Passing of Ray Lucas
Posted: 02 Mar 2023, 22:30
A giant of the hobby has been lost. Ray Lucas passed five days ago. It has taken me a few days to process his passing.
In the early 1990s I had just finished University and had a few articles under my name in TFH, FAMA, and AFM (US "shiny" magazines). I was invited to speak at the Northeast Council convention in Connecticut. It was my first national speaking opportunity and the first ever catfish focused convention. I was giving a talk with the "giants" of the hobby: Lee Finley, Ginny Eckstein, and Wayne Leibel. As a new university graduate, I turned up in slacks, tie and jacket to give my presentation. I ended up laying in the hallway of the hotel with Lee and Wayne plastered and talking fish until the wee hours of the morning.
I met a very nice man named Ray Lucas who said he loved my presentation and was very kind with his time.
Two weeks after the convention two giant boxes showed up at my house. They were full of filters, nets, fish food, and python products. The return address was Ray Lucas. I called him (remember I am broke at this point in my life) and said Ray I can never repay you for this. He just said, "Keep doing what your doing." I have tried to abide by his request for 30 years.
-Shane
In the early 1990s I had just finished University and had a few articles under my name in TFH, FAMA, and AFM (US "shiny" magazines). I was invited to speak at the Northeast Council convention in Connecticut. It was my first national speaking opportunity and the first ever catfish focused convention. I was giving a talk with the "giants" of the hobby: Lee Finley, Ginny Eckstein, and Wayne Leibel. As a new university graduate, I turned up in slacks, tie and jacket to give my presentation. I ended up laying in the hallway of the hotel with Lee and Wayne plastered and talking fish until the wee hours of the morning.
I met a very nice man named Ray Lucas who said he loved my presentation and was very kind with his time.
Two weeks after the convention two giant boxes showed up at my house. They were full of filters, nets, fish food, and python products. The return address was Ray Lucas. I called him (remember I am broke at this point in my life) and said Ray I can never repay you for this. He just said, "Keep doing what your doing." I have tried to abide by his request for 30 years.
-Shane