Darwin Atkin

Darwin R. Atkin passed away Jan. 7, 2014, at the age of 76. He was born Christmas Eve, 1937, in Porterville, Calif., to Carl and Myrna (McBride) Atkin. Darwin graduated from Porterville High School, Class of 1955, where he was active in FFA raising champion hogs.

While attending Porterville College, he met his future wife, Anna Bastady. Darwin graduated from Cal Poly Ponoma in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in fruit production. While in college, he was a member of Alpha Zeta, a professional fraternity for the field of agriculture. During summer months of his college years, he worked for the United States Forest Service building trails in Mineral King. Upon graduation, he worked for the University of California Riverside as a Research Associate for the Botany and Plant Sciences Department. All the research was done through UC's Lindcove Field Station. He retired from the university after 35 years.

Darwin developed a passion for fly tying which led to many awards and accolades, including the Buz Buszek Fly Tying Award and Charlie Brooks Memorial Award. He was a lifetime member of the Federation of Fly Fishers and received Man of the Year in 1996. He also received the FFF's highest award, The Order of the Lapis Lazuli in 1998. The Headwater Fly Fishing Group honored Darwin as one of the Legends of the Headwater in 2007. Darwin enjoyed demonstrating fly tying techniques at regional and national conclaves. In 1990 he was the Master of Ceremonies at the opening of Fly Fair in Holland. He also participated in a fly tying tour in England sponsored by Partridge Hooks. Darwin developed and patented the Waste-Trol, a device for collecting debris while tying flies. He began framing fly plates for auction after teaching himself how to mat and frame. He spearheaded the idea of developing ""The Great American Fly Fishing Calendar,"" which was a collaborative effort of 12 fly tyers to raise money for the FFF. Darwin wrote several articles for Fly Fisher on how to tie his personal patterns. He was a contributing writer in Judith Dunham's Art of the Trout Fly and wrote a chapter on matting and framing in Mike Randechich's Tying the Classic Salmon Fly. Darwin was truly a character and a master of storytelling.

Darwin was preceded in death by this parents and brother, Robert, of Oregon. He is survived by his wife, Anna Atkin, Bozeman; daughter, Suzanne Atkin Landeros, Santa Rosa, Calif.; granddaughter, Katie (Derek) Gauntlett, Petaluma, Calif.; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Bastady of Fresno, Calif.

The family wishes to express their thanks to Dr. Spinelli, Dr. Ritter, Kelcey, Mary, the Bozeman Deaconess Emergency Room, and Bridger Health Care.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Darwin's memory to International Federation of Fly Fishers, Darwin Atkin Memorial Award, 5237 US Highway S, Livingston, MT 59047; Bozeman Deaconess Foundation, 931 Highland, Bozeman, MT 59715, or Montana State University Libraries, The Trout and Salmonid Collection, P.O. Box 173320, Bozeman, MT 59717.