Donors: Mike and Sally Melvill

HAWK CHALK VOL XXXVII. NO. 3, December 1998

OBITUARY - DICK GLASOW

—by Jon Neviaser

On Friday, June 5, American falconry lost one of its best,

Dick Glasow. Dick practiced falconry with a lifelong pas-

sion; from a childhood admiration for birds of prey, he

was still ascending a tall aspen tree with climbing irons

to select a new eyas goshawk a year before his death at

talk about how much you know, just shut up and listen;

the guy’s done more hawking than anybody.”

Many old haggards out there will remember Dick for his

signature bird, an African crowned eagle “Stanley”; flown

in classical shortwing style, strictly from the fist at white-

tailed jacks, Stanley was a major crowd pleaser at NAFA

Field Meets in the 7O’s. Dick’s admittedly obsessive-com-

pulsive personality produced the most devout falconer

you’d ever meet; it also made him particularly hard for

some folks to understand! At Dick’s memorial service,

the best side of everything and everybody.

Some hard times had taught Dick what was really im-

portant in life — e.g., having time to fly hawks was more

important than having money. He quoted, Money doesn’t

make the world go ‘round, but it sure does grease the

wheels!” and “I’ve got a fine memory, it’s just short!”

Ed Fitch brought up another of Dick’s unique quali-

ties, “Dick was never afraid to pay a guy a compliment

— if someone had a nice hawk, Dick praised him. Never

jealous or worried that their hawk was “better”, Dick

sunsets and camp fires — they’re all just fond memo-

ries of yesterday to each of us when we remember our

friend Dick and the times in our lives that we shared

together.

“A Falconer’s Falconer” — Great Lakes Falconers Assocation • Idaho Falconers Association

If you look close - my eyes are closed - it looks like I’m say-

ing, “Please, Lord, don’t let her break any tail feathers this

season!”

Dick Glasow with eyess German Goshawk and Mike Melvill

with adult female American Goshawk, 1974

friend and hawking buddy for many years.” (Ed Fitch)

L to R: Jose Soto, Kathy (the best thing that ever happened

to Bill), Frank Metallo, Bill Glasow, Tom Ward

Chuck Glasow (center)

This was the nicest bird I ever had! I get sick every time I

think about losing her - she flew at 1 lb 12 oz. I would like

to get a gos or prairie next. It will probably come from Hal

Webster. George is going to trap with him.

That’s lil-ole me by our fountain in front of the barracks. It’s

in the mid-70s, typical “winter” scene in Hawaii!

Chatsworth in Livingston County. In the late 1950s thru

the late 1970s there were long rows of Osage orange

trees along the section roads. In the western states they

are used as fence post and called hedge. In the winter

months the pheasants flock up and would stay near the

ditches along side the Osage trees. We would road hawk

with Goshawks and at times would slip them out the win-

dow.

One Sunday we left Dick’s house and drove south for

Living-ston County. I was driving my station wagon. Dick

“Slow down”. As I started to brake, out the passenger

side window went his Goshawk. It was in hot pursuit

of a cock pheasant. As I watched the flight, I realized it

was going to be a very long tail chase. Dick was still sit-

ting beside me as I headed along the road parallel with

the flight. I saw a farmstead coming into view and about

that time the pheasant headed for the open barn door

with the gos in hot pursuit. The barns in the mid-west are

built on raised ground, with the ground level used for a

tractor or combine. Above that would be a hay loft and

thru the side wall of the barn. The blood in my veins

turned to ice water. For a split second I had a vision of

Dick and I in handcuffs heading to the Livingston county

jail for property damage, animal endangerment and tres-

passing. I then heard Dick say off in the distance, “Meet

me on the road.” I headed for the station wagon and as I

got into it, the bull went by me heading out the driveway

and going in the direction we had just came from.

I pulled up and Dick jumped into the wagon with his

Gos-hawk proudly plucking the feathers off his kill. When

kicking wildly and kicked a hole in the wall and out it

went. After picking up his bird. Dick followed the bull

through the same hole.

Hawking with Dick was always an adventure. He was a

falconer of the highest degree with a Goshawk or Eagle. I

have always been proud to have been his friend and cher-

ish the many fond memories of our time together. I look

forward to flying with Dick once again when my hawking

time here is over. ‘Till then, your loving hawking buddy

—Ed Fitch.