Just so you know, I have been reading what I got in the mail. I just don’t know how you all did it, but it is great. I have a stutter sometimes now and a definite twinge in my right eye, so I think it must be going faster that they thought, However, I’m most proud of you and the things you have done. I keep looking at the bulletin board for new things too. You all are the greatest. Thanks, Al
Al, you have been a remarkable teacher and really a mentor from afar. Thank you, Sir.
Al,
Though I have never had the chance to meet you in person I can tell by your posts and articles that your passion for life and our sport is too great to be measured. It is you, Al, who have made this board such a wonderful place to visit! I will never forget the kind words and prayers you sent us when we found out our son had cancer. You took the time to reach out and help your fellow man and that is always a great thing to do. You have also made my fly tying and fishing much more fun than I ever thought it could be. I haved heard it said that the measure of a man can be taken by the number of his friends. In that case, Al, I think you are one of the greatest men ever! I continue to pray for you and I have faith that the Lord will take care of you in His way. Have faith, Al, and know that you have made our world a better place to live and will continue to do so for a long time to come. God willing we can get you back on the waters soon.
God Bless you, Al.
Eric “nighthawk”
Thank you Al…YOU ARE THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL SIR!!!
“Fear No Fish”
Good to hear from you, sir. Keep checking in on us, this place has definite therapeutic properties! 
We’re all in your corner, Al.
R
[url=http://www.native-waters.com:dbb1a]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:dbb1a]
This is for my family on FAOL;
I have sent my mail and e-mail to Al.
AL is special to all of us, if God is taking him early we all need to let him know how we feel. It will not matter if he lives another 20 years, saying he is loved, respected, and honored will not hurt.
So my friend Al, if this is the begining of the end you will know how we all feel.
Special is a word that does not give you proper respect, but I do not have a better one.
Hugs
Harold
We have been blessed by your wisdom, your patience, and the sacrifice of Many hours to this wonderful family at FAOL.
The contributions you have made are second to none. If the Great Spirit looks down on you Mr. Campbell it is with a big smile, down the road he knows he will be tying allot better.
May your loops be tight to caress the riffles and eddies. I am humbled by your style and courage.
Philip
“G” Al, God bless, and we love you, Grubb FAOL…
Al,
I can honestly say that I happened to stumble upon “The FAOL Family” one day and it was meant to be. Ive learned so much from your experiences on the water and in life. You have made my love for the sport of flyfishing and tying grow with every article and fly youve put out here. Thank you so much for your dedication and desire to give us something we all cherish.
Seege
Richard Essegian
[This message has been edited by FIREMAN (edited 11 February 2005).]
Mr. Campbell you will never know how much you mean or to how many people, but please know that this guy will never forget what you’ve meant to me. If I could know a quarter of what you know i’d be a thousand times better as a fisherman. If i could help a quarter of the people you’ve helped i’d be a thousand times the richer! We are all the richer from our time spent with you here. Take care friend and know that you are in our prayers.
Al, for many years there has been a mystique about fly fishing that it was only for the very wealthy and elite among those who like to fish. Your down to earth and common sense approach to this fine sport has shown it can be whatever one desires it to be. Your articles on tying, rod building, and fishing have afforded many of us who aren’t finatical purists an opportunity to enjoy facets of the sport that we might only have dreamed of. I thank you for the simplification of many heretofore complicated issues or circustances. I have printed many of your how tos and articles for my grandsons to enjoy as they get further into the sport of tying and fishing, and in the meantime I read them over and over myself. Thank you again for all you’ve done, and although I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting you, FAOL has brought you into my world and for that I am grateful to those who have made this possible. You and your family will continue to be in my daily prayers.
Gordon
Mr. Campbell
I have had the honor to hear so many nice things about you and how you have afected so many. Below captures it for me as I re post here from anothers post. I do this for
you… I know all my brother piscators
agree for it fits you like a mountain trout stream.
“He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of earth?s beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction.”
(~Bessie Stanley)
Steve
Al. We meet so many people in our lifetime and if we’re lucky, we may leave a positive impression upon some. But you sir, have left your impression upon thousands without ever seeing their faces. We thank you for that.
Cheers,
Doc
Hey there Al;
The other day I posted a request for help in choosing a fly tying kit. I was unhappy with the one I purchased from Orvis and needed direcion for options. Of course JC , in his usual “verbose” manner wrote “Look here” and posted a link to an article on the subject authored by you. Well it was just then I realized I had seen MANY references to links to articles written by you. Topics were many and varied. Clear, maybe not concise because you took the time to detail everything. Your knowledge of fly fishing and all it’s nuances is truly amazing and appreciated by all of us here in this forum. Your “signature” to “please feel free to e-mail me anytime” is so unlike todays “luminaries”.
I have never met you but look forward to do so within the next 10 years or so ( I know you’ll be there). We zip right through Rapid City in mid September on our annual trek to NW Wyoming.
Thanks for being Al Campbell. You have set the bar high and my ( our) prayers are with and for you.
Mark
I’d rather be in Wyoming!
Al
Although we have never met I want to thank you for sharing your life with us and teaching us how to help the next flyfisher along. I have also learned many other things from your writing: observation,fly tying vision,and simple flies. I also built my first fly rod under your tutelage.
I contine to pray God will give you His strenght and peace .
In His Love
Brent Salgat Oklahoma
Al, My prayers are with you.You are a person who has given back to the sport in spades, hopefully we can all follow your lead, and give back something too. May God be with you.
Jim
Al,
Here’s hoping your postal person has sacks of mail for you and your e-mail box is full. You’ll never know how many lives you’ve touched; but, maybe the coming correspondence can express how we feel about your many contributions; both privately and publicly. If the worth of a person may be judged by what they give, then you’re assuredly in the top division. My mom passed away in early December and left us a small note in her “lockbox” as she called it. It was a poignant farewell to us all. Among the few short lines she wrote was the following:
“If you love someone you should tell them. That would be nice to hear, I think.”
Al, we love you…
When I have a fly tying question, where do I turn? To an article or a comment by Al. Lately, as I felt the need for some extra inner strength because of some turmoil in my life or the life of one of my offsprings, what do I do? I think of Al and the huge amount of inner strength that he has shown us over the last several weeks and the vibrations alone have helped me face my problems standing up tall.
Al, you are a hero in uncountable numbers of fly fishers. Thanks to you for proving that it is possible to face uncertainties with strength.
Bless you.
Silvertop (Silvertop2 with a different email server - all one and the same.)
[This message has been edited by Silvertop2 (edited 12 February 2005).]
Hey Al,
I sent you a card Friday expressing
my thanks for all you’ve taught me. It was
you that brought me to FAOL the first time
ever when a Google quest sent me to one of
your fine articles. Over the years, I have
continued to enjoy your fine how to articles
and all you have written. I have found
that whenever I think of Al Campbell, the
word friend comes to mind. Even though we
have never met or spoken other than through
the magic of cyber space, I consider you a
very special friend and feel all the richer
for knowing you. It is one of my fondest
wishes that one day I’ll get to share a
piece of water with you and watch you ply
your craft. My heartfelt best wishes and
prayers for your recovery. With the card
I just sent you is Wilbur. My best ever
“When Pigs Fly”. I assure you he is fully
housebroken and a very small token of my
appreciation for all you have taught me.
With warmest regards, and a mighty cyber
hug, Jim
I am not much for words, but thanks Al and may God bless you and your family.
James