I Remember Papa Bear

[reddogge]

A friend lent my Dick Lattimer's book "I Remember Papa Bear. Dick handled the advertising and PR for Bear Archery for 23 years.

The strike, the decision to move the company, and the move to Gainesville, FL must have been gut wrenching and heart breaking for old Fred. Violence, neighbor against neighbor, mother against son, brother against brother. All in a company that started with nothing and employees deferred cashing their paychecks until Fred had enough money in the bank to cover them. Once a close knit company and town.

Interesting enough that it was the compound bow that allowed the company to survive the strike. The compound was very profitable, easy to build with a minimum of hand work, and was becoming quite the rage when the strikers hit.

Bob Kelley did say the plant would have moved anyway due to the cost of doing business in Michigan and the competitive disadvantage Bear had so the strike didn't affect anything. Who knows. Sad to think Fred was put through this in his later years. I've never heard a bad work about him.

[ksbowman]

Great post with good info. Thanks.

[reddogge]

One of the final chapters when Fred died was rather heart wrenching and Lattimer's eulogy was beautiful. Worth reading.

[ksbowman]

Thanks, I'll have to get the book and read it. You've tweeked my interest.

[cmh]

That's one book about him I haven't read.....

[reddogge]

If you have any fondness for Fred Bear at all I guarantee you won't have a dry eye reading Dick's eulogy to him.

The book covers most of the business ups and downs at Bear Archery and the early history.

Lots of personal stuff between Dick Lattimer and Fred. Dick thought of him as a father and the feeling was mutual between them. He probably knew Fred Bear better than anyone.

[hunterjrg]

I had the book and sold it. Dumb dumb dumb. It was a good book and I wish I still had it.

[jeff w]

One of my favorite books on archery.   Mr. Lattimer did a great job with some of the behind the scenes work at Bear Archery.   I have often wondered what it would have been like to work at Bear back in the '50's and '60's.   Definitely a great read.

[jackdaw]

Thx reddogge....very insightful! Hopefully I will see you at Baltimore in a couple of days.....;-)

[cacciatore]

[reddogge]

Yes John, looking forward to it.

[Hopewell Tom]

I didn't have the benefit of appreciating Fred Bear, Howard Hill and others growing up here in Nova Scotia. This site has helped immensely in rectifying that.
Thanks for some insight into the goings on at Bear Archery. I'll be looking for that book now.

[dbd870]

Thanks for the thread; I've been meaning to read this book for a long time as I cut my archery teeth in the 70's on a K Hunter. Just went and ordered a used copy on line. Looking forward to the read now.