We owe a lot to Spence Turner

[Phil Lilley]

Spence is a good friend so I was thrilled to see and read this article about him.  Anglers owe a lot to this man.

http://owaa.org/owaa-legends/spencer-e-turner-iron-man-in-chest-waders/

[Russell Doughty]

When I was a traveling salesman, (never mind the jokes), I would drop by Spences office and take him out to lunch and pick his brain about places, flies , and tactics to catch trout. He was alway willing to share his vast knowledge. He could be bought for the price of a nice meal :). Russ Doughty

[Bill Butts]

Wow, what a great and well deserved tribute to one of MDC's best and most effective fisheries guys in my lifetime (60 yr)!!!!

Jim Low really did his homework to research and articulate Spence's career and passion for fishing and hunting. 

I hope that other biologists in MO and across the country will read this and take to heart his dedication and professionalism.

All the best to you, my friend, Spence!!!

[Al Agnew]

Great guy and a terrific friend to MO anglers, and not only trout...Spence loves smallmouth, too.

Back in the days of trout stamps and prints, I did a remarque for Spence on one of the two trout stamp prints I did...as a kinda joke, I did a close-up of a smallmouth eating a trout fingerling.  He loved it.

[rFisherk]

I've known Spence, and admired him greatly, since the 1970s. Despite chemo treatments and a weakened condition, he attended Ray Eye's turkey camp and hunted turkeys last week. He has been through a great deal physically and mentally the last few years, but he's still out there pursuing the outdoor passions.

He also is currently lobbying hard for a state-wide 15-inch minimum statewide and 18-inch minimum in special management areas on smallmouth.

[ness]

That's a great article on a special guy.

On another note -- one of my favorite hunting books, Brush, Bobs and Brittanies, is by that Joel Vance mentioned in the article.

 

[Ozarks Euro]

What an amazing thread.  Spence is something we should all strive to be!