This was forwarded to me from my friend and former college professor, Mike Kinziger, who lives in Idaho after a lengthy career at UW-LaCrosse and the University of Idaho. Some of you may know of Mike as he wrote the book Alone in a Canoe.

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Bill Parks' life has come to an end at 88. I would imagine that most Midwest paddlers do not know much about him. He was the founder of NRS (Northwest River Supply) in Moscow, Idaho where I live and taught for 30 years.

One of the tributes that I love the most is that "Bill has run his last rapid but will be waiting in an eddy for all of us river runners someday".

He was an inspiration, an innovator and I loved that he hired students (including many of my students) and locals to enhance and work at NRS. A rumor has it that Bill took every employee out to eat at least once after they were employed and hundreds of people worked there. I met Bill while giving a few presentations to his staff through the years but my fondest memory has to be embarking on my 110 day solo canoe trips (five of them after I retired at 62) to Northern Ontario and Manitoba with mostly NRS gear (Bill's Bags, Straps, special river foot ware, water proof clothing and much more.) It’s my opinion that the NRS stuff had to be superior to keep rafters and river runners dry. I'm forever grateful to such a great man and a role model for future entrepreneurs. His legacy will endure.

Bill Parks

what a wonderfully productive life he led! he would have been a great speaker at copia or any function with attendees needing some motivation!

What an amazing individual. I definitely recommend reading the link at the bottom of Jackfish's message. I've definitely benefited from the company he founded and gear they created. And now even more by being inspired by his story of combining academics, real life applications, and a deep sense of ethics. It's sad that he has passed but I hope satisfying to his family and friends that he left behind such a legacy.

I am actually reading that book now!!!

Excellent read.

Sorry for his loss.

I haven’t read Mike’s book... but really enjoyed his trip reports when he did his retirement paddle in Woodland Caribou. I’ll be looking up this book...

As for Bill... Rest In Peace and thank you for all you did for the world of canoe tripping.