Obituary

Glenn St.Charles, 98, author, bowyer and archery pioneer, passed away peacefully at his home, after a short illness, September 19, 2010. His children and dog, Pepper by his side. Glenn graduated in 1930 from West Seattle High School. Glenn, with wife Margaret, opened Northwest Archery Company in 1949, in Normandy Park and were In business for over 50 years. He is one of a handful credited with legitimizing the bow and arrow for big game hunting in Washington as well as the rest of the United States in the 1950's

In 1961, Glenn founded The Pope and Young Club, North America's Bowhunting Big Game Record Keeping Organization. He was inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame in 1991. Glenn wrote two books, 'Bows on the Little Delta' and 'Billets to Bow'. He is preceded in death by his first wife of 11 years, Marjorie, and his wife of 51 years, Margaret. Survived by his 5 children, Linda St.Charles, Jay St.Charles (Karen), Suzanne St.Charles Hammond (Roger), Joe St.Charles (Cynthia) and Rochelle Hughes (William). As well as his 6 grandchildren, Robin, Erin, Adrienne, Sophia, Alex and Ben and 3 great grandchildren, Breckin, KJ and Jake.

Published in The Seattle Times on September 29, 2010

Glenn's Memorial

November 1, 2010

By Diane Miller "Moose"

As I sit in my hotel room in Seattle watching the rain pouring outside my window, I can’t help but remember being in the same room four years ago, on a different kind of mission.

On behalf of the Archery Hall of Fame I had been selected to present Glenn St. Charles with the Karl Palmatier Award of Merit. I was very honored, yet somewhat nervous, never having met Mr. St. Charles. I hoped I would meet his standards as the new Executive Director of the Archery Hall of Fame & Museum. Even though we had never met, I had heard so many stories about the famous Pope and Young founder from Seattle and I was excited to experience this first hand..

It was December 15th, his birthday and I was hoping I could make a few brownie points. Knowing he was a great hunter, I found a little moose with a bobbing head and gave it to him as soon as I entered his house. I was hoping he wouldn’t think I was being silly. I also picked up a cake, candles and all, and we celebrated his 95 birthday. He was pleasantly surprised. (and in many of our following conversations he would often speak of the little moose that sat on the mantle). After enjoying a piece of birthday cake he then insisted on showing me the sights of Seattle. On my flight home I thought how lucky I was to have been given the opportunity to meet this very special person. From that day on he called me “Moose” and that was when my journey with Glenn began.

In the four years that followed, we spoke on the phone nearly every night, He would begin by saying, “ Hi Moose, just checking in, How’s the weather there?” And then we would talk about his life growing up, his family, his hunting adventures and of course his pride and joy, the Pope and Young Club. The stories he would tell, some that maybe I shouldn’t have known but I will always remember most stories ended with his special phrase “Such a Deal,”.

Today as I sit in that same hotel watching a different rain and feeling moisture on my cheek, I am thinking this is where my journey with Glenn began and this is where my journey with Glenn will end. How fortunate I was to have had such a great opportunity.

"Many aspire, but few are chosen. A person becomes a legend when the strength of his character causes a whole movement to become better and stronger until it rises to a higher philosophical plain."

Glenn St. Charles Eulogy

by Billy Ellis - November 1, 2010

The arrow is broken and so are our hearts. Our beloved founder, leader and friend, Glenn St. Charles has taken the last trail.

The old order is passing. Swiftly receding into memory are the days of strong, earnest men who followed an atavistic yearning to pit their skills against wild animals. In those bygone days to be designated "hunter’ was the highest honor that could be bestowed upon a person while today sport hunting is under constant pressure from quixotic malcontents.

Some of us have been lucky enough to briefly glimpse or share a camp fire with those living anachronisms in buckskin coats with hand made bows and gale-burned faces. Glenn St. Charles was definitely one of them.

Glenn loved to speak of by-gone days, some halcyon, some filled with struggle with the elements, but all suffused with the joy and wonder of the wilderness. Through Glenn’s tales you could wander on journeys through raw and lonely lands on man’s greatest quest; hunting the beautiful, cunning, and sometimes dangerous big game animals of North America with a bow and arrow.

