Many of you know these three gents.
The first two I got to know real well during a four year romp in China. The first one calls himself
"Mudd" the second guy is known but the name “Captain” or more commonly as
Dick Wightman .
Having been a member of Trad Gang from its inception I knew of Mudd from exposure to his “God Bless” signature but that is about the extent of the relationship until many years later, during my third year in China. When I had finally found a decent point of access to the internet while in NanChang City, Jiangxi Province, I got to know Mudd on more of a personal level via internet…right here at Trad Gang Central.
Mudd, AKA Roy Williams, knowing that I was a lover of longbows, and not being able to touch one much less shoot he allowed me to live a Trad experience through his life. He took me on his roving, stumping, and numerous back yard experiences, fed me all sorts of data (he grumbled a bit here) on bows, arras, and such as he would shoot in his living room.
When I finally set foot on American soil following that four year stint, he had already packaged a new longbow and a Bison Gear haversack together and sent it to my brother, waiting for me. I had that bow in my hands less than 12 hours after we landed in Grand Rapids, Michigan from our departure in Shanghai China. What a guy!!
Years earlier I got to know the other guy, Dick Wightman AKA Dick in Seattle on TG.
Dick was the only other contact I had during my Chinese excursion. He kept me up to speed on the historically significant things of Howard Hill and his bows. He actually had one of Howard’s bows at the time. He was instrumental in compiling tons of historical facts, photos, etc of nearly all aspects of the American Semi Longbow. Many here on Trad Gang know him well.
When I first contacted Dick, he was in the beginning stages of building his own glassed “flat bows” as he called them. He had sold much of his priceless Longbow collection to purchase some top end machinery used for bow building. About one year prior to my leaving China, Dick invited me to his home in Seattle to plan and build a bow with me. One that I could take home when finished…at no cost to me.
What a generous gesture to share his experience and time.
The point here is this: It doesn’t cost much, if anything to touch and bless a life. Mudd fed me with that which I missed dearly. Dick did the same in a different way. Both guys effectively “Paid it Forward’ gladly and I am forever grateful for them. Is that Cool? Way I’m Sayin’
Now see if you can catch how this all ties together...
The last fellow I have only known for a month or so. I recently read on a thread from a few years ago where Dick Wightman was manning table at a trad gathering somewhere in Washington State. On his table were for sale two longbows among some other stuff. A guy approached him and asked why he was selling those bows. He told the man it was because he was no longer able to draw them. The man told him that was no big deal and “could take care of that for him”.
The man’s name is
James Berry . James, without a second thought took care of Mr Whightman, possibly not knowing who he was. Dick shared with James that he had a hankering to build a longbow of his own style but had no idea how to do that. James invited him into his shop, built a form for him and took time to show him what was involved in building a bow… then sent him on his way…another happy, novice bowyer. Another life touched and changed.
I am certainly blessed to know these three guys….they are cut from the same cloth. There are a few like them within the ranks of the Trad Community. You know who they are.
Gentlemen, thanks all for what you have taught me over the years. I look forward to an opportunity to pay the experience forward.
Topic: Paying it Forward.... (Read 1021 times)
