We received this from Marty Seldon, and decided to post as-is:

Banquet Presentation NCCFFF Festival of Fly Fishing, Lodi California October 11, 2008
by Marty Seldon

I lost a good friend four days ago. Perhaps it was because we were the same age and he was a lot funnier, but I really liked Mel Krieger. Three years ago at the FFF Conclave, we sat at table in Russ’s Livingston Bar and Grill until the wee hours. That week, Russ Chatham had taken Ernie Schwiebert on his last fishing trip and Mel and I sat with Ernie – who was already ravaged by cancer – reminiscing. I feel the same way right now.

Mel, reared in Louisiana and Texas, migrated to San Francisco in 1964, and under the tutelage of that great casting champion university, the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club, soon became one of the best.

Mel had his fly fishing schools, did a youth camp with Mike’s Fly Shop, and put anglers in homes with anglers in New Zealand, he did it all. Mel originated the now predominant FFF Casting Instructor Certification Program, and the FFF Guides Association.

The FFF Board of Directors recently established a committee to investigate another of Mel’s dreams, an Academy of Fly Fishing.

Mel Krieger received the FFF Ambassador Award, the FFF Lifetime Achievement Award and the FFF’s highest honor, the Lapis Lazuli ring. The Federation has recently established the Mel Krieger Casting Instructor Award in his memory to recognize exceptional contributions to casting instruction and to the FFF’s certification program.

My friend Mel spent so much time there that many considered him the “Moses” of Argentina. His Casting Instructor Certification Program has been translated to Spanish and migrated to Spain. Mel also established a foundation that brings Argentinean youth to a summer fly fishing camp.

There will only be one Mel Krieger, and I know that I and many of you will always miss him.

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The Celebration of Life Party for Mel Krieger, who passed away on October 7th, is scheduled for Sunday, November 2nd from 3 to 6PM at the Golden Gate Casting Club in San Francisco.  

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