Ozark Whitewater Hall of Fame

[A Savage spanke]

As if Zach's first post wasn't an obvious out-bust of jealousy and resentment that his name didn't make the list, his second one pounded the point in. Maybe someone would mention you if you wouldn't do things like back out of running the hailstone because it was "to high", and actually boat some. Mr. drive out to Colorado for two weeks to run the Big Horn Sheep Canyon Twice

[canoe]

Way to hijack the thread guys. dale

[Tim Eubanks]

Dale: What can one expect from these youngsters:

My mentors have been/are Marcel Jones, Stewart Noland, Walter Felton, Ranger Rick, DVB, and (early on) JIm Simmons. These guys have helped me (I hope) develop into a better paddler/rafter.

[Ryan Center]

Bill Herring, Rob Pollan, Nick Hobbs, and Steve Robertson would get my vote.

[ARzach]

Way to hijack the thread guys. dale

No hijack intended here Dale. I just wanted to give Spanke some Shite for being overly in love with Matt Taylor, who I respect a lot, but don't think he has earned his stripes QUITE yet, although I have no doubts he will if he stays long enough.

I would second nominations for Lance, Cowper and Fish. All three inspired me to get into creek boating, a very long time ago.

I would also agree with the Kerry Moore nomination, the guy is an institution, himself.

I'd like to add Chuck Bewley, and the lesser known Wayne Delony. Chuck continues to inspire me in his tenacity and downright "barbarian" approach to boating, and generally impresses me on a regular basis. Wayne, although not a poster here due to a lack of interest in the internetz, has devoted a significant amount of time to training up young and old boaters alike, including my very beginning kayaking experiences over 13 years ago. He's also still out there charging pretty hard for a 62+ year old, and I admire that.

So there's my "productive" contribution to this thread...

Sincerely,

Zach Williams

PS - I belong on NO list, other than the Arkansas Swim Team. THAT list, I could be very near the top ;-)

[ARzach]

Bill Herring, Rob Pollan, Nick Hobbs, and Steve Robertson would get my vote.

Damn, I was also going to mention Rob and Nick, and I'm pretty sure Steve was mentioned. Great catch Ryan.

[Ryan Center]

My first ever instruction came from Wayne Deloney. We ran into him shortly after he either got certified or updated in Kayak. Dad, Don Harwood and I met him at the Piney one day camping and it was just like taking a class at canoe school for free. It was awesome.

[Roger]

As if Zach's first post wasn't an obvious out-bust of jealousy and resentment that his name didn't make the list, his second one pounded the point in. Maybe someone would mention you if you wouldn't do things like back out of running the hailstone because it was "to high", and actually boat some. Mr. drive out to Colorado for two weeks to run the Big Horn Sheep Canyon Twice

I for one did not take his post as an outburst of jealousy since I got his point of view pretty clear. Everybody was tossing up names and most were current paddlers and some are relative new comers to the game. As for your suggestions, I was confused by the double mention. :roll:
But let's look at the "qualifications" one should consider when nominating paddlers for their contributions to the sport.
Are we going strictly basing the qualifications on who's "firing up" the most difficult runs and going to exotic destinations to "fire it up" or do we consider milestone contributions as well as longevity and "giving back" to the sport and others.
If we were to really start one of these, you would not induct forty individuals in it's first year. You might start with five of the foremost "contributors" to the birth and growth of the sport. If we went with that approach, I would go with the following five and why:

1. Neil Compton-For his conservation efforts that directly influenced the growth of paddle sport.
2. Ken Smith-See Compton.
3. The Hedges-See one and two.
4. Whoever came up with the idea of canoe school.-That is obvious.

Second Class would be Stewart Noland, David Thrasher and Newton White,Walter and Gale Felton.

Now keep the thread on its original intent and take your personal issues to the PM function.

[Ryan Center]

Wow Roger, sorry to get you fired up.

[Roger]

Wow Roger, sorry to get you fired up.

I'm not fired up!! Just pointing out some reality. Lotta great paddlers in those names of which many I recognize and a few I don't. But what are the qualifications? Was enjoying the thread until it went off the tracks.

So, what would qualifications for inclusion into such a group be based on, folks?

[JohnB]

Ok, I've been drawn out! Diane was reading this thread and proudly noted the early mention of the illustrious Doobie Brothers (not the band)*.
I fell off my bicycle and have been on injured reserve, but please continue to count me as being among the active HOF'ers!


*tip of the hat to William "not Bill"Nealy

[canoe]

I agree that Roger's idea for a top 5 is correct and more in spirit of what I was trying to say(poorly) and not really orginized train of thought at the beggining of this thread, although I'm not really sure yet about the (implied) formalized idea of an OWHOF, but is an idea that we perhaps should consider. dale

[Roger]

Ok, I've been drawn out! Diane was reading this thread and proudly noted the early mention of the illustrious Doobie Brothers (not the band)*.
I fell off my bicycle and have been on injured reserve, but please continue to count me as being among the active HOF'ers!


*tip of the hat to William "not Bill"Nealy

[canoe]

The more I think of it, I've come to the conclusion that the only way to a formal OWHOF is to to have a committee make suggestions, and then be voted on by the Board, and then the membership (kinda like the baseball HOF). I suspect that the people who started the ACC Canoe School(yes, this before most kayakers) were Kathy Winters, Terry Keefe, Mike Beard, Max Wellhouse, Kenny Holmes, but not sure. I bet the info is in the written archives somewhere, my best guess would somewhere in Libby Beards's archives, unless somone else has a better idea..dale

[Zen B.]

Great thread. My votes go to Pam Byrd, Stacy Stokes, Jim Simmons, Billy Fontane, Shelby Johnson, Trey Marley, Steve Robertson, Ryan Johnson, Ammon Jordan, the fearless (and comical) Andy Judkins, and others. Ah, the memories!