Andy Dear | Monday, 29 April 2024
Many of you know that I have had a long standing love affair with the Austin series of fly tapers, formerly manufactured by AllStar Composites. Unfortunately, those tapers were taken off the market when AllStar was purchased by Shakespeare back in 2007. During the 6 years I was an AllStar distributor, I made several very good friends at that factory, one of whom was Sharon Johnson. Just about more than anyone, SHaron Johnsn was responsible for many of the opportunities that came my way during those years.
Sharon Johnson, who was the plant manager at AllStar Composites for many years, passed away yesterday at the age of 64. Those of you who came into this game after 2007 may not have ever had the opportunity to build on an AllStar blank, but at one point, AS was probably the 3rd largest production facility of rods and blanks in the USA.
I first met Sharon on the rodbuilding.org website when AllStar purchased a sponsorship to build their presence on the rod blank side of their business. I was a moderator on RBO at the time, and sent her an email to introduce myself and welcome her to the board. In her reply, she invited me over for a tour of the factory, which I took her up on just a few weeks later. At out first meeting she asked me if I would be interested in distributing the Austin series of fly blanks, alongside helping them develop some marketing for the Austin series, which of course I jumped at the opportunity to do so. Not much longer down the road, this led to Lamar Fishing becoming a full line AllStar Distributor. Any of you who were in this game and attending the ICRBE events between 2005-2008 probably took advantage of the "trash can specials" that were a tremendous success at all of those events...you have Sharon to thank for that. She gave me the unique privilege of purchasing any and all of their discontinued/overstock/blem blanks, reelseats, guides, cork handles etc..to resell to the rodmaking community. This was a huge boost for my little company both financially and professionally, and the effects of this opportunity are still being felt over 20 years later.
Between 2002 and 2007 Sharon and I also organized many "rodbuilder's days" at the AS facility on Telge Rd. in north Houston Texas, where rodbuilders could tour the factory, and Lamar Fishing would sponsor lunch. This was a unique opportunity for the uninitiated to get an in depth, first hand look at how a rod blank is made, and how a large production facility runs.
Sharon and I lost touch for about 8 years when I sold my company in 2008, but reconnected through social media around 2016. We often discussed our respective vegetable gardens, and how I could get my tomato plants to produce better in this less than ideal soil in the hill country. And, although we didn't speak often....a couple of times a year maybe, I always reminded her of the monumental impact her generosity made on my life. And true to her humble nature, she refused to take any more than just a smidge of credit.
Whatever success I have had in the rodbuilding industry would NEVER have happened to the degree that it has without Sharon Johnson, Mike Welsh and Brett Crawford at AllStar Composites. These individuals, particularly Sharon, gave me opportunities that were literally once in a lifetime. At some point I will discuss my experiences at AllStar more if anyone is interested, but right now I just want to extend a resounding THANK YOU to Sharon.....I'll never forget what you did for me and my family.
Hope you all are having a great week,
Andy