John was a very giving person. He gave of his time, his thoughts and his experiences to all those with whom he came in contact. He was fair and thoughtful. When accepting others' share of travel expenses, John's favorite saying was, "I don't want to lose my amateur status," and would not accept a penny more than an equal share for gas. Even when flying his private plane to cave locations, he would only accept gas money. He was always willing to help escort scout and church groups we took caving.
John knew how to listen to others and encourage others to do more. We talked at length about cave mapping with the computer, and his encouragement helped to develop my cave mapping software. He invented an electronic lamp control that would allow caving for long periods, and published the details in the NSS NEWS. He enjoyed living and taught me how to take in more when traveling. We often took side trips to investigate points of interest along the way. Caving, wind sailing, trail hiking, flying, music, amateur radio, canoeing, motor cycle riding and hang gliding wee but a few of John's interests.
Being tall has its advantage in caving. We traveled too many NSS Conventions together and during one of our first in Bloomington, Indiana in 1973, we decided to exit the spring entrance of Sullivan Cave. There was a drop of about three feet from a crawl way to the water level, and John, being the shortest in the group, was quite surprised when he went completely under the water and had to swim a short distance before he could stand. The rest of us were able to keep our heads dry.
John was a true explorer. In 1972 he discovered air blowing from behind a rock in Grassy Cove Saltpeter Cave and proceeded to dig open an unexplored passage to a large extension. Later discoveries led to what Gerald Moni, a well-known Tennessee caver, described as probably the best formation cave in the eastern United States. John also helped in the exploration of more than two miles of cave in Pumphouse Cave, Tennessee.
I knew John for 23 years and he will be remembered each time I go caving or plan a cave trip. His phone calls always began with "Hubert, are you ready to go caving" or "have you had too much sunlight." My favorite picture of John is the one of him sitting in a crawl way in his usual relaxed position, legs crossed, hat back, just taking in the cave. Caving, for me, will never quite be the same without John.
I have started writing as a hobbie and plan to write about my life, work, hobbies, region and many other things of interest to me and maybe others will enjoy also.
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