Memories of Capt. Kirk
Many who post here remember Capt. Kirk, a fixture and nearly a founder of the GunBroker Forums. It was he who set the tone and guidelines for Ask the Experts. He has not posted since 2011, and I believe many realize the good Captain has health problems that will preclude his return to his beloved board.
About ten years ago there was a giveaway frenzy going on around here, and Capt. Kirk got inspired to offer a day of ocean fishing to the winner, and all the winner had to do was provide a bucket of KFC. Several posters added their names and I too posted thanking him for a very generous offer, saying it was probably a little far from New Mexico so I would not enter.
About two days later I received an E-mail from Capt. Kirk telling me I was a winner! I e-mailed back explaining I appreciated the kindness, but had not really entered, just thanked him for the chance. I got back a reply saying everyone that responded was a winner; all they had to do was get to LA. I explained the whole story to the boss and she said, "well it would be pretty much a once in a lifetime opportunity."
We arranged a date with Capt. Kirk and bought tickets, reserved a hotel room and waited impatiently for the day to come.
We met Capt. Kirk, the afternoon before we were to fish, at a caf? down on the harbor to arrange when and where to meet the next morning. Early on the day we arrived with a bucket of chicken and our own lunch ready for whatever came our way.
It turned out fog was what came our way, heavy fog. We made our way out to Angel's Gate and dropped some squid on hooks to fish for halibut and wait for the fog to clear. At times huge container ships would materialize out of the fog looming far above us and passing nearly silently though the gate and into the fog. At one point a flock of cormorants flew out of the fog bank and just kept coming in a long ragged line. In the end somewhere between 500 and 1000 cormorants went by. We had never seen more that 6 at a time before. A trio of surf scoters paddled by, beautiful little waterfowl with clown painted faces that we had never seen before. Finally Kirk and I both hooked fish and after a little time landed two halibut to small to be legal. Back into the water they went and as the fog lifted we motored beyond Angel's Gate.
We motored south and out a little toward Santa Catalina and Kirk explained the plan. It seemed that we were to find an area where the bottom was pitted with tub-like depressions where the halibut would gather. The plan was to catch halibut and then slowly bring them up as bait for sharks. It was the sharks we were fishing for. It was starting to get more exciting now. Unfortunately we had hardly got our hooks down when the swells began to rise. When we were rocking in 4 foot swells, Capt Kirk announced that was all the boat could do and we headed back to the harbor. After we entered Angel's Gate again, we began throwing the bait squid to the gulls flying behind the boat. It is the only time I have ever had the chance to watch a flying bird while I too was moving. It was in essence stationary flight. I was able to watch how the bird's wings moved, how the tail acted as a rudder, and how effortless it all seemed. It was spellbinding.
Despite the lack of trophy sharks or even legal halibut, it was one of the best and most memorable days of my life.
I was back in L.A again in 2005 to transport a couple of crocodiles back to New Mexico, and went to Kirk's place for BBQ. We had a fine visit, and a fine dinner. I never found him to be anything but generous and up-beat. I like and respect Mr. Stillwater, and miss him around here. I wish Capt. Kirk the best.
About ten years ago there was a giveaway frenzy going on around here, and Capt. Kirk got inspired to offer a day of ocean fishing to the winner, and all the winner had to do was provide a bucket of KFC. Several posters added their names and I too posted thanking him for a very generous offer, saying it was probably a little far from New Mexico so I would not enter.
About two days later I received an E-mail from Capt. Kirk telling me I was a winner! I e-mailed back explaining I appreciated the kindness, but had not really entered, just thanked him for the chance. I got back a reply saying everyone that responded was a winner; all they had to do was get to LA. I explained the whole story to the boss and she said, "well it would be pretty much a once in a lifetime opportunity."
We arranged a date with Capt. Kirk and bought tickets, reserved a hotel room and waited impatiently for the day to come.
We met Capt. Kirk, the afternoon before we were to fish, at a caf? down on the harbor to arrange when and where to meet the next morning. Early on the day we arrived with a bucket of chicken and our own lunch ready for whatever came our way.
It turned out fog was what came our way, heavy fog. We made our way out to Angel's Gate and dropped some squid on hooks to fish for halibut and wait for the fog to clear. At times huge container ships would materialize out of the fog looming far above us and passing nearly silently though the gate and into the fog. At one point a flock of cormorants flew out of the fog bank and just kept coming in a long ragged line. In the end somewhere between 500 and 1000 cormorants went by. We had never seen more that 6 at a time before. A trio of surf scoters paddled by, beautiful little waterfowl with clown painted faces that we had never seen before. Finally Kirk and I both hooked fish and after a little time landed two halibut to small to be legal. Back into the water they went and as the fog lifted we motored beyond Angel's Gate.
We motored south and out a little toward Santa Catalina and Kirk explained the plan. It seemed that we were to find an area where the bottom was pitted with tub-like depressions where the halibut would gather. The plan was to catch halibut and then slowly bring them up as bait for sharks. It was the sharks we were fishing for. It was starting to get more exciting now. Unfortunately we had hardly got our hooks down when the swells began to rise. When we were rocking in 4 foot swells, Capt Kirk announced that was all the boat could do and we headed back to the harbor. After we entered Angel's Gate again, we began throwing the bait squid to the gulls flying behind the boat. It is the only time I have ever had the chance to watch a flying bird while I too was moving. It was in essence stationary flight. I was able to watch how the bird's wings moved, how the tail acted as a rudder, and how effortless it all seemed. It was spellbinding.
Despite the lack of trophy sharks or even legal halibut, it was one of the best and most memorable days of my life.
