Met my first TradGang member in person today. It was at the Kzoo Expo. It was Ron LaClair. Even got to hear some of his poetry. He is a neat man. Want to be like him when I grow up.      

Well....can you confirm if he is Santa Claus?

one of the people i would love to sit around a fire  and talk to--- herb

It's funny... I like to watch how many folks come up to Ron and just want to shake his hand, or maybe even get him to sign something. Ron has NO CONCEPT of his status in traditional archery. He loves talking to folks, BS'ing about this and that...

I think one of the things that caused Ron and I to become friends, is the first time I spoke with him, it seemed I had known him forever. Great guy,other "Trad Heroes" could learn from him.

Definitely a man to be respected in a number of fields. He's got a kind streak a mile wide, too!

(what are the monkeys for?)
Killdeer

Killdeer - We use the monkeys to hang our tree stands, haul wood, water...

   

Actually it comes from a post from years ago on the ***********, when Pablo wished for a "hunting monkey". I thought it was the funniest thing I ever heard, and my Uncle Jack and I started joking about it, naming him "Shep". Everytime I get skunked out on my Uncle's property he says something like "Shep make too much noise?"

Killy,

Roger has those monkeys trained impeccably. The water is always full, the wood stocked and the dishes clean. Every camp should have such a gifted indivdual.      

"Every camp should have such a gifted indivdual."

Roger or Shep??  :confused:  

Killdeer  

The credit goes to Shep. ;0)

I met Ron a few years ago in his shop.  I was having some arrow flight problems.  I called him about some Carbonwoods he sold at the time, and he said come on down and he would give me a hand.  115 miles later, I was there and spent most of the afternoon in his backyard shooting.  Ron spent more time with me on my form than my arrows, and my shooting has been better for it ever since.  I left with a dozen arrows and a priceless amount of advice and tutoring that I will never forget.

If you are reading this thread Ron, thanks again.  I hope I can repay you someday.

Dan

Yep......I met Ron at his shop on day, and even got to shoot with him...what a treat.  If any of you get a chance to visit his shop, don't miss it.  It's really something else.

Ron's on of the old guards, and a big supporter of Trad Gang.  Has a dandy bow line as well.

I was warned that Ron was a grumpy ol fart, but I found him to be just another archer, bowyer, hunter and straight talking gentleman. My first meeting at Kzoo I bought a bow from him. He was the only bowyer I saw there who came out from behind the table and shot arrows just for the fun of it.

I have have nothing but respect and admiration for the big fella....I love to watch the big lefty shoot on the vid's I have and would live to shake his hand someday

I finally got a chance to shake his hand! I had been wanting to meet him for some time. Hopefully I'll see him at Comptons this summer.

"He was the only bowyer I saw there who came out from behind the table and shot arrows just for the fun of it."

Thats a great observation and one of the things I like about Ron...he TRULY loves this stuff, and enjoys it like a kid at Christmas time. It's fun to see him get excited about a new knife, bow, set of arrows, flintlock, whatever...it's kind of inspiring, in a way.

My Dad met Ron for the first time this weekend, and he said something similiar...he said "you can tell Ron is just flat out enjoying himself, good for him"

Yep, he's a great man to work with as well.    

Java Man

Ron is one of the greats in archery, but besides that, He is one of the greats as a person to.

Aw shucks... you guys are embarrassing me    
I appreciate the kind words but I don't feel comfortable being thought of as someone special.   :rolleyes:   The only difference between me and you'all is that I've been doing this stuff a little longer than most.        

All I can say is Amen to what has already been said about Ron.  Being from Michigan I get to see him a lot at the different shows and events that we have in this great state and the only thing I might add is he truly is a man of integrity and humility! He has picked up the void and carried the tourch when Fred moved to Gainsville.

I'm waiting for Ron's Shrew Flintlock :-).  He has a great talent on the smokepole side of things as well.