Ferguson-Brueckner Celebration
Ferguson-Brueckner Celebration
a Carolina Paddler Article
By Alton Chewning
-Bob Brueckner and Paul Ferguson were paddling on the Haw River one fall day a few years back. They came down the Middle, scraping here and there, and pulled onto the rocks at Lunch Stop Rapid. There, sitting on top of the rocks, were an old pair of boots. Sturdy, durable, the shoes were well-worn, but they still had some miles left on them. Paul and Bob regarded them and then picked their way down Gabriel’s one more time.
Time draws us apart. Jobs, careers, relationships, kids, illness and old age take us on different paths. But for one night people who had not seen each other for decades came together to share stories, poke fun and relive the moments. And to honor two special guys.
Bob and Paul’s stories have been told in other places. They each represent many things to many people.
Jim Butler called me in February. I edit the Carolina Paddler journal for the CCC and Jim had read a story about Paul. Jim, originally from Wisconsin, is an avid canoeist and loves exploring rivers in Eastern North Carolina. He found Paul’s book, “Paddling Eastern North Carolina” to be invaluable in successfully trying new rivers. Jim wanted to do something to thank Paul. Like a small dinner for five or six people. We brought in a third person, Bobby Simpson, who was a friend of Paul.
By April 26, the small dinner for Paul had become a CCC and Friends celebration for Paul and Bob Brueckner. Bob was just as deserving of recognition as Paul. We were also manipulative. They each are modest, self-effacing people. If we honored just one, they probably wouldn’t cooperate. They would say “I don’t deserve it.” However, we reasoned, Bob would do it for Paul’s benefit and Paul would do it for Bob. Ultimately, the reality is Bob Brueckner and Paul Ferguson are the only people to serve four terms as Presidents of the Carolina Canoe Club.
The tribute took place at the Plant in Pittsboro, NC. A lively, funky collection of buildings and businesses that once had been a biofuel production site. Now it’s an entertainment and beverage district with a distinctly Chatham County warmth and earthiness.
Bobby Simpson served as the Master of Ceremonies for this event. Bobby had paddled with Paul and Bob frequently in the last few years. Paul, Bobby and Burt Kornegay travelled the Black River several years ago. Eliot Mintzer, Bob and Bobby kept fit during Covid by doing socially distant laps between the Bynum Dam and Bynum access.
Some paddlers who have never met Bob and Paul, or only barely know them, wanted to stand in their presence and give thanks for their unseen guidance on rivers and streams. William Holman, Zach Schiada, Jason Jones and countless others wanted to be there. Jason dislocated a knee on the Wednesday before the event and life demands got in the way of others. Jason sent a message which applies to many, “Please tell Bob and Paul the younger generation knows who they are and really appreciates their legacy.”
Among the guests present were luminaries of Carolina paddling yore:
Howard Du Bose operated River Runners Emporium in Durham and Chapel Hill, an early paddle shop. He also taught paddling to many people, including Paul. Howard showed Dennis Huntley how to roll a kayak. He also was a very proficient curser. After closing River Runners, Howard largely dropped out of the paddling scene but not out of member’s minds.
Richard Ruhlen attended Duke and worked for a competitor of Howard’s. Rich went on to lead many Canadian and Northwest US expeditions. His daughter, Sarah Ruhlen, now deceased, was the young heartbeat of the Club and a top-level kayaker/canoeist/instructor. Rich’s Easter trips are an ongoing staple of the CCC calendar.
Joe Jacob has operated Haw River Canoe and Kayak for decades, teaching boaters here and in Alaska how to paddle and enjoy nature. Joe is a Renaissance man, a gifted writer and environmentalist. For many years Bob Brueckner led groups and conducted classes for Joe.
The audience held a collection of friends with long histories and strong connections. Laura and Vann Evans, Paul Joffrion, Camille Warren, and others. More people dearly wanted to be present and couldn’t. Diana Haywood, Gary Cousino, Melinda Clement, Matt Held, Amie Scott, Dennis Huntley and more. And then the cherished friends who have shuffled off this mortal coil: Len Felton, Pete Peterson, Sarah Ruhlen and so many others.
To add a touch of formality, Suzanne Corr, Bob’s spouse, and the CCC’s Randi Di Cello pinned boutonnieres on the two celebrities.
It was, as Morgan Randle put it, “Fun to see so many river rats all cleaned up and looking good!”
After an hour of appetizers, conversation and social lubrication the program was in full swing. Larry Ausley, always a master of words and paddle, introduced Paul, noting his many contributions to the CCC and society at large. For example, Paul was in charge of the IBM-supplied ground control systems at NASA during the later Apollo missions.
A question by Larry was the show-stopper of the evening, “If you were ever asked, ‘Who would you rather share a campfire, tall tales and a bottle of bourbon with, your answer should be … ?” Answered with a universal chorus of “PAUL!”
Larry then announced Dennis Huntley couldn’t make the drive from Shelby but he sent a present. Larry stepped to the side and lifted a yellow bike jacket, revealing a painting and frame made by the magical Gandolf, Dennis Huntley.
The painting is based on a photograph Larry took of Paul in a Mad River canoe, full of camping gear, on Paul’s favorite river, the Black. Larry and Pete Peterson were with Paul that day in 2008. Pete has since departed us, but it was his bike jacket covering the photo. Dennis is an extraordinary paddler but he’s a darn good painter too.
The program continued, featuring videos by people who couldn’t be there in person. Mort Barlaz, our current CCC Conservation Chair, and Virginia Holman, a writer and paddler who shares Paul’s affinity for the Black River, paid homage. Zach Schiada sent videos for Bob and Paul. I call Zach “the bastard son of Paul Ferguson” because Zach explores the sketchy waters upstream of the sections Paul writes about in his guidebooks. Tom Womble, our reigning dirt-bag statesman, gave a big hats-off to Bob and Paul.
