I've told this story a couple times but not a lot, so I thought I'd mention it again since it was pretty coincidental with this thread. Please don't hold me to the exact stats as it's been a long time ago and my memory isn't as good as it used to be. Back in 1967 (what year were you born? Ha.) brother Gene and I were going to school in Indianapolis, IN. I was married but Gene was single at the time. We both were working nights, waiting tables and bussing at a new Stouffer's Restaurant that was on the top floor of a skyscraper near the junction of N. Meridian Rd. and Fall Creek Rd. downtown Indianapolis. At that time Indianapolis was the 10th largest city in the U.S. so the view from the top floor was impressive.
One night I noticed a man standing, looking south out over the downtown city lights. I only saw him from the rear, but I could see he had a sport coat on with his hands in his front pants pockets. Looking at his silhouette, I recognized his protruding jaw-line from the rear. Coincidentally, Gene just happened to be walking towards me and I stopped him and said, "check that guy out, I believe that's Fred Bear." Gene said, "Yeah.. right." Then he looked and sure enough agreed it was Fred. We went over and introduced ourselves. He was very nice and I think was flattered someone recognized himself. But Gene and I were busy working and he still hadn't eaten yet. An hour or so later his waitress came over to me and said "that gentleman (pointing) wants to speak with you and your brother." It just so happened we were about to clock-out so we went over.
It was Fred, his wife Henrietta, their daughter Julie (who later married Charlie Kroll), and another couple from Indianapolis. Now, the unbelievable part, I asked what they were doing in Indy and he said they were on their way home to Grayling from Florida. He said they had just signed the papers on a piece of property near Gainesville, FL. and was planning to eventually move Bear Archery down there. Think of the coincidence of us bumping into him the exact day they signed the papers for the historic move.
I recall him saying they had just, or planned on soon, opening the Grayling Museum. Obviously, things didn't quite go as planned as he sold interest in the company a year later in 1968 and eventually didn't make the Florida move until 1978.
I do remember something that was really neat. Fred said he could tell Gene and I had the bowhunting bug "really bad." And if we ever wanted a job with Bear Archery to look him up in Florida." How cool is that??
Over the years, Gene and I bumped into Fred at various bowhunting functions. He was exactly like what you probably pictured him as. He was the real deal. He always greeted us with the same line... " I remember you guys!" Yeah.. I remembered him as well!! B
Topic: Fred Bear starting his archery company (Read 1706 times)
