ORCA's 25th Anniversary - That's a Lot of Reels!

ORCA’s 25th Anniversary – That’s a Lot of Reels!

July 5, 2015
by Brian F.

Waxing nostalgic, ORCA Founder, Mike Nogay, and several charter members recalled some of the early days of this great organization and its formation on November 1, 1990.

From Ed Pritchard:

“I still remember the “on the spot founding” of ORCA at the tackle meet on East Broad St. and Hamilton Rd. in Columbus Ohio. Some of us ponied up our dues to Mike right there and then. One of the best investments I ever made.

Happy Birthday ORCA!!”

From Mike Nogay:

“Ed’s post really brought back some great memories so I went and dug out the first 4 issues of the ORCA Newsletter. Dues were $10 a year, and members signed up at tackle shows throughout 1990.

The first issue of the newsletter was dated January 1991 and highlighted the November 10, 1990 FATC Ft. Myers meet. Two EVH reels from Bruce Wilson’s collection were pictured on the front page.

Chuck Horton II donated envelopes and stationary to the new start-up club. Steve Vernon wrote an article in the first issue about the Nov. 1990 Allentown, PA show, and I did a date and maker chart on Kentucky reels, with “special thanks to Ron Gast and Frank Stewart.”

The 35 charter members were listed in the first ORCA newsletter in alphabetical order and the next 159 appeared in issues #2-4 as sign ups for charter members continued throughout 1991: