Rod building is a skill I practiced early in life as a necessity if I wanted something other than a cane pole. I guess my first rod was not built or constructed but more put together with a cane pole and baling wire. My first rod was built in 1954 with one of the first fiberglass rods that I had ever seen. My father needed a new fly rod so I told him if he would buy the parts I would make it for him. By the way, still have the rod. During the period from the late 50's until the late 70's the tasks used in rod building were self learned because in most areas no one else was building rods. In the late 70's I heard about RodCrafters. Dale Clemens set-up a meeting in Huntsville Alabama, which was close to where I lived. I registered for the meeting and for the first time in my life I met with other rod builders. The things we talked about just blew my mind and I was hooked. The next year I attended two meetings and the rest is history. In the past 30 years I have attended meetings all over the country and have had a chance to meet, not some of, but the greatest friends a person could have.

Don has unselfishly shared his research findings with rod builders for years at his own expense. His fascination and research with the physical characteristic of rod blanks has resulted in many rod manufactures adopting and using his recommendations in their manufacturing processes. He is a talented teacher and gets great satisfaction in showing and demonstrating how to get the most performance from every type of rod blank

Don is also a very inventive engineer. If he needs a tool, test equipment, test stand, or any device that's not available on the market, he manufactures it and shares it with his friends and others. He has made a number of tools that he has given me e.g. spine finders (4 different types) guide placement charts, weaving tools, mandrels etc.

But the most important thing is that Don is a reserved person who gets great joy out of sharing his methods and techniques, but does not seek any recognition or financial gain. He is indeed a rare and fine person and hopefully our young and future rod builders will benefit from his research and sharing.

- Pat Vinzant -

Don & I first met about 10 years ago at a RodCrafter gathering in TN. He was working on a new method of weaving using a loom type mechanism. We visited about the loom concept and reviewed his prototype ideas. Don was very easy to talk with and receptive to comments about his ideas. There was an instant friendship that developed from the first conversation, which is quite typical of Don. It took about 3 years for Don to complete his loom project with 4 or 5 prototypes started and dumped before his loom was finalized. Dick French also worked with Don and the loom became available through Clemens Custom Tackle.

Don has been building custom rods for many years and had already become very good on cross wraps and weaving. He had developed the ability to create new cross wrap designs, like names repeated up the rod. His talent in weaving expanded with the use of his new loom to the point where he could weave a fish without the use of a graph, chart or left list.

Because of Don's love for teaching, his lifelong profession, and his natural curiosity about how things work, he started putting his retirement energy into rod building. He has developed several types of spine finders through the years and also the Morton Chart for guide spacing which he continues to modify as his knowledge of rod blanks has expanded. His abilities have resulted in a large variety of tools being used in rod building. His rod set up regarding guide spacing and orientation on the rod blank has come from years of experimenting along with his mathematical background.

Don has used his teaching skills all over the Nation to help rod builders better understand how a rod should be set up to give the greatest amount of sensitivity and effectiveness to their rods.

Don is a family oriented, humble man who loves to share his vast knowledge bank with his friends. Once you have spent some time learning from Don you not only become an admirer of his abilities, but to him -- you are now part of his family. Personally, Don & I have shared time in a boat in both Alabama and Kansas, testing rods of course! We have shared travel time together going to seminars in MN and FL. We have visited on many different subjects through the years from health issues to rod building topics. Consequently, I have developed a great affection for this kind, brilliant, humble, sharing man. In short, I have been Mortonized!!!

- B.D.Ehler -

I met Don at Rod Crafters years ago and since that time we have become close friends. He has given so much to our craft and to so many of us who build rods. He is always working on something that will enable us to get the best performance out of any rod we build for our own or customers.

One thing that I remember to this day is the first time I ever visted Don at his shop. I spent the day with him and left there with my head spinning from all the things we did and talked about. He shared a lot of things that day that I put to use to this day. The knowledge he has and shares with everyone is amazing. The only thing is you have to prod him a little to get him to talk about spine ,rods, etc.

I think Don is truly one of the LEGENDS of rodbuilding and I cherish the friendship Elaine and I share with him and his wonderful wife Carolyn.

May we float the DUCK many more times togeather and catch a lot more fish.

- Fuzz Morgan -