Bill took me, my brother Steve, and my friends Wayne and Bob on several trips to his secret spots along Pauma Creek, before there was a trailhead.  It was about a 2-hour drive from San Diego.  When we got there, we had to hike straight down the very steep valley wall at least half a mile to the stream at the bottom.  And what a stream it was - chock full of small but hungry native  trout!  In SoCal, no less. We had ultralight spinning tackle and released all uninjured fish.  At some of the holes, we had to crouch down and crawl up to the stream bank so as to not cast a shadow and spook those beautiful fish.  What a blast it was, competing against one another for the biggest fish (usually about 9").  We fished all day until about 3 hours before sunset, when we would set out on the arduous 2 hour hike back up those steep valley walls.  Then we'd pile into the car completely spent, but with just enough energy left to brag and tell tall fish stories on the way home.  The trips to Pauma Creek were some of the best times we shared with Bill.

I've waited until now because I wanted to prepare a formal statement, then today I realized that I don't need to prepare.  I can just offer my thoughts and it doesn't have to be definitive; I can always add additional thoughts at later times.  Well, I think of Bill quite often, at least 4-5 times a week.  And I'm a bit plagued by guilt that I didn't spend enough time with him.  Though I am grateful that my daughter and I visited Bill in May of 2023, and had quality time with him then.  When we left Coquille I had the feeling that it might be our last visit together, and this proved to be true.

Bill was an honorable and righteous man, above all a family man.  A man of convictions and strong opinions, but willing to listen to an opposing point of view.  I won't stop missing him, and am grateful for the memories I have of him which keep Bill ever-present in my life and mind...