A small waterfall on the Clemson Experimental Forest
Hi. My name is David Van Lear. I am an old fisherman who has been at it for over 70 years, the last 60 of which I have been an addicted fly fisherman. I used fishing to help me cope with a mild case of bipolar disorder, a condition called cyclothymia. Fishing for me was a "positive" addiction that helped me through the ups and downs of my life, enabling me to have a successful and happy life.
Over the decades I have fished all over the country and in parts of Canada, but have been especially attracted to the Rocky Mountains because I learned to fly fish in Yellowstone National Park when I worked there five summers as a seasonal employee while in college.
I loved fly fishing because of the beautiful environments of the trout streams and the beauty of the trout themselves. I also enjoyed other aspects of trout fishing, like tying flies, carving trout and trout fisherman out of wood, and painting the different trout species on wooden cutouts. These activities fed my addiction when I couldn't be out on the stream.
I am a life member of Trout Unlimited and was presented their Distinguished Service Award in 2010 for leading the Chattooga River Chapter's efforts in stream restoration and helping to bring back the southern Appalachian strain of brook trout to headwater streams in the mountains of South Carolina.
Now that I am in my 80s, I am no longer wading swift and slick mountain trout streams as frequently as I used to, but I can't give it up completely. My trouble now is that I fall in much too often because of poor balance---it just comes naturally with old age, I guess. So now I partially satisfy my addiction by writing about fishing and the adventures I have had along the way.
Since I turned 70 I have written three books: Memories Made and Lessons Learned in a Lifetime of Angling and Turning Points in the Life of a Fisherman. My third book Full Circle: a Life of Fishing and Adventure is currently at the publisher.
My books are available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble and other outlets.
Education
1958 - 1960
Hampden-Sydney College
Studied liberal arts. It was at H-S that I learned how to study and apply myself. I had been a mediocre student in high school but ranked fourth in my class at Hampden-Sydney after my sophomore year.
1960 - 1963
BS in Forest Resource Mgt.
Virginia Tech
My forestry major taught me the elements of managing forests for multiple resources, including wood, wildlife, water, biodiversity and recreation. I graduated first in my forestry class.
1963 - 1965
Master of Forestry
Virginia Tech
Conducted research on the effects of forest soils on the productivity of yellow poplar and published the results of that research in the Journal of Forestry. Received the Massey Award as the top graduate student in the Department of Forest Resources in 1965.
1965 - 1969
PhD in Forest Sciences
University of Idaho
Conducted research on the effects of certain plant hormones on growth and survival of Douglas Fir seedlings
1969 - 1970
Post doctorate
University of Florida
Worked in a university-industry cooperative to conduct research on the nutrition of slash pine.
My Career at Clemson
I came to Clemson in 1971 as an associate professor of Forestry. During my 35-year career at Clemson, I was fortunate to receive many honors and awards. I was honored by the Society of American Foresters, receiving their Barrington Moore Memorial Award for distinguished biological research in 1985 and being named a Fellow that same year. In 1986 I was named the Robert Adger Bowen Professor of forestry. I received the Hardwood Research Award from the National Hardwood Lumber Association in 1998. I also received the Researcher of the Year award from Clemson's Chapter of Sigma XI in 2002 for excellence in research. The Association for Fire Ecology presented me their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 and the South Carolina Forestry Association presented me the Charles Flory Award for Distinguished Service in 2005. I was named the Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Forest Resources at Virginia Tech in 2005. These awards and honors would not have been possible without the wonderful graduate students that I have supervised---they deserve much of the credit.
During my tenure at Clemson, I taught courses in silviculture; fire ecology and management; and forest site capability. I was presented the Ansel Miller Excellence in Teaching Award in 2001. I supervised the graduate programs of 45 students and authored or co-authored about 150 technical and scientific publications. I retired in 2005.