Fishing for Success Heroes

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Friends of Fishing For Success
Enhancing the Ability of All Floridians, Communities, and Businesses to Prosper
In Tribute to
George G. Kirkpatrick, Jr.

Let's Go Fishin'

Friends of FFS
2003-6 Contributors
Family Fishing Days
On-site tours
Off-site programs
Awards, Achievements
FFS Volunteers

Meet the Team!

We will miss him!!

In Memory of The Honorable George G. Kirkpatrick, Jr.

On February 5th, Fishing for Success lost one of its greatest friends - former state Senator George G. Kirkpatrick Jr. of Gainesville. Why? Because George was the one who through sheer force of will helped found the Fishing for Success program. George did it because he believed fishing would be good for the kids and our community.

For myself, George is one of my best friends. He was a great legislator for all of Florida. But most importantly, he was a man with a big heart. Three of his loves were fishing, education, and business. While pursuing his loves, he encouraged programs like Fishing for Success. George touched the lives of many individuals and helped make Florida - the place we all love - a wonderful place to live.

Senator Kirkpatrick will not be forgotten!!!!!!!!!

Best Regards,

Daniel E. Canfield Jr. Professor of Limnology & Co-Director of Fishing for Success

Celebrating Our
'Fishing For Success'' Heroes

Larry Watson Wally Grant

This January marks the one-year anniversary of the new 3/4-acre fishing pond built at the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. The pond was built to accommodate the growing number of people that have been participating in our monthly Fishing For Success (FFS) Family Fishing Days. (After the horrible events of September 11th, the fishing pond at a neighboring Federal research facility was no longer available to us.) As we celebrate this benchmark, we'd like to recognize some of the individuals from Gainesville's business community that made it all possible:

The Fishing For Success Program especially thanks two individuals who were instrumental to the project: Wally Grant with L&S Auto Trim and Larry Watson with Watson Construction Company. Wally worked diligently to raise the funds for the project and Larry provided a construction crew and heavy digging equipment at an affordable price and built the pond in record time. Once the pond was built, it needed a pier so that physically challenged individuals could also have a place to enjoy fishing. Wally, working with members from the Gainesville Downtown Rotary Club, raised the funds needed and constructed the fishing pier.

Of course, it was no surprise to us when Wally recently received The City of Gainesville's 2002 Albert "Ray" Massey Citizen Volunteer Award. As usual, he is quick to share the credit. Wally insists that both the pier and pond would not have been possible without the help of "a ton of people who have come through" and given money at a time when finances have been tight for everyone. Businesses of all shapes and sizes were involved, representing a broad cross-section of Gainesville. These business people worked together to build something that is truly an asset to the community.

Wally became acquainted with FFS several years back when he and others from the Bass Master's of Gator Country (a fishing club) held a kid's fishing derby out at the Fishing For Success ponds. The day was such a success that he and the club have returned every year since and have become true believers in the magic that happens around FFS' special "catching" ponds! The next project on the drawing board includes the construction of three more ponds and bathroom facilities. "With more involvement from the community, especially in the form of financial support, we can make the facilities a reality and allow even more families a chance to enjoy all the benefits that fishing has to offer."

Gainesville Downtown Rotary Club's fishing pier
for the physically challenged.