Elaine Chiosso, long time Executive Director of the Haw River Assembly, picked up the thread, celebrating the many accomplishments of Bob Brueckner. Bob means much to the CCC but he’s been very influential in training paddlers at Haw River Canoe and Kayak and elsewhere. Perhaps his biggest accomplishment is in conservation. Elaine noted Bob is as adept talking with legislators considering river policy as he is talking to school kids learning to paddle.
Bob stepped down as the CCC Conservation Chair in 2020 after seven years of service but he hasn’t drifted away from protecting rivers. Elaine read a note from Gretchen Smith of the Friends of the Lower Haw, thanking Bob. Bob has been a “trash talker” for years, he’s been instrumental in many a river clean-up.
For us in the CCC we’ll continue to thank him for his legacy as a good companion on a paddle trip and as a leader in Conservation. In the room were four other past Conservation Chairs (and Mort Barlaz on video), all honoring Bob and his tradition of Conservation excellence. The ACA presented Bob with the 2020 Green Paddle for Waterway Conservation Award, the Oscar for conservation work. On this day, Bob was to receive more presents. Elaine started this, giving Bob a beautiful book of river art paintings made by Orange County artists.
Gifts would keep coming. CCC Presidential alumna, Dana Hoffman, announced the CCC’s recognition of service and leadership provided by Paul Ferguson and Bob Brueckner. She flourished two long wrapped packages and presented one to each honoree. Bob and Paul tore into their presents finding engraved decorative paddles. Bob raised his Excalibur boldly.
Dana later confided the packages were not designated for Bob or Paul and it was just by luck (destiny? Kismet?) that she handed the correctly inscribed one to each recipient.
Paul and Bobby said a few words. Paul told a story of how he had bumbled his way through on the first CCC trip he took, a Chauga River run. Steve Erikson, one of the notorious Hickory Wild Bunch, approached Paul as he lagged and suggested Paul use a J-Stroke. Paul said it didn’t work for him and Steve shrugged and paddled away. A year later Paul and Steve ran across each other again on a river. Steve told Paul he and his friends thought Paul would never come back for another trip… and yet here he was.
Bobby Simpson introduced another important part of the event, the chance for people to stand and direct their comments to Paul and Bob. Many people contributed. Brian Palmer, who had driven from Pennsylvania to be at the event, was a frequent expedition companion. Howard Du Bose glowed in remembrance of the silkiness of Paul’s handling of his canoe. Ann Brueckner White, Bob’s sister, recalled Bob’s predilection of allocating scarce money for paddle gear before buying clothes or food.
Johnson Rice, the industrious current President of the CCC, encouraged us to keep alive and vibrant the contributions of people like Bob and Paul and the leadership they provided. And to pass this on to the youth in the Club
So many people spoke, so many good stories were shared. People who have known Paul and Bob for years, even decades. Others with a short acquaintance. Maybe only a single meeting with the two had stuck with the person, remaining a clear and motivating memory, years later.
One other person sat in the audience paying close attention. Josh Shaffer is a friend of Paul’s but he was also on assignment. Josh writes commentaries and human-interest articles for the News & Observer, the same newspaper where Brueckner worked for many years. Josh had met Paul long before when writing an article on the Mayo River becoming a state park. He knew Bob from the newspaper. Josh had a stake in this story. After the Friday night event, Josh would compose a story on Saturday morning and on Monday, April 28, the article would run on the front page of the News & Observer under the title, “He Mapped 3,000 Miles of NC rivers, Recording Every Joy and Hazard”
The program was coming to an end. A glorious cake and cupcakes were waiting to be eaten. Enough words had been said for now. It was time to let images take the stage. A photo montage followed, assembled by Jim from photos contributed by many friends of Paul and Bob, accompanied by “What is Life?” by George Harrison.
What is life? If you have friends and models of behavior like Bob Brueckner and Paul Ferguson, life can be a rich tapestry of experiences–loves, losses, lessons learned and friendships treasured. It was a good night to be in the world with Paul and Bob.
On Saturday, the day after the event, Dennis Huntley was on Muddy Creek, a tributary of the Catawba River. Dennis doesn’t paddle the Class V runs any longer, but this was a good occasion to step away for a few hours and get some time on the water. He paddled a Mad River canoe, as he says, the same model Paul was using on the Black in the painting Dennis made. Dennis’s phone rang. It was Paul. A long time had passed since they last talked, and Paul wanted to say thanks for the painting. Dennis sat by the river talking to Paul, two old friends, sharing time and memories.
Thanks to
All our Presenters
The Carolina Canoe Club
Great Outdoor Provision Company
Our many anonymous financial contributors
Rich Ruhlen for the sound system
Suzanne Harris for lighting, sound and video gear.
Emily Merletto for the flowers and greenery.
Joe Berry, Randi DiCello, Lori Kleberg, Morgan Randle and others who
assisted in getting the play on the stage.
Lily Den for appetizers.
Phoenix Bakery for the cake we enjoyed after the program.
Special thanks to the Plant and event manager, Kali Willard for the use of this beautiful space.
And the many others who contributed to this event.
Addendum
CCC Conservation Chairs 22 Years
Howard Du Bose 1974-1975, 2 years
Paul Joffrion 1994-1999, 6 years
Bobby Simpson 2005-2007, 3 years
Bob Brueckner 2014-2020, 7 years
Shane Brown 2021-2023 3 years
Morton Barlaz 2024-until 1 year
So much like. Very nice indeed.
Touching and wonderful. Moving water like life’s blood is the sustenance for self discovery and human connection that feels like family. Very inspiring. Thank you Alton.