Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Build Alongs => Topic started by: Ted Fry on April 16, 2008, 04:03:00 PM
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Back in the first part of the summer last year as I was busy filling orders in the store I looked out the window to see a man with a walker being assisted by a woman coming up to enter the front door of Raptor Archery.
Good morning I said as they entered , can I help you with something ?
I want to learn to build a bow said Walter, Yep the woman ( Christie) said , Walter would like to know how much it would cost to build a bow?
How old are you I responded , hoping it did not offend . Ninety one Walter said with pride, WOW! , if you are 91 and want to build a bow its a no charge deal, Walter instantly smiled a smile that made me realize I had made a good choice.
Christie was Walters care giver and good friend, she said Walter enjoyed learning new things and made a habit of trying new projects for recreation.
Walter had grown up in PA and said he would like to build a bow from wood that would grow in PA , so it was decided we would build a bow from Hickory.
Every week for months Walter would come into the store to work on his bow , not easy to build bows sitting in a wheelchair, but every week he showed up like clock work, saying hello to Jake (Chocolate Lab) That greats all as they enter Raptor Archery. The progress was slow but his determination grew with every pull of the draw knife.
Christie said after working on his bow Walter would go home and sleep like a stone, worn out but content.
Well one day I saw Christie walking up to the entrance alone , oh no I thought , not Walter!
Christie informed me that Walter had suffered a stroke and was in the hospital, we would have to wait and see how this turned out before we could decide on finishing his bow.
Well by the grace of God Walter survived, a little more frail but determined non the less, so on we went with the bow project.
As the weeks went by Walter and I got to know one another better , what a great sense of humor and wisdom wrapped into this man, not to mention the sense of learning new things even at 91.
Well , we finished the bow some months later and as you can see Walter is proud as can be with his new Hickory bow.
Thank you Walter , for the honor of getting to know you and sharing the love of the wood bow together. (http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m263/raptorarchery/img182.jpg) (http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m263/raptorarchery/img082.jpg)
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m263/raptorarchery/img184.jpg) (http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m263/raptorarchery/img187.jpg) (http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m263/raptorarchery/img188.jpg)
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Inspiring story. That proves you're never too old to take on new challenges.
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Way to go Walter. You've inspired me to get off my lazy butt and get back to scraping on my hickory stave. Cudos to you Mister Fry for all the encouragement :thumbsup:
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well what can i say :thumbsup: well done sir
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Great story, Ted, and great gesture on your part.
I'm sure the hours spent with Walter have meant as much to him as they have to you.
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I'm in freakin tears over that one.... Ted, you are a top notch guy!!!!!! :thumbsup:
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Ted, that is just outstanding.
First, for Walter to have the gumption to tough it out after a stroke, and secondly for you spending time with him to complete his quest.
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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Good stuff Ted! Thanks for sharing.
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I wanna grow up and be like walter! :thumbsup:
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Thanks for sharing Ted. Great job sharing your knowledge and skills that you have learned from some great individuals. Know, that you are making them proud as well.
Osagetree I agree with you.
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That is awesome!! Good on ya Ted!! :notworthy:
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Great story Ted. Tell Walter he has a big fan in Kansas.
Bill
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That is a great story Ted! And I had to choke back a tear or twelve while I read it. The generosity of the good folks on this site never cease to amaze me. Good on ya Ted!
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Well done Sir
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
F-manny
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What a great story to end a crappy day, and I hope Walter has many years left to enjoy the bow.
Great job Ted well done indeed.
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Excellent stuff! Great job on the bow! ;) :thumbsup:
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Nice work Ted
Nice looking bow Walter
Kurt
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Excellent story Ted, not everyday that you can share knowledge with your elders, you done good, are you loosing some hair? :) :)
JD
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I too, hope that when I grow up I'm even slightly similar to Walter with his determination and persistance. In the mean-time, however, I will be perfectly happy being the kind of man that Ted is. My hats off to you sir.
