Jim Greenlee Has Passed
Yet another fly-fishing friend has died—Jim Greenlee. It’s likely that not many readers will recognize Jim’s name, but I know that some of you still wade in the boots that he shepherded into being—along with my father—many years ago.
Jim was in charge of Weinbrenner when he and my father got together and made the Ultimate Wading Shoe a reality. In its hey-day, that shoe (well, boot really) was worn by anglers all over the globe, and even today it still enjoys a loyal, if much smaller, following.
In his later life, Jim moved from Wisconsin to live on the banks of the Madison River near Raynolds Pass bridge. He fished basically every day when it wasn’t too cold, and we often stayed with him and his wife, Carmen, when we were in the area. I am guessing that more than a few FF&W readers have also fished in front of or across from Jim’s place. If you were wearing a pair of Ultimates, perhaps you found a bit of special luck on that day.
From a personal perspective, Jim was a real friend. Not just to our family as a whole, but to me personally. He was very generous to me when I was a kid, and he graciously helped me in many ways when I moved to Los Angeles to work in the film and TV industry. Later, he was always ready with a word of advice or insight when I wanted to discuss anything about the fishing business. He and Carmen were also just very gracious to Kel and me over the years, and we both have fond memories of big skies, big waters, and Jim’s big cigars that he smoked in the cool, waning light of the Madison Valley evenings. Good-bye, old friend…
An old article about Jim, and his beloved Prairie River. Worth a read for many reasons.
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Thanks, Jason, for noting Jim’s passing for us. Wayne and I were some of the “many” who enjoyed Jim’s hospitality and his banks of the Madison. What a grand gentleman and what a friend to rivers.
We’d like to send a card to his wife if you wouldn’t mind sharing an address. Our sympathies go out to her and to you. If you have an address for his daughter, Nancy, we would appreciate that,too. We all worked together in the same clinic many years back.
Wayne & Donna Luallen
Donna—Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about Jim. He made a mark and a difference in a lot of people’s lives, I think. I’ll send you an email.
I did not know Jim well. I met him along the Madison while fishing and we talked for a good while before going our separate ways. Later when I returned to the car he was there talking to my wife. We were invited back to his house to continue our conversation. After that meeting I only saw him a few times along the Madison and he always had time to pass on a few fishing tips. And yes, I am one of those Weinbrenner fans. No doubt he will be missed by those who knew him.