A fond farewell to a mentor

[Rupestris]

With a heavy heart I have to say good bye to a friend and mentor.

On Saturday, February 17th I have to attend a funeral for a man that influenced me more than any other shotgunner. My Brother-in-law's Father, Ed Catron.

Ed was a 31 year veteran of the Grand American. While his Shotgun collection would put most in awe, his knowledge of shotgunning was worth more than the whole of his winnings.

For the record, his ATA stats were:

Handicap Yards: 26.5
Singles Average: 0.94
Lifetime
Doubles 25350
Handicap 77500
16 Yards 96275

Comming from Bluefield, West Virginia, Ed came to SE Michigan and spent most of his life as a driver for the Coca Cola Company. Every free minute was spent at one of four local clubs turning clay pigeons to dust.

A quiet, soft-spoken man that retained a slight southern drawl, he'd go on about his Case knife collection, his ugly Ljutic, Sprint car racing, Hydroplane racing or something as simple as his Chevy Trailblazer that he hated because it wasn't as nice as his Tahoe. While he didn't talk too much about it, fact is, the man could shoot.

As a knife collector myself, I'd go to my brother-in-law's and my 11 year-old nephew would want to show off what grandpa gave him. Usually a Case knife that an 11 year-old liked because it was red or yellow or one of the "Christmas" collection. He has no idea what Gramps handed him in a monitary level. Not that it matters because as of Wednesday, those little Case knives became priceless.

Just as I can't go fishing without thinking of my own father, I doubt I'll ever be able to shoot trap again without thinking about him.

Godspeed Mr. Catron. Unlike the clay pigeons you called for, you will be missed.

Chris

 

[sm]

Rupestris,

I am sorry for this loss not only for you, also his family and many friends of Ed Catron.
Your words do him proud, and I am better for having read your tribute - thank you!

I can empathize, I truly can.

Rupestris, you know how all this works, Mentors & Elders pass forward to us, and in turn our role is to pass forward to others...perpetuation keeps alive these Mentors, just like the lessons.

I am sorry , condolences to you , family, and friends of Ed Catron.



Respectfully,

Steve

 

[frank c]

Rupestris,first off sorry to hear about Ed,s passing,my condolences to you and Mr.Catrons family.I know how you feel,I lost my father back in 2000,he was my hunting mentor and best friend,I miss him alot.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Our prayers and condolences are with you, Chris.

While we remember them, they are not far away.....

 

[John Peddie]

They don't make them like that any more

Condolences on your loss.

It's gotta be tough at a time like this, and I guess you have to lose someone before you fully appreciate what they meant to you.

I'm lucky...my mentor is still with us. Grew up poor in the Depression, had to drop out of school to work in an aircraft factory to help the family. Served on a Canadian destroyer in the North Atlantic in WW II, went back to school on veterans' grants, got a degree in chemistry then an MBA.

He's been a car repair shop owner, a real estate developer, and finally a beef farmer before he sold the farm about 10 years ago.

Widely read, he's now an antique collector and dealer (always keeps the best pieces to be passed down the family) and knows more about more things than I could ever imagine.

Watching him centre a rising pheasant is a study in efficiency and smooth control. No flash or razzle dazzle, just a smooth swing, a boom, and a cloud of feathers where there used to be a bird.

Oh, and did I mention that at 85 he can outwalk and outshoot me any day of the week?

We are all grateful for the time we've had with him, as you must be with Ed.

They don't make them like that any more, and we're the poorer for it.