Memorial Day Fishing Report
Or
Did you ever know that you were my Hero?
We set aside this day each year to honor our nation’s
heroes. Because of them we are able to have the freedoms that we many times and so often,
take for granted. I have many heroes. Each of them deserving of writing at some other
place and time. Today, before I share our fishing results, I want to tell you about my
childhood hero.
The year was 1952. Our soon to be grandmothers were friends
and I believe, belonged to the same Sunday school class. Our mothers were blue collar
workers. His mom worked in a book bindery and at home, read mystery books like I eat ice
cream. My mom worked over 40 years in a bakery but never learned to drive a car. That
didn’t stop her from walking me to the local theatre to see every stinkin’ Elvis
movie that came out! My dad was a paper mill man with a 2nd grade education. His dad
worked and had a passion for studying maps and atlas’s and books. They had more maps
at their house than you’d ever find at your local Citgo station! He was born
premature on November 26. I rolled into town on Dec 9. I had yellow jaundice and
supposedly was very sickly for a time. My mother spent her life working at the bakery so
she described me as looking “like a yellow piece of French Bread.”
Although we didn’t go to school together until somewhere
around the sixth grade, we were church friends from birth. From about the 6th grade on we
were inseparable. He was frail but loved athletics. His grandma worked at the public
library so he began reading very early. By the time he was 12 he had read more books than
most folks read in a lifetime. We were misfits of sorts. I was tall, a little cockeyed and
clumsy. He was sort of a loner. It was a perfect match. His dad died when we were in the
6th grade so he was invited on many fishing trips with me, my brother Danny and my dad,
Alva D. Later, we often rode our bikes to the river to fish. It was only 55 city blocks or
so, and we would often make this journey 3 times a week. As kids, if we didn’t start
playing or fishing by sunrise he would complain that we were “wasting daylight.”
We went our separate ways after high school. He enrolled at
the Univ. of Florida and I went off to Rome, Georgia to see the world and attend Berry
College. Later, I became a teacher. He stayed in school. And stayed in school. And stayed
in school. Final results? He acquired a Masters degree and a Doctorate degree from North
Carolina State Univ. A little kid from our neighborhood that I was friends with had
received a PhD!!
What does he do? He is currently a research entomologist with
the USDA and has traveled the world doing research and presenting research papers. He has
published more stuff than you can imagine and he actually understands it! My friend is Dr.
Frank Arthur who grew up near Phoenix Ave. He had nothing going for him but a God given
brain and a desire to excel. Where has it gotten him? Many of the places that he read
about as a kid he has now seen. He has been to Egypt and seen the great Pyramids. He has
walked on the Great Wall of China. He has attended the Symphony in Moscow. He has walked
with the Kangaroos and Koala’s down under in Australia. He has visited our
nation’s Pentagon on official government business. He has presented papers to the
Canadian Entomological Association on many occasions. These are only a few places that he
has been. He has visited many of the places that he saw his dad read and study about when
he was a child. Those places on the maps and atlas’s have become Frank’s
backyard.
I have never told you this Frank, but you are my hero. Most
of the kids on our street were satisfied to work the paper mill or just be an ordinary
Joe. Not you. You followed your dreams and I am so proud of you!
The Rest of the Story
Frank can play almost any stringed instrument known to man,
but there are still at least two things that he has never done. He will complete his
life’s puzzle this summer after these two major hurdles:
1) Even though he has been to England and will spend time in
Denmark soon, he has never fished for Carp aboard the ALVA D. After a trip to Copenhagen
in early June, Frank will fly here from his home in Kansas to Carp fish with me the week
after Father’s day.
2) Frank has never married. Frank (at 50) will be tying the
knot with a beautiful chick that he picked up in his church choir this coming July 5th!
Frank was in my wedding 30 yrs ago in Atlanta and Ramona and I are returning the favor in
Kansas this July.
I can’t wait to fish again with my friend. I am just so
glad that we don’t have to ride our bikes 55 blocks to do it! Thanks Frank, for being
my hero!
Today's Report
Today was a special day in the life of the DRCFA. Two
outstanding things occurred this morning. The first miracle was that Ken “The
Webmaster” Higginbotham actually went fishing with me. It had been so long that Ken
spent most of the morning reviewing the ALVA D 1st Mate’s Handbook. I wouldn’t
lie to you folks. I am including a picture. After reading several chapters, Ken finally
caught a 2 lb, 11 oz Ghost.
The second historical thing was that Mrs. Doris Goff ripped
down the DRCFA gender barrier by Carp fishing with our very own King Charlie!!! Before you
Title Niners get in an uproar let me remind you that the DRCFA by laws simply state that a
fella “should not go down the river with another man’s wife.” What you and
your own wife do is strictly your business!
Just to show why he still reigns as king, Charlie boated an
impressive 4 pounder today. This stuff is child’s play to a man of Charlie’s
stature. He may reign ‘til the Turkey Day cutoff date. Please note Charlie’s new
birthday hat. Also ladies, Miss Doris was the Queen of Dog River in every sense of the
word today. Our report would have been incomplete without a picture of her beautiful
smile.
 
Closing Remarks
Many of you will think this report is way too long. You are
already saying that he needs a job bad! If you have any suggestions I am open and my
schedule is flexible. But until then I guess I’ll just keep on Carpin'!
Current Standings as of Saturday 5/24/03 3:55
PM (Please note that the DRCFA will be awarding prizes to the top 5 finishers after the
Thanksgiving Day cut-off date.)
1.Charlie Goff -5 lbs, 2 ozs 4/11/03 (Current Carp King)
2. (Tie for second place)
Sam Marlow-3 lbs, 11 ozs 4/12/03
Brent Wolf-3 lbs, 11 ozs 5/10/03
3.Dennis Brown-3 lbs, 6 ozs 4/26/03
4. (Tie for fourth place)
Ken Higginbotham-3 lbs, 0 ozs 3/15/03
Bryan Harrell- 3 lbs, 0 ozs 4/19/03
Captain's "Catch of the day"- 4 lbs, 13 ozs -
4/12/0
Until next time, keep on Carpin !
Captain Horace
" Be ye fishers of men......You catch 'em and He will clean 'em."
www.countylinebc.org
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