Eulogy for a Fishing Buddy
tguf...@verizon.net
On Friday, 3/8, Kemper Eagle passed away in Harrisonburg VA and I lost a fishing buddy of over 30 years. However, more significantly our fishing and environmental community lost a tireless advocate. Among his many recognitions he was recipient of Trout Unlimited “Angler of the Year Award” at their National Convention in Jackson, WY and recipient of the “President’s Award” by the Virginia Wildlife Federation for his outstanding contributions in conservation of our natural resources.
Kemper was a longtime member of the Rapidan Chapter Trout Unlimited before moving to Harrisburg, VA after his retirement where he then became active with the Thomas Jefferson Chapter. During his time with the Rapidan Chapter he was their Newsletter Editor and during his tenure won recognition by Trout Unlimited for the best chapter newsletter in the nation. He also served as Chairman of the Virginia Council Trout Unlimited and served on a regional multi-state panel studying the effects and mitigation of Acid Rain.
Kemper loved to fly fish for trout. He and I along with a small group of good friends, some we fished together for over 30 years, tried each year to do a trip usually out West. We fly fished in such places as Yellowstone National Park, Northern California, Montana, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho as well as many streams up and down the East Coast.
In recent years, due to health issues, he was unable to join our group on our annual trips but he was always with us in spirit and now will always remain so.
RIP Kemper.
