As hard as this is to write, I hope it radiates the same energy that Fletcher shared with myself, and everyone that had the pleasure of knowing him.
I met Fletcher around 2018, around the time we were releasing a special shoe at my skateshop.
Funny thing is, he was able to recall pretty much all the details of us first meeting during our last dinner together.
That was one of my favorite qualities about Fletcher, he always remembered, and if he said he'd be there, he would.
I remember being a little standoff-ish when I first met him because around that time, everyone was trying to get into my good graces in hopes of getting a special shoe, or even just the information on how to get the shoes.
Fletcher was an incredible conversationalist, something that is growing more rare in this age of texting and hiding behind screens, and as he
continued to come into the shop, I would enjoy our conversations more and more, realizing with each one that we shared so much in common, even with us being a generation apart in age.
From both of us attending private Christian grade schools and being collectors of rare things like shoes, trading cards, clothes, etc., to our love for P.F. Chang's and Outback Steakhouse, we had so much in common that my only regret is that we didn't meet each other sooner.
I still have yet to meet someone who supported the skateshop like Fletcher, and little did I know that his support would bloom into an incredible friendship.
Not only did he support us with his dollar, sometimes buying us out of certain items entirely, but he also supported us by spreading the word to so many people outside the skateboarding community, whether he was wearing a head-to-toe outfit he got from us, or just speaking about us, his love for what we were doing was second to none.
As our relationship grew, I would ask for his help when I needed handy work around the shop.
He was always down to help with repairs and renovations, often coming straight off his own job site to put even more hours of labor in a day, and he never once asked for compensation or something in return.
Over the last couple of years, Fletcher was my go-to person to grab dinner with about once a week.
Our go-to was P.F. Chang's, and at one point, we became regulars at the Town Center location, where most of the staff including the General Manager knew us by name, and sometimes getting our entire bill comped, further showcasing how Fletcher's energy and conversation skills were like no other.
Most of our dinners we would talk about all of his ideas and hustles and he would ask me what I thought about certain items he might be chasing after that week and if they were worth it, but regardless of my answers, no matter what he went after, he made it happen, and all I could do is just admire the hard work he seemed to put into everything he did.
During 2020, there was a trading card boom, and it was near impossible to find cards on the shelves at any larger retailer, so we would camp out at Targets and Walmarts overnight to be able to purchase the cards. Fletcher was no stranger to camping out for a hot ticket item, and even though he was there to purchase sports cards, he would always make sure he grabbed some Pokémon cards for me if I couldn't make it that week.
He always looked out for me. He was like the big brother I never had.
One last story here...
On Monday, January 10, I called Fletcher while I was at IKEA to ask him if he'd be down to help build a new display table for Skate Supply.
I specifically remember telling him it wasn't urgent, and that it could wait 'til the following week or even longer, and that I didn't want to add anything else to his plate, but he said, "How about tomorrow? We can knock it out and grab Chang's after."
I was surprised that he was immediately down to handle the project so soon.
The following day, January 11, I rushed around all day getting the table base ready so that way when Fletcher got off, he could come by the shop and only have to cut a few pieces of wood and mount them, and then we could go grab Chang's like he had wanted.
I sent him a photo of the table base around 1PM and he said he'd see me after he got off.
I gave him a call, no answer, another text, no answer, which just wasn't like Fletcher.
I knew he was bad with phones so I figured maybe something happened to his, but then I remembered that he had memorized my number, telling me one time, "I memorize all the close people and places numbers since I'm always breaking phones."
It wasn't like Fletcher to not let me know if he could or couldn't make it, so I waited around Greenbrier 'til about 7:30 hoping that he was just tied up with a job, or that he was waiting for his phone to charge.
I ended up going home expecting to hear from him later, but instead, I was informed that the reason I didn't get to see him that night was the worst case scenario.
I share this last story to drive home just how great of a person Fletcher is.
That it would have to be that… the absolute worst case scenario, for him to not show up for his people.
I love and miss you, Fletch.
The world would be a much better place with more people like you in it.
- Trey
Share with others
Donate in memory