To Glenn St. Charles, traditional archery and traditional values were one and the same. His life spanned the better part of this century, but he comes from a time far away. A time when a man’s word was his bond; when the quality of the finished product was more important than the wage earned; when the success of a hunting trip was measured more in warm companionship than game brought to bag.

When a kinder, gentler spirit pervaded America, God created Glenn St. Charles.

There have never been many "legends" in bowhunting history. Many aspire but few are chosen. A person becomes a legend when the strength of his character causes a whole movement to become better and stronger until it rises to a higher philosophical plain. Glenn St. Charles did that for his beloved sport of bowhunting. In this century our "legends" have been Ishi, Compton, Pope & Young, Bear and St. Charles.

Imagine now that you can hear the words of Glenn St. Charles; listen to the thunder in the mountains, the click of the caribou’s hoof and the wind sweeps the barren grounds and hear the grizzly bear’s roar.

Glenn St. Charles spoke to our hearts of those things and he will never be forgotten in the hearts of those who loved him.

No words can express the pride I feel knowing that I was in his inner circle and he called me his friend. He made me see life in a different way and I am a much better person for having known him.

As I sat listening to so many people express their feelings about the man who became a legend in his own time, I happened to glance at the table behind the podium. Sitting next to a photo of Glenn and I, was, you guessed it, the little moose with the bobbing head.

“Such a Deal”

Pope & Young Founder

It is with great sadness we bring you the news of Glenn St. Charles' passing. Glenn passed away September 19th at 6:20 am in Seattle, Washington after a short illness. His family was with him at the time.

His last words spoken to his son Joe were, "Such a Deal".

He left a legacy that will never be forgotten. Glenn will be missed by all of us who knew and loved him.

One of Archery's last pioneers gone

Glenn St.Charles passes at 98

Many aspire but few are chosen...

Glenn was born in 1911 in Seattle, Washington, and knew from an early age that the bow and arrow was something he wanted to spend his life exploring. His father was a timber cruiser and Glenn made many a walk in the woods with his Dad where he learned about the types of trees from which he would later design and make bows.

Founding the Pope and Young Club was one of his greatest accomplishments and also one of his most difficult challenges. In the 1950s, it was obvious that in the eyes of the public bowhunting needed credibility if it was to survive. At that time it was Karl Palmatier, President of the NFAA, who asked Glenn for help in making this possible. Over 50 years later Glenn is known as the man who almost single-handedly made the doubters believe that the bow was a viable hunting weapon.

In 1958 Glenn was awarded the NFAA.’s highest award, the Compton Medal of Honor, and in 1991 he was inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame. He also was presented with Pope and Young Club’s most prestigious Ishi Award. The list goes on and on.

For more than eight decades Glenn had been involved with the sport he loves.

Webster defines "legend" as something based partly on history but chiefly on popular tradition. To quote Billy Ellis, "There have never been many legends in bowhunting circles.

Many aspire, but few are chosen. A person becomes a legend when the strength of his character causes a whole movement to become better and stronger until it rises to a higher philosophical plain.

Glenn St. Charles has done that for his beloved sport of bowhunting, In this century, our legends have been Ishi, Pope and Young, Fred Bear and Glenn St. Charles."

Howdy, here is a snapshot Carol Mauch had of Glenn, Dick and Fred... This was taken at the famous Plum Creek Cabin.

Shoot Straight, Frank

Diane Miller & archery friends-

I am sitting at the dining room table at Dick and Carol Mauch's home in Nebraska as I opened that email telling me of Glenn St. Charles's passing. Dick was napping on the couch... woke him up to read him your email. When Fred Bear passed away Dick and Glenn had a bonfire on Fred's behalf. We will have a bonfire tomorrow night at the Plum Creek cabin in memory of Glenn St. Charles and a life well lived.

I hope to shoot a turkey there too tomorrow and that too will be in Glenn's memory. I had mailed him a get well card just last week when you told me he wasn't doing well and I bet it didn't make it in time. Sigh. Another archery pioneer is gone and our archery family has lost one of our legends. We will have to recruit many, many youngsters in the coming years to help fill a void these pioneers have left.

