Thursday, January 22, 2009

Jim Range

On January 20th, the fishing and hunting world lost of one if it’s great champions to a courageous battle with kidney cancer.

Jim Range was bigger than life, a modern day Daniel Boone, always wearing a big smile over his Eastern Tennessee drawl while delivering blunt, straight-shooting rhetoric. His frontier was modern day politics. He led the charge to enhance and protect habitat, fish and wildlife.

Jim’s finely honed political savvy evolved from his being Chief Legal Counsel to Senate majority leader Howard Baker back in the 70’s, his subsequent efforts with legal firm Baker Donelson and his Chairmanship of Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. His association with a litany of Boards that address fishing and hunting issues ran the gamut from Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited to American Sportfishing Association and American Fly Fishing Trade Association. He was equally at home on the Hill in Washington, DC as he was in Craig, MT.

Jim’s passion for the outdoors led him to numerous hunting fields and fishable waters on every part of the globe. The world is much brighter for us because of this great soul. Godspeed Jim.


Contribution by Bill Klyn

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is more on Jim Range's contributions to outdoors here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012103736.html

Anonymous said...

The memorial service for Jim Range will be held Tuesday, January 27th at 11:30 AM at the Boathouse at Fletcher’s Cove 4940 Canal Road NW in Washington D.C. (please carpool) with a reception to follow at Praline Bistro & Bakery 4611 Sangamore Road Bethesda, MD. Details at www.jimrange.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (trcp.org) 555 11th St. NW, 6th Floor, Washington D.C. 20004; 877-770-8722; www.trcp.org

Bill Klyn

El Pescador said...

Thanks for the additional information about Jim, the service and the donation suggestion. Peace wished.

Anonymous said...

I only knew Jim by reputation through a good mutual friend. I am sad to hear of his passing, certain he will be missed by many!

El Pescador said...

Jim's Memorial Service took place today in Washington, DC and a memorial web site has been created. For those interested visit - http://jimrange.com/home40/home

Kenji said...

The 'Jim Range National Casting Call' just occurred this past weekend at Fletcher's Cove on the Potomac, with many fly fishing industry leaders, former U.S. Senator John Warner, high level Obama admin people, and other congressional delegates in attendance. Ace fly fisher and independent sales rep Bill Dawson led a moving tribute to Jim, and a rowboat named 'Range' was docked permanently at Fletchers. His smile and wonderful voice was missed, but his spirit was definitely felt and honored there.

schnitzerPHOTO said...

Having served as a "guide" for past Congressional Casting Calls, I am happy to learn that Range has a permanent berth at Fletchers. Jim's passion for connecting fly fishing with conservation action lives on.