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3. George Harvey

I just read at the Virtual flyshop that George Harvey passed away yesterday afternoon. Here is the headline;

"To My Fellow Board Members:
With a very heavy heart, I regretfully inform you of the passing of George Harvey - the "Dean of Pennsylvania Fly Fishing", this afternoon. No words I could possibly write could do justice, in death, to what he has done in life. My thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family. May the Heavenly waters be as lovely as his beloved Spring Creek. Tight Lines George...

that is very sad news. thank you for the heads up, Wbranch.

for those of us who are still so new that "George Harvey" only means a public access stretch of Spruce Creek, could you all who know more tell us what you know?

George Harvey was a great guy. My wife and I took a tying class with him about 15 years ago. He was very patient and had an amazing attention to detail. Check out his books; they are full of insightful tying and fishing tips. I certainly am thankful to have met him.

"Techniques of TROUT FISHING and FLY TYING" George W. Harvey,
Lyons & Burford Publishers, 1990, is probably in every trout
fisherman's library who went to Penn State. Too bad he could
not make this year's opener. Condolences to all his many many
friends and disciples.

Dick

I saw this posted on another web site, it's from the Centre Daily Times:

http://www.legacy.com/centredaily/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=1064091
> 60
>
> Jimmy Carter is the first person to sign the condolences page
>
> George W. Harvey
> George W. Harvey November, 14, 1911 - March 24, 2008 George W. Harvey,
96,
> of State College passed away at the Mount Nittany Medical Center on Monday,
> March 24, 2008. He was born on November 14, 1911 in DuBois. His parents were
> Archibald Harvey and Zora Bell Johnston. George married Helen Singer on
November
> 28, 1940. She passed away in September 1994. In addition to his wife Helen, he
> was preceded in death by his daughter, Sue Keller; granddaughter Cindy
English;
> and one brother and sister. A granddaughter; Kristy Gross and her husband,
Chad
> of Bonarie, Georgia, survive Mr. Harvey. He is also survived by; two great
> grandchildren, Cecelia and Mathew Gross, his son-in-law, Ken Keller of Myrtle
> Beach, South Carolina, and his brother-in-law, Jimmy Taylor of Meadville,
> Pennsylvania. George graduated from DuBois High School where he participated
in
> football, cross country, and track. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State
> University in 1935 with a bachelor's degree in ornamental horticulture. He was
> captain of the freshman cross country and track teams. George also was captain
> of the varsity cross country and track teams. In 1934-1935 he was secretary of
> the athletic association at Penn State. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma
where
> he was president in 1934-1935. George was a member of the Druids, Skull and
> Bones, Lion's Paw, and Pi Alpha Xi Honorary Scholastic Society. In 1934 as an
> undergraduate student he organized and taught the first angling and fly tying
> class at Penn State, the first of it's kind in the United States. From
1935-1942
> he was an instructor of physical education at the Mont Alto Campus (Forestry
> School) were he coached every sports team. From 1943-1973 he was an Associate
> Professor of Physical Education at the main campus of the Pennsylvania State
> University. During his tenure at Penn State he coached freshman and varsity
> cross country and track, taught 72 extension classes on angling and fly tying
in
> 68 cities throughout Pennsylvania. In 1947 while at Penn State, George
developed
> and taught the first accredited university level angling and fly fishing course
> in the United States. George taught more than 36,000 youngsters and adult
> students angling, fly casting, and fly tying. George was an accomplished
author
> writing numerous articles in national angling magazines such as Field and
> Stream, Pennsylvania Angler, Fly Fisherman, and Outdoor Life. He authored the
> Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's "Fly Tying Manual", and coauthored,
"Tie
> a Fly, Catch a Trout". In 1986 George wrote the book, "Techniques of Trout
> Fishing and Fly Tying", a classic book in the fly fishing world. Additionally,
> he coauthored two scientific bulletins on the study of brook trout that were
> published by the Pennsylvania State University. George was the recipient of
> numerous national awards. These include the Flyfisher's Club of Harrisburg's,
> Order of the Hat, for his contributions to conservation and fly rod angling,
the
> Award of Merit from the American Association for Conservation Information, the
> prestigious Buz Buszek Memorial National Fly Tying Award in 1978, Pennsylvania
> Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Federation of Flyfisher's National Award for
> Contributions to Fly Tying. George was an innovator at the fly tying vise. He
> was the creator of fly patterns such as Harvey's Favorite, the Spruce Creek
Fly,
> the Harvey's Stonefly Nymph, and the George Harvey Pusher Night Wet Fly.
> George's fly fishing leader design and the slack leader fly cast are used by
fly
> rod anglers all over the world. The flies he tied are cherished by fly pattern
> collectors to this day. As a flyfisher, he was the best there ever was --
second
> to none! Burial will be private. A celebration of life will be held at a date
to
> be announced. Donations may be made to the Joe Humphreys' Student Angling
Fund.
> Please make checks payable to: The Pennsylvania State University and indicate
on
> the check the ACHAG Fund. Please send these donations to: Mark Belden,
> Pennsylvania State University, Room 2 Intramural Building, University Park, PA
> 16802. Donations may also be made to: Central Pennsylvania National Multiple
> Sclerosis Society in memory of his daughter, Sue, at 2040 Linglestown Road,
> Harrisburg, PA 17110. Arrangements are under the direction of Koch Funeral
Home,
> State College.
> Published in the Centre Daily Times on 3/27/2008.
> Guest Book . Flowers . Gift Shop . Charities
>

Thanks, I hadn't seen this. It's good to learn more about George Harvey and to honor his memory. Tight lines to him in the great beyond,