story, Gary. Where do I get more info on the Fly Fish 2003? Doug
----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 10:02 PM Subject: Another Dave Whitlock Story (was Re: [VFB] WOW!! I must share... DonO's) > A few years ago I attended my first fly fishing show/event. It was Fly > Fish 2000 at the Texas Freshwater Fishery in Athens, Texas. > > One of the main reasons I wanted to attend was the fact that Dave Whitlock > was scheduled to be there. > > Before the day of the event, I bought a nice Columbia cap. It is a great > looking cap with the bill covered in what appears to be pigskin. Anyway, I > selected it with no intention of ever wearing it. I bought it specifically > to get Mr. Whitlock to autograph the bill. > > Not knowing what to expect, I arrived at the event quite early (about half > an hour early in fact). Little did I know that the gates would not be > open. As I got out of my car and started toward the front entrance of the > facility, I saw a gentleman who had arrived equally as early waiting for > the gates to open. When I first saw him, I thought he had a familiar look > to him. Not too tall, khaki pants, bright red shirt, khaki vest, white > hair. As I approached, I was amazed to see that Dave Whitlock was standing > outside the front gate waiting to get inside. What an amazing > opportunity! I walked up to him, offered my hand and introduced > myself. We both stood there in the cold, misty morning air chatting for > over 20 minutes. The whole time I kept thinking of how "normal" this icon > of fly fishing was. I saw Mr. Whitlock in all of his presentations that > day as well as several other times around the facility. Each time he said, > 'hello'. > > Funny thing is, I never asked him for his autograph. Just didn't see > appropriate for some reason. Silly maybe, but 20 minutes alone with him > just chatting was worth more to me than an autograph. > > That was the year that I started something that I said I would never have > the time or patience to do. Tying flies. I've never enjoyed anything > more. Later, I tied in public for the first time. It was at Fly Fish 2002 > in Athens, Texas. I wore that Columbia cap. > > - Gary > > > At 08:44 PM 12/21/02, you wrote: > >Mike, > >...About 10 years ago I met Dave Whitlock for the first time... > >DonO > >
