The Mid-South Fly Fishers lost a friend and treasured board member with the passing of Bill Wright on Saturday, March 6. A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, March 28 at the High Point Funeral Home 3788 Summer Avenue in Memphis. Visitation will be at 2:00 for all to join and celebrate Bill’s life. The Memorial Service will be at 3:00. Bill requested that memorial donations go to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The website is http www.vvmf.org
A member of MSFF since 1996, Bill’s contributions to the world of fly fishing are numerous. His artistic touch is present in the past two editions of the Home Waters book, on our website www.msff.org, and in the Tight Lines and Tall Tales newsletter which he edited for several years. Bill’s designs were used for the MSFF Home Waters Expo programs, posters, and booth layouts. He designed the logos for the Reel Divas and the Knotheads fly tyers. An outstanding fly tyer and photographer, Bill donated much of his art work to groups for fundraisers. And yes, it was Bill who popped and passed out popcorn at the MSFF booth during conclave! Words cannot express the extent of our loss. We were advised by our founders to look for our lost friends and family in the ripples of the water---no doubt many of us will see Bill when the wake curls just like his fabulous handlebar moustache.
Bill brought a great sense of humor to the Board meetings. There should always be a standing no vote at every MSFF Board meeting in memory of Bill.
David McCray
Without Bill’s artistic flare you will find our website looking simple.
Charles McClain
Bill designed my caricature out of the blue. I asked for the Angling Gourmet caricature and he graciously did it. One time he was taking a class on website design. He chose my website and tweaked it. It turned out gorgeous. This was unsolicited, just a nice thing to do. We will all miss him. His contributions while great were quietly slipped into club lore.
John Berry
Bill tied some wicked presentation crawfish flies (read "crawdad" by some) Just a reminder...he was also a Vietnam-veteran, Marine. And I never, not even once, saw him angry.
Dan Brown
Bill was the best boyfriend we ever had!
The Reel Divas
When Bill took over the newsletter, the editor did all the work--compiling, editing, printing, stapling, folding, stamping and mailing. A very private guy, Bill was reluctant to accept help but he was also a meat and potato guy. I would cook burgers and bribe him into letting us get together for a TL&TT assembly each month. Bill is an incredible artist, and he’s tied some amazing flies.
Judy Boston
When Bill heard some of us were planning to float the Buffalo from Rush to the confluence he just shook his head and said no way. He warned me to beware the first turn past Rush landing, apparently he took a tumble there once. Bill was Wright (sorry). Before he left us I promised Bill I’d pass his warning to all of you.
Kathy Gulley
Bill Wright--one of the best of the good guys.
Schuyler Brower
