I felt I should say something on this site to get a few things off my chest. Some of it might not make sense to everyone but I have alot of things to get out. I am not an avid fisherman, but I do fish, and was their when Travis first got the fishing bug. Travis was one of my closest friends and confidante. I spent more hours with him talking about our hopes, dreams and future over the last ten years. I was there for some of his worst days and his best, like when he met the love of his life. The night he met her, I believe it was the summer of 1998 all of his friends piled in his mustang convertible and before we took off from our location after meeting her, he told me to go into the glove compartment and get a piece of paper. I did and he started to write on it. When he handed it to me I read, “I will marry mindy someday,” and then he wrote the date. He was still with her to the end. He was a very sensitive and Romantic person. I always thought we would be those friends who have kids that grow up to be friends. We often joked about slapping the young nurses on the butts as old men in nursing homes together. Unfortunately the issues and demons I once helped him as best as I thought I could with when he needed a friend eventually got to be to strong and pushed me and some other friends away. This was not an easy decision and now I wonder more than ever. I always thought it was beatable. This is when his family took control and fishing really became his outlet. Even with family and friends support the chemical imbalance has control over a person that we can not understand. Travis, I have no doubt you cared for tonya and I deeply and you could not help how you acted. I have no doubt that if heavan is what you make of it, Travis is riding a sport bike through winding curves to the lake where a fine fishing boat awaits to take him to a magnificent fishing hole, where he catches his limit daily. From their he will look down through the clouds and will be a guardian Angel, watching his son grow to be a man as fine as his father. Travis and I loved to watch cops together and laughed at how stupid criminals can be. Travis, every time I enter my squad car I will think of you and smile. Travis was a great friend and anybody who got to be in his presence was honored. Unfortunately beneath the great, strong man lied a scared little boy that only he knew. I love you Travis, I just wish I could have said it a couple days sooner.

YOUR FRIEND,
Steve