In
Memory of Phil Johnson
by Greg Kennon
With
the passing of Phil Johnson I have lost a friend, a mentor, and a
"brother of the outdoors." Although I was only able to share
a small portion of Phil's life, the glimpse that I had was truly impressive.
Phil pursued his goal of a better Kokanee fishery with a passion that
was beyond words. For those of us activists with the same goals, Phil
was a true hero in terms of his accomplishments. His passion was matched
by a compulsive attention to detail, a grasp of biology that many
researchers would envy, creativity, a down-to-earth understanding
of what is practical, and the tenacity required to get things done.
Through
his efforts, Phil has left the sportsmen of California with a set
of tools they can use to create a fishery, manage that fishery, and,
best of all, catch a lot of fish. Phil is the man who built the "Better
Fish Trap." In all things, Phil was a true sportsman. He loved
the outdoors and he freely shared his knowledge and love of the outdoors
with anyone that asked. And, this outstanding legacy was achieved
with a quite dignity completely void of self promotion.
As I
close, I would like to ask each of you to remember his life and legacy
in loving reflection and to honor him with prayers for his family
and continued support for his organization. Let's do what Phil would
want and work to continue the outstanding organization he made possible.
I can still hear him saying, "Keep your lines tight," and
"I'll see you on the water." I hope we all do.
Greg
Kennon
2nd Vice President
Kokanee Power