I was back in L.A again in 2005 to transport a couple of crocodiles back to New Mexico, and went to Kirk's place for BBQ. We had a fine visit, and a fine dinner. I never found him to be anything but generous and up-beat. I like and respect Mr. Stillwater, and miss him around here. I wish Capt. Kirk the best.
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WHOA !!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't realize he was in bad health......... Never conversed with the gent but thoughts and prayers to him 0 -
as above. I coresponded with him several times. His father was a gunsmith of some repute, Harold Mcfarland. I also wish him the best. 0 -
You're a good person "He Dog". Pass it on as they say. 0 -
I went to the Capt's place in Downey a few years ago for a visit. As He Dog mentioned he was a gracious host with a cold beer waiting for me. We spent several hours chatting about whatever gun loving guys chat about. He broke out some of his guns for me to check out.
I sent him an email a few months ago and got a reply from his wife. Without going into detail I'll just say that his health is keeping him from returning to the Forums. He's a great guy and I wish him only the best.0 -
HeDog, that is a really nice and fitting tribute. Peace and comfort to Capt. Kirk. 0 -
I'm sorry to hear about his health. I do wish him the best. Very good post He Dog. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by MIKE WISKEY
as above. I coresponded with him several times. His father was a gunsmith of some repute, Harold Mcfarland. I also wish him the best.
Yes, Harold McFarland used to be a contributing editor to The American Rifleman. He answered gun related questions that members wrote in. A very learned gunsmith and editor.0 -
Thank you for that He Dog. It brings yet another side of a person that we've appreciated and respected since each of us got here. 0 -
Good post, Dale.. I wish the Captain well.. He and I talked several times a few years back.. We found out we each haunted the same shops in the then gun friendly sixties, here in So.Kal.. I was sorry I missed that BBQ.. 0 -
I heard from Beverly this evening. Capt. Kirk passed away today after a long battle with Alzheimers. We wish him well on his final journey.
[:(]0 -
Wow, sorry to hear this sad news. Prayers from our house tonight. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by CaptFun
I heard from Beverly this evening. Capt. Kirk passed away today after a long battle with Alzheimers. We wish him well on his final journey.
[:(]
My condolences also. Mom suffered with it too for a long time.0 -
The Capt. was a really good man. We spoke on the phone several times over the years, and he was the person responsible for my role here on the ATE forum. I will miss him[:(] 0 -
I can't believe that he is gone [:(] 0 -
Very sad news indeed. My condolences to his family. 0 -
Sorry to hear this. RIP Capt. 0 -
May the good Capt. rest in peace. He was very inspiring to many, and touch many more. 0 -
I never met him in person, but talked to him several times and corresponded some.. He was oneof the "GOOD GUYS"..
RIP Capt. & condolences to his family...
JIM....................0 -
He will be missed. 0 -
Kirk leaves behind his wife Rose, daughter Violet and a son whom
does not wish to be mentioned by name.
RIP my friend.0 -
A pleasure to have known you, Captain.. RIP .. 0 -
I am sorry for this very sad news. Prayers sent.[:(] 0 -
RIP Capt'n! 0 -
Prayer sent for the family. 0 -
never knew him other than here but enjoyed his company on the board...wish him well and may his path be an easier one and all share the good memories 0 -
RIP, Kirk. Unfortunately never had the opportunity to meet him. Although he use to live in AZ, before moving to callie. Big on fishing, told me he fished at Alamo. Lived up in the Sedona area. Believed he moved to help further his wife's career, in the entertainment industry? 0 -
Sad news indeed.....RIP Capt. Kirk 0 -
Capt. Kirk was a great friend. A gentleman, generous and caring.
We spoke several times by phone with conversations covering a myriad of topics but I did get to meet him once briefly at SHOT Show before he had to stop traveling. We spent the better part of a day walking (rolling in his case in a wheel chair) and yammering like a couple of old ladies at bridge club.
It turns out he and his father knew many of the same older gunsmiths I trained and apprenticed with early in my career. We swapped all sorts of stories about their clients and the projects they got involved with. Funny, wonderful stuff that I will remember until I too pass.
I miss Capt. Kirk.
Best.0 -
I suppose that I am coming to grips with this now. I first met Kirk in 2002, not long after I had joined the forums and we hit it off right away. He was a larger than life personality; the kind of man who the moment you meet him you know that you will remember him forever and this was exactly the case with Kirk. We had lunch a few times over the course of the next several years but every month or so my phone would ring it Kirk would be on the other end just looking to chat. His slow decline was painful for those who knew him and I am sure that he is at peace now.
I am going to say that we catch a lot of flak from members over on the other side of the Gun Broker hall who don't especially care for the way that this forum is run; fortunately virtually all of the complaints are directed at me and not Bert or NN and this is as it should be. Our goal here in ATE is to have a forum that is a resource and not simply a diversion or escape from reality; we are trying to learn from each other. This forum was created from nothing by CaptKirk; the ten post rule and the way we play the game here are the way that he envisioned that a forum like ours should be run and so far as I am concerned nothing will change here. We have the best staff here in this forum and the best GB members are here to assist and answer questions without byplay, pot stirring and endless agendas.
No one man could have replaced Kirk as the ATE forum administrator and when I was given the position I did not pretend to try and fill his shoes. What I can promise is that I will do my absolute best to keep Kirk's forum ideas alive.0 -
I never met CaptKirk, but I liked this forum from day one and admired the way that he ran it. Ask The Experts should have been the model for the other GB forums, the largest of which fell into the hands of an agenda driven clique. 0
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