Amen, Jim, and well said. Phil has been an inspiration to me from the first time we met, remains so to this day, and will be for the rest of my life. Along with Carl Hubbs and Bob Miller, you and Minck (among others), Phil raised the banner for the "Battle Against Extinction" in the southwest, across this nation, and far beyond. Thanks to what all of you and he has done and continues to do, he will inspire lives of many others that are far younger than we for many decades to come toward protecting fishes from human destruction. A large number of fish species can produce sounds (and we don't fully understand what they might be "saying" to each other). If they knew Phil, they would be shouting -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PHIL, AND THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. Those that have pelvic fins would be clapping those fins together loudly. Devils Hole pupfish that remain are likely saluting him via their pectorals. ----Walt _____________________________________________ Walter R. Courtenay, Jr., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Zoology (Florida Atlantic University) 5005 NW 59th Terrace Gainesville, FL 32653-4065 Phone: (352)371-8302; cellphone (352)359-4434 Fax: (352)378-4956 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <*)}}}}>< Office: U.S. Geological Survey 7920 NW 71st Street Gainesville, FL 32653-3071 Phone: (352)264-3519 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message ---- From: Jim and Mary Dale Deacon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Phil Pister <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: DFC-L@lists.cc.utexas.edu Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 7:22:54 PM Subject: Re: Happy Birthday Phil! Happy birthday Phil! It's been an awesome privilege for me to have followed your pathway for more than half of your life. Thanks for the inspiration, wisdom, leadership and healthy doses of reality at just the right time. Jim
