Trad Gang

Dick Lattimer is Gone

It is another sad day for the archery community and Bear collectors in particular ...

Just read an email sent earlier today that Dick passed away at 3:00 this morning. He is being cremated and services will be at their Cedar Key church Saturday at 11 AM.

Dick will forever be remembered for his two recent books "I Remember Papa Bear"-2005, and "Hunt with Fred Bear"-2006

I enjoyed them books, Prayers for his family.

Rest in Peace.

Thanks for the history in those great stories and prayers sent out to the family.....

Very sad indeed. Condolences to the family.

I didnt know him, but am sure I have benefitited from his contributions.

Prayers for his family.

A great man, working behind the scenes most of the time.
Shick

Thanks Wade. Enjoyed his "voice" that came through in his writings.

RIP

I enjoyed these books and the few Bear bows I have. They have brought me a lot of pleasure.  RIP

Rest in Peace.

I too enjoyed his books he will be missed.

I first met Dick when I was visiting Mrs.Ellie Scott, Frank's wife soon after his passing.

We were to have dinner that day and I had arrived early. I went over to Bear Archery in Gainseville to pass some time until dinner.
While there I saw a man come out of one of the office doors and I recognized him to be Dick Lattimer.
I asked to be introduced to him and we spoke a bit about Frank. He was very,very nice.  Our conversation was short as he was very sad about Frank passing away, as I was.

Fred Bear loved Dick Lattimer like a son. And Dick Lattimer loved Fred Bear and Frank Scott like a father. This I know.
I never spoke with Dick again and sorry I never had another opportunity.
Rest in peace Dick >>>----------> Philip

http://www.bowhunting.net/artman/publish/AddingtonLattimer.shtml

http://www.archeryhalloffame.org/Lattimer%20Dick.html

Hope it is okay to post links. There is some information there on remembering Dick. I wish I would have met him.

I was going through some photo albums I have,thinking about some of the archery greats I have met and found these pics of Dick Lattimer.I thought I would share them with everyone.Such a loss to our community.This first one is from the Compton shoot a few years ago.I had my Bear Archery display set up in the building right between John Grumley's collection on the right and Wade's display on my left and was surprised by a visit from Dick.I often thought of how it must have made him feel to see a whole building full of memorabilia related to his old friend and employer Fred Bear and Bear Archery.He looks pretty happy here.Sorry for the poor quality pics,my scanner is down and I'm using my daughter's digital camera to take pictures of my pictures.
 (http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/IMG_1083.jpg)

This next one was taken in Mt. Pleasant,Michigan at Floyd Eccelston's Chippewa Archery Shop.It was his birthday and Floyd was sick at the time with cancer.Many of the old timers were there including (l-r)Floyd,Howie Hatfield(Bear employee),Dick Lattimer,Frank Scott.All four of these gentlemen are gone now.
 (http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/IMG_1084.jpg)

This last one is from a group of photos taken in the fall of 1987 at Grousehaven.This was the last time Fred would be at his beloved Michigan hunting grounds.Fred had invited a couple of old friends from the Detroit days of Bear Archery to visit him there.They had some old scrapbooks full of archery photos of the Detroit Archers going back into the 1930's and 1940's.Here Dick and Fred are looking through one of the scrapbooks.I'll bet some wonderful memories were stirred up on that day.
 (http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr118/johnnyrazorhead/IMG_1085.jpg)

John

Thanks for sharing those great photos.

Johnny
Great photos and background stories.
Thank You

Thanks John.
Very nice of you to share the photos and stories......Philip

Glad to share these with you guys,Dick was a great guy and we should be very grateful that he was able to pen those last two wonderful books relating to his good friend Fred Bear and Bear Archery.Not too many of the old timers left anymore.I believe Dick wrote in one those books about him wanting Frank Scott to write his story of his time with Fred Bear and Bear Archery but Frank never got around to doing it before his untimely passing.Dick was much younger but it makes you realize that young or old,no one really knows when that day will come.Make those memories today while you can,one never knows what a day will bring.

Thanks for sharing your great pictures.  We need to remember our forefathers who influenced us in this wonderful sport.

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

Tried to call and thank Dick for his writings a couple weeks ago to let him know how much they are appreciated and get any leads he might have on restoring the Fred Bear Museum in Grayling.  Very sad.

Thanks for relating these stories about Dick, Frank and Fred. The contributed a great deal and they will be missed.

I just caught this thread.  I was not aware of Mr. Lattimer's passing.  I'm very sorry to hear about his death.  His book "I Remember Papa Bear" is what inspired me to try traditional archery.  I owe him and Fred Bear a lot!

keeping a top shelf guy up top for one more day bd

I just caught this thread too, and am saddened that we've lost another great man in our sport.  May God rest his soul and comfort his family.