I will let someone who knew Harry back in his heyday describe him.
I met Harry in 1989 at a Houston Grotto Meeting. He appeared to be in his late sixties, but he showed slide shows of recent caving trips to the Sierra Madres. I was very impressed with his slideshows and his enthusiasm. He was always inviting me to go on his trips, and I always had to turn him down, because I couldn't get off school or work, or it conflicted with going to the NSS Convention. Harry and I did got to TCR a few times together, the last being the big flood at Chalk Bluff. And I tried my best to get him to go with me to the TCR, just a few weeks ago. In 1998, Harry invited me on what would be his last attempt to complete all the 14'ers in Colorado. But he planned the trip during the Tennessee NSS Convention, which I was greatly looking forward to. I had to make a tough call, as I knew Harry was 70 something, and I would never again get the privilege of climbing with him. We tried Mt. Anterra, Greys Peak and Torrey's Peak. Harry would have made it to the top had he been with an experienced person, but I had never been mountain climbing and I was way too out of shape. We later went rafting thru Brown's Canyon on the Arkansas River near Salado, Colorado. http://www.atraft.com/8-8-03%2017%20C3_small2.jpg Harry was flipped out at Snider's Suckhole and we thought he may have drowned. It was a very tense moment waiting for someone to find him and pull him out of the eddy like water. Harry apparently started caving in the 1940's, back east somewhere. He had a low NSS number. I saw him climb rope at a vertical practice about 10 years ago, and he did fine. I think he has been into Purificacion. I know he climbed Pico Candela, and that inspired me to give it a try. Harry's claim to fame is that he taught his nephew how to cave. His nephew moved to Arizona, and went caving with some other guy and found a little hole that they kept secret for many years called "Kartchner Caverns." I recall Harry talking excited about it back around 1991 or so. He also showed me the recent book, before I had seen it at the NSS Convention. Harry became an important role model in my life and I looked to him for wisdom. He more than anybody else, was the caver that advised me to marry my current wife. Had he told me to run for the hills instead, I probably would have. And since I have an incredibly wonderful daughter, I can only tell Harry "thank you." Harry based this judgement on at least 2 road-trips from Houston with my then-girlfriend. One to Carta Valley to go in a cave, and the other to at least one TCR ( 2000 ? ) at Flat Creek Ranch. Hurricane Ike was a stressful event for the Walkers. I think it really took a toll on Harry. However, what really may have done him in was that he lost a whole lot of money in his retirement account these past few months. It was only about 4 weeks ago, that he and I sat down at his dinner table and he told me with almost teary eyes that he lost a great deal of money. I can only guess that means 100,000 or more. But he was too upset to talk about it. The tone of his voice was from someone who was wiped out, not the Harry I had known for 19 years. I have been out of work for a few months, and Harry paid me to work in his yard to clean up the debris left over by Hurricane Ike. It was a real mess and he really needed someone with big chainsaws and a bobcat with claws on the front of it. Anyways, I am thankful for him paying me, as it was a big help at this time. My daughter met Harry a few times. She temporarily had a pet turtle. We named it Harry. Harry always wanted to go to Houston Grotto meetings but it was a very difficult drive for him from Dickinson. For a while, another caver, Ray Hertel, was kind enough to bring him to the meetings. I guess it has been 5 years since he was able to attend one, so none of the new cavers know him. I think Harry spent most of his working life for a company called Monsato. He may have been a chemical engineer, but I don't remember. Again, I will let someone who knew more about him, tell Harry's story. David Locklear --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
