Larry DucKwall
SEPTEMBER 15, 1937 – AUGUST 27, 2014
You didn’t just know Larry Duckwall you experienced him. He had a mischievous sense of humor and amazing intellect.
The East Branch of the Delaware, his fisherman friends, his family and his beautiful wife Joan. “Saint Joan” were in his heart.
He taught Sunday school in Oneonta, N.Y. Dave Brandt (fly tier extraordinaire) was one of his students. I’ve read Sunday School class consisted mostly of fishing talk.
When I first opened the Little Lehigh Fly shop, Larry’s enthusiasm and encouragement off set the discouraging negative comments of the it will never work crowd.
Larry was an action speaks louder than words guy. He prevailed on his friend Ernest Schwiebert to be the keynote speaker at our first Leisenring Memorial Day.
Schwiebert's appearance at this and subsequent events helped put our culinary events on the radar,
I value the relationship that evolved with Dr Schwiebert and thank Larry.
Ernie told me when he needed flies tied for one of his publications he went to Larry.
The Dettes influence was apparent in Duckys ties making him a top tier.
Larry spent his youth in Downsville, New York where he graduated from Downsville High School and Hartwick College. As a science teacher in Mount Upton, Andes and South Dayton (New York) he was a wrestling coach and official.
After retiring he became Southern States Regional Director for Ducks Unlimited.
Larry was an avid hunter, talented fisherman. a National Bird Bander for the Audubon Society and regarded nationally as a gifted fly tyer.
He spent a month in China teaching local students fly tying as a means for them to earn a living.
Larry had a love for music. He was an accomplished musician through voice, piano and trombone. (his love of the trombone was shared with other tiers like Jazz Flies author and Blood Sweat and Tears musician David W. Betterman, Chauncy Lively and me.)
If you have any Ducky stories, please share them. I’ll update this page with them.
I gleaned some of the above onfor matiopn from:
https://bookhout-oneonta.tributes.com/dignitymemorial/obituary/Larry-Duckwall-101641855
https://www.tu.org/blog-posts/memorial-larry-duckwall-1937-2014
CHARLES MECK
May 28, 1932 September 18 2018
Charlie was an artillery man during the Korean War, earned his Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Penn State, and his Masters from the University of Scranton. He worked at Penn State for over 25 years.
He loved the outdoors, especially fly-fishing. A noted author and fly fishing expert, he wrote 15 books on fly fishing, and numerous magazine articles. He loved teaching others the sport
Charlie last appearance at the Little Lehigh Fly Shop was in May of 2000. As with most Little Lehigh Fly Shop seminars his day long presentation was accompanied by good food. After a Continental Breakfast we spent the morning tying the Patriot, the Zebra Midge and others
After a soup and sandwich lunch we tied a Zebra midge on to Charlies “Dell” leader and chased some trout with Charlie.
Before feasting on a sumptuous Pennsylvania Dutch style dinner, Charlie signed books
Charlie was inducted into the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum Hall of Fame and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association and the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association.
In April of 1996 he was one of twelve Pennsylvania fly fishing legends featured in a piece called REEL HEROS
in the Philaadelphia Inquirers Sunday Supplement.
I am proud to have called him a friend and grateful for the opportunity to learn from him.
The late Ed Koch tying at the Little Lehigh Fly Shop.
Ed as he was presented in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s CASTING CALL in April of 1996.
Don’t miss the display honoring Ed at the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum