Donors
Arizona Game & Fish Department, Daniel Berger, Malcolm Edwards, Friends of the Freienmuths
HAWK CHALK Vol. XXII, No. 3, Dec. 1993
Edward S. Freienmuth 1923-1993
It is with great sorrow that I report the pass-
ing of Edward S. Freienmuth, who served NAFA
well since 1967 in various offices including Legal
Representative in the State of Colorado, Hawk
Chalk Editor, Treasurer and Director. Edward
turned the job of Editor over to me in 1971 because
his local printer was unable to meet his publica-
tion schedule. In the years since, he proved to be
both a wonderful friend and a tower of strength
with his support and counsel. Both Edward and
his wife, Charlotte, spent untold amounts of time
on NAFA projects.
Edward was one of the founders in 1969 and
served until his death as a Director of the North
American Peregrine Foundation, a charitable ad-
junct to NAFA intended to provide a tax-deduct-
ible conduit for contributions by NAFA members
to benefit the peregrine. Before captive-bred long-
wings became generally available, he bred prairie
falcons and distributed them as well as others
from The Peregrine Fund free of charge to NAFA
members who supported the Foundation.
In honor of his service to NAFA, Freienmuth’s pho-
tograph is the cover picture for this issue of Hawk
Chalk. There is a much more complete obituary,
prepared by his long-time friend Roger Thacker,
in the 1993 NAFA Journal.
—Williston Shor Hawk Chalk Editor
Hawk Chalk, Vol. XXXVI, No. 1, April 1997
Charlotte Freienmuth (1932-1997)
—by Editor Will Shor
Charlotte Freienmuth, former NAFA Treasurer
and widow of falconer Edward Freienmuth who
served in many NAFA posts, died of severe burns
on February 15 a week after her new house
in Durango, Colorado, suffered a natural gas
explosion while she and her young grandson
Henry were standing in the doorway. Henry, also
burned severely, is expected to recover.
Charlotte was born and brought up in Pagosa
Springs, Colorado. After attending Central
Business College in Denver, she worked in
Edward Freienmuth’s Pagosa Springs law of-
fice, and they were married in 1954, moving
to Durango in 1956. She assisted her husband
in putting out Hawk Chalk in the years 1967-
1971 when he was its Editor. She became NAFA
Treasurer in 1984 and continued in that posi-
tion through mid-1992. During those years, she
ran the registration at NAFA Meets, becoming a
friend of a large portion of the NAFA members
who attended those Meets.
Charlotte was well-loved by NAFA members and
was heard to say that she considered all of them
her children. The Editors of Hawk Chalk are
grateful to Charlotte and her husband Edward
for the strong support and wise counsel they
provided us in editing Hawk Chalk over the years
since we succeeded them in that job, and re-
member them as special friends.
1993 NAFA Journal
Edward S. Freienmuth
July 1, 1923 - September 18, 1993
—by Roger Thacker
It is with a mixture of sorrow and gratitude that I
pen this tribute. Sorrow because I will miss such a
close friend and colleague, and gratitude because
I knew and was able to share some of his time
with him. Obviously his input into U.S. falconry
was huge, but in this tribute I hope I can provide
a much larger picture - the “essence” of the man.
Edward was born in Lawrence, Kansas. He gradu-
ated from Alamosa High School, Colorado, then
attended Iowa State University; he then obtained
his Law Degree from the University of Colorado
in 1949. In between all this he served in the U.S.
Army.
In 1949, he opened a law practice in Pagosa Springs,
Colorado. Office help at that time was tough to
find. The only available secretary in town who
could take shorthand had a baby – so a crib was
set up in the reception room. During this period,
Edward married Charlotte Lewis (Freienmuth);
the union of which produced their sons Karl and
David. A strong family advocate; his family was his
greatest achievement and pride.
In 1964, Edward was accredited as a Certified
Public Accountant and in 1969 began teaching ac-
counting and business law at Fort Lewis College
in Durango, Colorado. From 1973-78 he was ap-
pointed Director of the School of Business and
in 1986 was appointed Vice President of Student
Affairs. He retired from the school twice (being
called back each time), finally leaving in 1989.
Lower Left L to R: Jim Weaver, Ed, Will Shor Photos by Stan Marcus
I asked several friends how they remembered
Edward. Allow me to quote two.
Will Shor — “Meticulous, dedicated. I couldn’t ask
for a better friend.”
Stan Marcus — “Absolutely dependable, dedicated
and efficient. He was a ‘confidant’. My only dis-
sapointment in our friendship was distance pre-
vented a closer relationship and interaction.”
Edward was one of my closest friends and I know
the feeling was mutual. How many times we talk-
ed over the years (26) often every night, never
less than weekly, about NAFA, family, and our
birds. I remember clearly when he called to tell
me Jenny, his peregrine, had taken her first quar-
ry. Excitement crackled over the phone! He was
honest, upfront, dedicated, warm (under a crusty
exterior) and highly ethical. He had four interests
as he told me – “my god, my family, my work, and
falconry”. As others have stated, he was absolutely
dedicated to anything he started, follow thru was
a necessity.
Interestingly, Mike Persons got him started in fal-
conry. In 1957, Mike kept his Prairies on blocks
in his yard when he lived in Durango and Ed saw
them. In 1959, he caught a female Kestrel and
trained it; meanwhile, following Mike into the
field.
In 1963, he flew “Ceaser” an eyas red-tailed hawk
and from 1968-74 his goshawk “Dubois” whom he
obtained from Butch Olendorff. “Dubois” attend-
ed many NAFA meets including the early Yankton,
South Dakota programs. How successful was he?
His son Karl states –“mother sure learned how to
cook a lot of rabbit meat, and we sure learned
how to eat a lot”.
Following this, Ed flew longwings. Two birds come
to mind. “5G” his Prairie, and of course, the pride
of his falconry – “Jenny”, his peregrine. He flew
“Jenny” up to the time that field activity became
difficult, and today she is with Ralph Rogers in a
breeding project. Earlier, I mentioned a phone
call Ed made when Jenny took her first quarry.
His sons Karl and David were with him and say,
“We have never seen him so ecstatic. He was like
“Rocky” with both fists clenched in the air and
screaming ‘Yes, yes!’.” Flying his bird was life to
Ed, he was always patient with them and worried
about them; he was an excellent falconer in his
own right.
While this was ongoing, he was also very active in
the NAFA organization. As Editor of the Hawk Chalk
(68-71); Treasurer (71-76); Mountain Director (79-
80); and Director at Large (83-88). Many younger
members are not aware of the political activity the
NAFA had to go thru in the sixties and seventies to
get where we are today. Ed was up to his neck in
this – always strongly pushing our position.
In 1969, the North American Peregrine Foundation
was formed, an organization he was involved
with as an officer from conception to his death.
In 1972, he started a captive breeding project in
cooperation with the NAPF and birds bred in the
project (Prairies) became the first ever distributed
to American falconers under early special permit
regulations. The NAPF continues to be deeply in-
volved with the falconry field. At the state level, he
was involved with his state falconry organization
in earlier years; he was a member of the Colorado
Non-game Advisory Committee, and several wild-
life conservation groups.
In all of these endeavors, strong support came
from his family and particularly his beloved wife,
Charlotte, who has also been deeply involved
with NAFA over the years. For this support and
sacrifice of time while Edward was working for
us, I say thank you!
A strong Episcopalian with unswerving faith
in his God, a Memorial Service was held on
September 25, 1993 at St. Marks Episcopal
Church in Durango, Colorado. A large congrega-
tion attended and it became clear how many lives
Ed touched. He really did make an impact.
Now comes the difficult part of this tribute - the
end. Gentleman, husband, father, scholar, and fal-
coner - Edward S. Freienmuth was all of these and
more! Above all, he was a real individual. It was a
privilege to have shared him for a time, and I shall
miss him dearly.