Speaking of John Rook.... pics added starting page 1

[Chuck Jones]

John Rook was a great bowhunter and an exceptional human being! My wife Pat and I met John and Lenny at a PBS banquet. The stories John told us were incredible! Here was a blind man who hunted harder than anyone I knew. Pat started recording bowhunting books for John. She read through my library and John had books mailed to her for recording. One day John called to talk about bow making. He asked if I could think of any way he could measure the thickness and width of self bow limbs. I had a hard time imagining how he could possibly  make a self bow without seeing what he was doing, but I made a set of aluminum gauges marked in Braille, in the sizes needed for bow making. A couple weeks later John called and told me about the bow he just finished using those gauges. He was so emotional, he could barely talk.
John went on to make many bows and even used them to hunt and take several animals. What a unique human being! He made all my problems seem insignificant.   

[trad_bowhunter1965]

One of the best post I have ever read thank you all for sharing these story of John Rook.

[NailCreek]

I have to echo the sentiments noted above.

This is one of the best threads that I have ever read. 

[stevem]

I've really enjoyed reading this post.

[Tim Finley]

Johns Australian hunt was the high lite of his life he talked about it all the time Barry did something very special for him .At the awards ceremony he was not only congratulated by famous people but he also got a kiss from Bo Derek man we teased him about that !
  John was very generous he always wanted to pay his way and more he didnt have much but disability he lost his pension when the company that he worked for went out of business .I was at his house on the way to ETAR when he went into his little room and brought out a bow and gave me a beautiful 1956 Kodiak in my favorite draw weight 52#. I dont know where he got it or how much it cost he wouldnt tell me but it must have been plenty that was in the time old Bears were bringing a premium. He also made me a selfbow  with help from his friend Kent.  Kent wasnt an archer but  gunsmith he spent many days in Kents shop and with  help John started making selfbows.
  John decided to put fiberglass on a bow that the weight came in to light ,after he ground it out he called me how can you stand this the fiberglass itches all over me I cant hardly stand it how do you do it everyday. I stated thinking John never took a shower only baths , John did you take a bath to get it off he said yes did you take a hot bath, hot as I could he said ,you just opened all you pores and really let it in you need to take a cool shower all he said was ugg.
   John never drank a beer ever but he sure liked his whiskey. we were gone to ETAR And John got his nose pretty deep in a bottle of Irish whiskey When we came back to his place as we were pulling into the driveway he leans over and whispers real load ...now dont tell Barbera I had anything to drink I dont want her to know, Ok John of course he counted see me smiling . As soon as we walked into the house Barb says how was your week end I said great but John sure drank alot of whiskey this time ! He just dropped his head and started shaking it back and forth real slow .
We all miss him he was alot of fun.

[David Mitchell]

Truly inspiring thread.  Thanks all.

[Jim Jackson]

This is fabulous!!! Thanks to those sharing. 

[Terry Green]

This is truly amazing...  thanks to all that contributed.... wow.

[varmint101]

That's all pretty dang cool!