Another duck trek with Tim...

P

Pat Gregory

Well-known member
My good friend Tim Speight and I go on the best duck treks. Whether we're chasing after decoys, carving wood or duck boats, we always have a great time of fellowship. On our last adventure, Tim ordered a hollow black duck from my mentor Art Behemetuik, aka Artie Bennett. Art learned how to make decoys from my great grandpa in 1947 and has been carving ever since. Do the math, it's a long time...

Art is 86 years young and is still spry. Tim does a great job of getting the history with the decoy and took the opportunity to drive north and personally obtain the decoy in person. We had a great day. Art is full of stories and we got to hear a bunch. One cool tidbit we got to hear was that my great grandpa had a duckboat he used that was built by Tube Dawson, another famous Illinois River carver.

Art is also one of the last, if not the last carver alive in the Decoys and Decoy Carvers of Illinois book by Parmalee and Loomis which is a great feat as there are several hundred carvers listed in that book. I will always be grateful for Art teaching me the skill of decoy making. I thank God for him.

Anyway, we had a grand day. And, I appreciate the friendship of both Tim and Art.
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That was really interesting, Pat. Thanks for taking the time to write it up and also to include a couple of pictures. It did sound like fun.
Al
 
Pat, isn't that what it is all about. Sharing the passion and comradery with close friends. All those great memories,
it doesn't get any better then that.

Regards, Tom
 
A nice story! It's says alot about a person, who appreciates from whence they came and their respect for those that took the time to teach them.
Thanks for sharing.
Best - Paul
 
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