Ozark Whitewater Hall of Fame

[gannon311]

I second mike scroggins. Also have to throw Billy willams ,cowper,s Hanshaw ,Jason m,and karry moore in there too.

[dogpatch]

What a cool thread! Thanks, Dale. Just coming from Canoe School this weekend, I have to flash back to Judy and my first clinic (canoe school) in, I think, 1983. We drew Kenny Holmes and George Spencer. We came away with as good of instruction as we could have had anywhere. I say that cause we took an NOC canoe week the following summer. I can't really say NOC did a better job, maybe not as good. Then some friends and I soon after ran into Dale surfing ledges on the Bayou. He showed us how he did it. Then soon after he and a friend who I can't remember took a whole day herding us down every rapid on the Ocoee. I can't bring up Dale without mentioning Pam as well. Then there's Stewart, who has been nice enough to include us on several great Middle Fork trips. And getting more recent, there's Walter and Gayle, who have provided friendship, leadership, and continuity to the Club in more recent (hey, everything is relative when you're over 65) years. And there are more and more great folks in the ACC community, but this is my turn to jump in with some of the folks I've got to mention. Just coming from Canoe School, it's a great time to reminisce. Thanks!

[canoe]

Shelby Johnson. Nuff said. dale

[marc b]

I have not been boating for long enough to know a lot of the pioneers of the AR paddling scene. After reading about first d's and who has done what creeks. There are a lot of names that come to mind. Dr. Dale Barton would get my #1 nomination. Not only is he a hall of famer on the water, he is equally deserving off the water. The B Paddling ranch has become a great part of boating one of the best creeks in the Ozarks. The Halloween party is one of the biggest parties of the year. He also provides one of the best shuttle drivers and most friendly faces that you will see at the take out.

[RandyJ]

Great collection of names here. As I read, I'd start thinking, "but gotta' include...", then someone would name them.

Been doing this long enough to recognize that successive generations often stand on the shoulders of their predecessors. Lots of people I'm thankful to...many I've met...many I haven't. Ashamed the out-of-staters beat us to it, but many thanks to the crew that probed the southern Oklahoma runs near Clayton a few years back - great stuff. A couple of those runs might even be running tomorrow...hmmmm....

[Heath]

man, there would be a really long list. Lance, Cowper, and Shelby, come to mind first because they lead me down my first ozark Creek(boss hollow). the people i read about when I first started, Were these three+ ryan Johnson, nate klien, Randy Jackson, wade colwell, dale barton, chris anderson, billy williams tommy wingard, John barton, and many others. Fish and kevin Findly would be high on the list as they lead me through the tot falls for my first trip and also pionnerd lots of new creeks up north.


its neat to see how many really good boaters have came from this area, and is still coming from this area. for such a small and inconsistant boating area there are some really good boaters from arkansas.
Playboaters, Scott H is one of the best Ive paddled with anywhere Jason M is pretty high on the list as well.
and creekers the list continues to grow!

[Ryan Center]

This is an awesome topic. I look up to all these great paddlers and pioneers showing and teaching me the ways of white water paddling. I love how this whole state is pretty tight within the paddling community and how I have met so many across this state and others.

[hellbender]

just a big tot head but i'd say the only one for me would be bob.loved that man,bout time i carry on

[Walter Felton]

Need to add Ted Smethers to the list. He was one of a couple of key people that was involved with the USGS to get the electronic gage on Richland.

[dogpatch]

Already been mentioned, but I forgot to say Phil Bruce on my list. He was one of the friendliest and most helpful guys I've ever known. He is missed tremendously.

[ARzach]

Haha, as much as I agree with every name that has been thrown out there so far, this is beginning to look more like a "list of Arkansas boaters" instead of a Hall of Fame. Don't get me wrong, all of you guys are HOF worthy, but if there are 50 paddlers statewide (I know, an under-guesstimate) and 40 of them are in the HOF....

[T Yamashita]

Here's a pdf of an 1980's trip down the 'tot. I found it in my ACC folder.
ty

[GN YAKN]

Cool PDF, T.

I would nominate Max "Bullwinkle" Wellhouse and Mr. Jim Simmons. From an instruction perspective and as salty boaters!

Gordon & Margaret Bartelt are a couple more from the instruction leadership POV.

A couple of my earliest mentors were Dennis & Karen Buccella. Dennis' alias: The Gauley Llama!

Dave

[A Savage spanke]

Matt Taylor. Kent Mulberry, and Matt Taylor.

[ARzach]

Matt Taylor. Kent Mulberry, and Matt Taylor.

Sounds like someone has a man-crush on Matt Taylor...

Matt, you should capitalize on this, and get Spanke to start carrying your boat to put-ins and take-outs. And, make him bring the beer, 'cause he's of age now supposedly...