StoreSpecial Thanks
This page is Dedicated to those people who have helped me out so much and give me their support along the way. There is no way I could be doing what I am doing with out them. I have been blessed at every step along the way. There is no shortage of generous, big hearted people in this world. Thanks everyone!
First and foremost I need to thank my good buddy Mike Luer. He was one hell of a man, and Turkey hunter. Friends like him only come along once in a lifetime, if your lucky. If I live to be 110 I will never know as much about Hunting turkeys as this man knew. He was the biggest hearted person I have ever known. Mike was a very matter of fact tell it like it is kind of guy. But when he cracked a joke he could have you crying with laughter. If it wasn't for Mike I wouldn't know ditty about Turkey hunting. Heck I might not have ever even started hunting them. As I mentioned in my intro, his love for custom calls passed along to me and that's what planted this whole idea in my head. To this day I can't figure out how he knew what he knew about hunting turkeys. He just always seemed to know how to push the buttons of a Gobbler. It was some type of sixth sense he had. I am not claiming he killed every bird he ever worked, but he killed more of them than any one else I know. Now if you consider that he had only been a turkey hunter for about 5 years when he passed, that's saying something. I suspect that allot of it was due to the fact that he was a whole hearted outdoorsman. Ever since he was old enough to walk he was intrigued with Mother Nature. He payed very close attention to all the critters not just one or the other. As we would set together in a fence row, somewere on a spring morning, he would often tell me the names of all the different song birds we would hear. His eyes, ears, nose and mind was always tuned in. I am truley Blessed to have known him.
Here is my good friend Gary Glaser. With out his help I don't know where I would be now. When I first started out building box calls Gary let me work on them in his shop. He already had all the tools and equipment. Gary is the lid man. He makes all the lids or paddles for my calls. Gary is a Jack of all trades, machinist, electrician, engineer. If he can't buy it he will build it. Now when I first started building box calls Gary watched me sand a radius in a lid by hand on the belt sander, and he said Jerry there has to be a better way. So he up and scratch built me a machine that cuts a perfect radius in my lids every time. Now this is one step of box call building you can't do perfect every time by hand with a belt sander. With Gary's Lid Machine my lids are perfect and consistent. Since I started I have built my own shop and bought my own tools but when it comes to lids I still go out and see Gary. I bring precut blanks and we shoot the breeze as the lid machine dose its thing. Once Gary told me to go ahead and take the thing home, but I said no, I enjoy the conversations we have as we wait. I know he dose too. Thanks Gary!
Gary Glaser The Lid Man November 10 1938 - August 19 2008
Don Ganz The Lumber Man
Here is another good buddy of mine. Don Ganz the lumber guy. Don got wind that I make box calls and had to have one. We got talking and hit it off. Don was interested in where I got my lumber. After we talked about it a wile, he told me he could find me a few boards. The next thing you know Don was bringing lumber to my shop very time he was in town. Black walnut, Butternut, Cherry and Cedar. Not to mention assorted other types. One day Don Showed up with a pickup full of Cherry and Red Cedar all cut 8/4 just for me. What a guy! He tells me all the time that everyone from his home town owe him favors, it didn't take me long to figure out why that is. He is always more than happy to help someone out. The upper Picture is Don and I the fall of 2007, we had a group of Jakes come in, We both shot but only one bird fell down. Somebody missed one. The lower picture is a few of those boards Don found for me. I think I will be set for the rest of my days when it comes to Cherry and Red Cedar. Long after Don is gone many of my calls will be made from boards that were brought to me by good old Don. Here again I am forever in this mans debt. Thanks Don!
Chuck Tiranno My Foggy Holler Pro Staffer
Now I can't forget to mention my good friend Chuck Tiranno. Chuck is always there for me with words of encouragement and support. I thank him for believing in me and my calls. There have been more than a few times I have pondered what the heck it is that I am doing this for. After Talking for a few minutes with Chuck I get the fire back in me and go back out in the shop with new found inspiration. Chucks faith in me is what keeps me going. I Can't thank him enough for that. Thank you Chuck, You are truly a great guy and have been a great help along the way.
Oh look, that there is a Foggy Holler Box on that log.
Mike Luer May 10th 1969 - February 18th 2003
Thanks a million Gary, you are going to be sorely missed my friend.