Dick Mauch said he's heard Glenn say "such a deal" many, many times. I understand these were his last word. God Bless all of you, Glenn's family & friends. You did a beautiful job with the tribute on the Archery Hall of Fame website Diane. Thank you.

Let's hope we don't lose many more pioneers in the next year or so, seems we lost too many the past couple years.

Frank Addington

From Missouri

Hi Diane;

Thank you so much for the fitting tribute to Glenn. I know it was a true labor of love.

I have notified all of the officers of the four statewide archery organizations in Missouri. I have also challenged them to be messengers to their members of the debt our sport owes to Glenn and those who have gone before him.

I asked them to raise the awareness level among their membership regarding the great leaders and pioneers who have given us what we enjoy today.

May God continue to bless you in all of your efforts;

Dick Wood

From New Jersey

Hi Diane;

Thank you for a wonderful tribute to one of the greatest bowhunting legends that has ever lived. As with many, the passing of Glenn St. Charles saddens me. I was fortunate enough to meet Glenn at the Pope and Young Convention in Pennsylvania. It was a great honor for me to meet and talk with him. He even joked about betting me to race him in his scooter. Without men like St. Charles, Pope, Young, Bear, Mauch and many others, archery today simply would not be were it is; we owe it to these great pioneers that they should not be forgotten.

The stories in Bows on the Little Delta has stuck with me for many years - I now believe it is time to re-read it again. I hope many new comers and the younger generations in archery will continue to read and know their forefathers.

Glenn's family will continued to be in my thoughts and prayers, and may his legend live on. Thank you.

Kurt Wille - Concept Archery

From Maryland

Glenn was a real life hero and mentor to me and I will always relish our friendship. I will always remember the kindness that Glenn showed me when I walked into the shop 12-years ago and was invited to go upstairs and talk story with Glenn. Over the years we spent some special times together and I will cherish those times and the things he shared with me forever.

I will always remember the sparkle in his eyes when I’d bring him his favorite venison jerky. I especially offer my sincerest thank you to Suzanne and Roger for their kindness for allowing access to Glenn and sympathy to all who feel the loss of such a wonderful man. Glenn will never be forgotten by any who knew him and his legacy will live on in the renewing interest and strength of traditional bow hunting values.

From France

I wish God indicates him the best trails for successful hunts. For his Family and friends, please receive all my

Francois Loussouarn

From Michigan

Well done Di

He was a dedicated man. I respect that he was so successful at his vocation. I am so glad that thanks to you I was able to make his acquaintance .I know you were a good friend to him.

TheIn his closing words I am surprised he did not include what I heard him say so many times in Berrien Springs at the Compton Get Together 2 years ago. "every ones here except Diane" Such a deal"

Les Brown

From Ann Clark

Another Legend has passed. Please express my sorry to Genn's family. So many memories, my lasting friendship over the years, as I recall the beginning of his efforts of the Pope & Young Club, so many years ago, his foresight, and his on going memorial to all Bowhunters and archery in general. I doubt he can ever be replaced,

Glenn and Margaret, together again...

One of Archery's last pioneers gone

From Pennsylvania

As I sit at my computer this morning Glenn’s archery photos pop up on my screen and I realize how much the world has lost with his passing. In the interview we did with bowhunting.net a couple of years ago, he said that I made him realize that it wasn’t over until it was over. That God still had plans for him.

In those two years we accomplished quite a bit, mostly by phone but I learned so much archery history that I never would have known had our paths not crossed. . I learned about the man and his legacy. I would ask him a question and he would sometimes say, if you look in my book "Bows on the Little Delta" on page ........it will tell the story. His mind was as sharp as a tack, I was so fascinated as to the information we would share. He has left an void no one can fill and the impact he left on so many people will be remembered long after all those he touched are gone.

To him I was known as “Moose” because of the little moose with a bobbing head that I gave him the first time we met. It was his birthday and I had to fly to Seattle to present him with the Karl Palmatier Award of Merit on behalf of the Archery Hall of Fame.

