Steve Watts in his element. May he pitch his lean-to with the great ones in Frontier Partisans Valhalla.
Wayne Williams contacted me yesterday with the sad news that Frontier Partisans correspondent and kindred spirit Steve Watts has died from complications of pulmonary edema. Wayne sent along a few words on his good friend and a couple of pictures to share.
See you down the trail amigo, in that Valhalla where Frederick Russell Burnham rides and Bror Blixen hunts all day and drinks all night, and the great ones gather ‘round the campfire …
Steve was a founding member, along with Dave Wescott, of the Society for Primitive Technology, and the director of the Aboriginal Studies Program at the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, NC. He was also the leader of our classic camping reenactment group, and one of the best friends I ever had. I’ll never forget the day we spontaneously discovered we both loved British Colonial Africa, all things American Western frontier, the same books and movies, Vikings, Tarzan, etc., etc. We swapped books and movies, and suggested new authors to each other constantly. He gave me the chance to be a kid again in full African explorer garb or cowboy duds as an assistant at his summer day camps at the museum. I have no doubt those summer camps started many a child on the road to a career as a historian or biologist. He was a colleague, a mentor, and above all, a delightful companion. I’ll miss him around the campfire.
Steve Watts (left) and Wayne Williams, looking like men should look doing what men should do at Kephart Days in 2011.
lane batot says
Sorry to hear this–I had no idea he was another N. C. resident! Small world……
Nick S. says
Damn. What a loss for the world. I had a conversation with him not long ago regarding carving Noggins, or as they are referred to now, Kuskas. I have a large burl we were talking about that I may make into a pitcher. Now I’ll have to finish it in his honor. See you soon Steve, we’ll sit by the fire and tell lies.
MICHAEL HOBBY says
HUGE LOSS…FOR ANYONE WHOSE CHERISHED HOME IS UNDER THE TREES & STARS…BESIDE THE CAMPFIRE…ENTRANCED BY THE “BLUE-FLAME”…LONGING FOR SIMPLER TIMES. WE ARE TRULY DIMINISHED BY HIS PASSING. “THE LONGING TO BE PRIMITIVE IS A DISEASE OF CULTURE”– CARLOS SANTAYANA. REST WELL, STEVE.
Jim Silk says
Steve, Thank you for all the inspiration you gave me throughout my abo journey in Lithic Technology, and your articles pertaining to the dispositions of wood and use of organic materials on a dugout canoe project. I’ll bring the canoe and meet you on that river bank across the great waters of existence. You have shared so much with so many, and we are grateful. Jim Silk
C.E. Garrison says
Some journey long and accomplish little. Other’s journey is short and accomplish much. Such was the journey of Mr Steve M.Watts. I admired him ,his skills and wanted to learn as much as I could from him. Thank you God for giving a man like Steve to us all ,even for such a short time. When I see a shooting star from now on I will think of Steve.