Winterhawk1960
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Thank You,Ted. That was a great storey to start my day.--Bone
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Ted, Great Story.... I hope I can do that when I get that AGE. Like I have said in another Post... "This is what Tradgang is all about" Archers Helping Archers, either in shooting/form or building bows/arrows and everything in between.
Ted, Do you know that Spec's of His bow?
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Great story and a good move Ted. Looks like he built a great bow too.
Mike
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Nice bow Walter! And great job Ted. The satisfaction you must have received from that job must be far more valuable than any payment you have ever received. Way to go! :clapper:
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Great story Ted,glad I didn't miss this one.
Dose the heart good.
Pappy
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Great story! God bless you both as you have blessed us, you by giving your time and knowledge and him by giving us his spirit, determination, and perseverance! Truly an inspiration in passing it on! Beautiful bow too!
Bill
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Ted, You've always had a big heart...must be hard to keep it in your chest now! Great job both of you...Doc
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Thanks Ted. That's what I call a buildalong!
I'm currently listening to Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea" on CD to make it through my commute. It's interesting how this correlates :)
Ted is Manolin and Walter is Santiago. Except Walter apparently gets to take his marlin home.
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Thanks guys , yes it was a gift to share the time with Walter and I too want to be like Walter when I grow up, 91 and still learning, what a guy.
Yes Joe Don loosing hair up top , but look at the ride I have had along the way Whew!
John , thats one of my favorite books, and about the only Hemingway I care to read over and over, funny as I get older and older the meaning of the story continues to change.
I am contacting Walter and Christina so that Walter may see the inspiration he is here. Hopefully he will chime in
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a good story about two good men
I can never get enough of this kind of stuff, really takes the sting out of all the crap we see and hear daily
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That was great Ted, your good man.
Walter, thats a nice looking bow. I wish I could do that.
Thank you
Gilbert
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Very nice Ted and way to go Walter! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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Hi Trad Gang! This is Karey, Walt's daughter and Christina, his caregiver. Thanks to everybody for your supportive compliments. Any yes, TED ROCKS!
By the way, Walt will be 91 on June 2nd, (not 81) and he's a positive and amazing guy. He built a 27' trimaran from a pile of marine plywood and plans AFTER he retired!
We'll be sure to share all of your comments with Walt every day.
Thanks Again,
Karey
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OOOPPPSSS, meant 91 not 81 , fixed that. Guess my brain is going at 49 , yes Walt you are an inspiration to the lot of us, heres to your next project whatever that may be.
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Great story Ted. Thanks for sharingit with us. I had my stroke in January and am looking forward to using the old drawknife again soon. Getting back to shooting has been my inspiration to get me through rehab.Shaving on some old osage will be better than pulling those cables of the rowing machine.
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Congrats Walt looks like an awesome bow.
:notworthy:
Good job Ted.
That is one thing I love about Trad archery. It seems to attract the best people with the best intentions.
:clapper: :clapper:
Dang now I have no excuse for not working on another bow. :)
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Ted,
Heck of a gesture for Walt,glad to see it when the elder statesmen are appreciated ! Walt I believe I met your caregiver when I spent a few days at Ted's Shop this past Oct(I slept in the shop for a few nights)Wish I could have met ya Ed,very cool you made a bow as well as a new friend.That kinda story is PRICELESS.
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Real cool , Jason just PM d me and said he was going to send Walter a Trad Gang hat , Thanks Jason I know Walt will love it.
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That is one of the best tales I've read on here. Kudos to all involved.
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Yep, Awsome, One of the best tales by far. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :notworthy: :notworthy: :goldtooth: :goldtooth: .
Thanks Walter and Ted, Another fan from Kansas.
Tracy
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God bless you for what you did. My dad is 87, this is a great story.
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Thumbs up to Walter. :thumbsup: And Ted, you make us proud that your a tradganger. :notworthy:
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Wow that's great. Great job Walter
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Two good men.