Even though I had only known Glenn for five years, it seemed like forever. He made me a better person and I am so proud and honored to have been his friend. I wil be forever greatful, I already miss his nightly phone calls. “Such a deal.”

Diane "Moose"

Executive Director, AHOF

“Glenn St. Charles will be remembered by many as a talented bowyer and founder of the Pope and Young Club. Rightfully so. But for his close friends and family, he will be fondly recalled a man who accomplished much more during a long and active lifetime. Father and father figure; fierce advocate and tireless defender of the sport he loved; pioneer bowhunter and visionary leader; outspoken conservationist; promoter of fair chase hunting; loyal friend and wise mentor; without question, Glenn St. Charles left his indelible mark on archery and bowhunting. He will be missed, but his place in our sport’s rich history is secure.”

From M. R. James, President of the Archery Hall of Fame, and Past President of the Pope and Young Club.

Our thoughts and prayers to the entire family on Glenn's passing. I think that he will live on in his writings. Especially Chapter 27 and following of "Bows on the Little Delta". These are the words I have asked my grandchildren to read when they are old enough.

God' blessings to all.

John Rufner

Click to read Chapter 27

Glenn St Charles is calm, relaxed and free from the pain and incapacities of aging. He will forever be hunting with the sun at his back and the wind in his face. He will be sharing stories around campfires with Saxton Pope, Art Young, Chief Compton, Fred Bear, Ishi and many other bowhunters. He will be content and secure in the knowledge that he did his very best for bowhunting. He was truly a great leader.

I want to express my deepest sympathy and condolences to his family. He will be missed but never forgotten. His accomplishments will provide a strong foundation for the perpetuation of the pursuit that we all love, bowhunting. His legacy will live forever.

Sincerely,

Jack Frost

As is true with all legendary, larger-than-life people, once they have hunted over their last ridge, arrowed their last big-game animal, and written their last book, the mortal man is gone. Only our bright and shining memories of them remain.

Glenn St. Charles was a one-of-a-kind person. His passion for archery, big-game hunting, wild places and kindred spirits, shall remain the hallmark of the man, his passions and his legendary life.

Glenn lived a long and productive life. He did what he wanted to do, hunted many of the most fabulous places, and did everything he apparently wanted to do. Very few people have an opportunity to live such an idyllic life, and although his death has taken him from us, I choose to celebrate his life rather than mourn his passing. God bless.

--- David Richey

Jack and Susan Reneau of the Boone and Crockett Club send their love to everyone in the Glenn St. Charles family. Glenn was one of our dearest friends and I know he is happy to be with his beloved wife. What a long and eventful life Glenn lived. And, thanks to Glenn’s leadership we have the Pope and Young Club today.

We are driving from Missoula, Montana to attend his memorial service on November 1.

Kisses and hugs,

Jack and Susan Reneau

Missoula, MT

From Austrailia

Diane, Thank you for letting us know. Our condolences to his family, you, your organization and to all those in Archeryland. His passing sees the end of a Traditional Era that may never be seen again. At least Fred has his old hunting partner back again and both their memories will live on. I am personally sad, as I felt I knew him for the last 60 years, yet at the same time he set the bar high enough for others in the future to try and jump over.

Thank you Diane.

Sadly, Ian Fenton

From Arizona

Another sad day for our sport. Our most sincere condolences to family and friends. Every time one of our icons departs it’s like a star has fallen from the sky.

Diane, what a beautiful tribute and what a perfect song to mark his passing.

I am so grateful you made it possible for us to interview Glenn. Without you we would have never been able to do it, and share his story with thousands of archers/bowhunters. I know this interview will be viewed and reviewed by many more over the next days.

Rich Walton

Bowhunting.Net

From Whidbey Island, Washington

I brought my 5th and 6th grade classes to the Northwest Archery Museum near Sea Tac for several years. They would sit at the feet of Glenn St. Charles while he regaled them with stories. I remember fondly his enthusiasm for these young archers. We would return to Whidbey Island full of inspiration for our archery block, and his books graced our library. Thank you, Glenn and family, for the encouragement to continue the practice of archery, and for all you did to develop and sustain this art.

Robyn Jones