Walt for wanting to, and doing it and Ted for him do it. :notworthy:
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I teamed up with an english gent of 87 to learn how to fly-fish. Fished with him at least twice a month for nearly 5 years until last year when I moved. He did not speak much but when he spoke, they were verbal jewels- history and stories.
Though you were the teacher and Walt the student, I hope you had a similar experience. Yours is a great story. :clapper:
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Walter, Great looking bow, you done good! Ted, you did good too!!! This is what Tradgang is all about, helping others. :campfire: Thing is, after looking back, one often finds that you received as much, if not more, from helping then when receiving it. In this case it’s hard to determine who benefited the most. :clapper: :clapper:
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Great story, Ted. Congratulations, Walter! Jawge
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Nice job Walter you made Ted look good too!!
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You know,that is just one cool story,and just what i needed to read today.What an inspiration.I got absolutely no excuses anymore.Thanxx to both Walter and Ted for that Inspiration.
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Bjorn , I will remember you said that next time you need me to taper some shafts.
:bigsmyl: Unfortunately you are right on, but I will still remember.
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Very nice , not a dry eye in the house after reading this one!! Thankyou Walter! Shawn
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GOD Bless The Both Of You Fine Gentlemen!! Life just doesnt get much better than this!! Had to wipe a tear or 4 Myself.
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Outstanding story and a Great Job to both!
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Thank You, Walter for the inspiration, to never ever give up.
Thank You, Ted for encouraging the rest of us to be willing to teach.
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What an inspiring story. Congrats on a fine looking bow walter.
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:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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Awesome!! Congrats Walter and Ted., both of you are winners. :wavey:
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Go Walter Go! :wavey:
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I hope I have some one to get me to the shop when I'm 91! Awesome story! You are a good man.
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Thanks again Ted
We are going out to Apple Valley in a few minutes for BBQ, then shootin practice.
I'll bring you shootin pics.
Walt has quite a style all his own.
Many Thanks
Christina and Walt
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I can hear the thwack of the arrows on the target from here!
Killdeer :bigsmyl:
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Congratulations Walter! You built a very nice bow. Waaaaay better than my first...and thanks for the inspiration. I have another 33 years to catch up with you!
Ted, thanks for sharing your's and Walter's experience. After meeting you a few years back I'm not surprised. Pat
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That is one nice looking bow that Walter built! It goes to prove you're never to old to learn something new...
Thanks Ted for sharing this great story with us.
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We have failed to Thank the assistant, enough.
It is, sometimes; a Thankless job. Those who care for the elderly and infirmed usually don't receive KUDOS.
So, here's a bunch; for this 'friend' and all the others ,too!!
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Ted,
This incredible man you wrote about happens to be my stepdad's father.
He didn't even tell us he was working on it, just sent us this link, obviously after he finished it.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this story with others, and thank all of the other members here for the wonderful posts.
Walt became my step-grandfather when I was 22 and he was 74. At that time he was still living in PA with his wife, my stepgrandmother and was still sailing the boat that he had built. He is a truly inspiring person.
Again, thank you for sharing.
Laura
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Laura , I am not surprised that Walt didnt mention it to many , he is a man of few words. And believe me no thanks are needed , it was my pleasure.
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Wow....glad I finnaly got around to reading this....What Joel Smith said and many others have said....we need more stories like this.
Thanks for sharing Ted and Walter. :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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Cool story.
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I sure would like to have an address on Walter, my wife loves to send birthday cards, she looks for special ones for special people. And Walter sounds pertty special to us. If you don't want to post it, please email my wife's address ([email protected]) and send it. Thanks for a great story. :archer:
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Awesome Ted, There's no better medicine than kindness. What's the specs on Walters bow? It turned out very nice.
John
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My Address is 2766 My St. Hood River, OR 97031.
Yeah, I love Birthday cards.
Thanks Walter