This is the third and final column recounting the historic five-day visit to Sullivan County by former US President and First Lady, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, thirty-five years ago. Hosted by the recently-formed Catskill Fly Fishing Center, the Carters were invited to come and fish the Beaverkill and participate in fundraising events for the local organization's building fund and museum.

After touring the 35-acre site owned by the Catskill Fly Fishing Center along the banks of the Willowemoc, and being greeted by a delegation of students and teachers from Livingston Manor Central School, the Carters and their entourage made their way downstream to Roscoe and a visit to the office of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center which, at the time, was located on Stewart Avenue. A large “Welcome Jimmy Carter” banner hung over the main street through the hamlet, and it appeared as though all the townsfolk of Roscoe came out to greet the President, including a delegation from Roscoe Central School and a presentation of gifts by Student Council President, P.J. Pomeroy; after which former President Carter walked to the Little Store, the town's landmark outdoors store, where proprietor Bob Bock informed him that he was having a sale on fishing boots.

The President purchased a pair of hip boots, and for many years Bob never cashed the check!

The group moved on to enjoy lunch at Don Molusky's Autumn Inn in Callicoon, and returned to the Delaware River that afternoon, where Mrs. Carter caught a rainbow trout of 13 inches on a size #14 Gray Fox Variant.

The dinner that Friday night was a gala fundraising affair at the Beaverkill Valley Inn with the Benefactors who paid $1500 for their weekend stay at the Inn, dinner with the Presidential couple, and fishing the Inn water on the upper Beaverkill.

On Saturday morning after breakfast the Carters were eager to fish, making another trip to the Delaware; spending the day fishing, and in-between having lunch at CFFC Directors Frank and CeCe Polanish's house (It was Frank Polanish who sent the invitation to the Carters to come to the Catskills). Fishing was marginal, with the President hooking and playing a nice rainbow on a size #14 Royal Wulff, but again the action picked up just as it was time to leave the river for dinner. The dinner that evening was the Grand Event -- a $500-to-$1500-a-plate fundraiser held at King's Catering House, near the new site of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center, that involved weeks of preparation and, like the Benefactor's dinner the night before, was completely sold out.

On Sunday, the last of the five-day trip, the Carters visited the freshly-painted clapboard Methodist church in Lew Beach, where the Rev. Betty Beach led the service to an overflow congregation of 68, that usually numbered from 9 to 17. Many arrived an hour early, and some had to listen from the stairs and outside the structure. The Carters participated and sang hymns with the group, who cherished their time with the couple during the 75-minute service.

After church it was time for one last fishing foray on the upper Beaverkill, during which the former President and First Lady caught many trout, on a #16 Adams and a #14 Royal Wulff. Their fishing ended at the Turnwood bridge, where the President noticed octogenarians, Fred and Pearl Shaver, standing nearby. The Shavers were introduced as the Patriarchs of the Valley, and in true Carter style, the President walked over to the couple, smiling, and extended his hand. Fred grabbed it enthusiastically and said “How're ya doing, Jimmy!”

Upon preparing to return home, it was difficult to say goodbye; but being the true fly-fisherman that he was, the President told his guide that he would like to return again for “just a fishing trip.”

The Carters' historic visit was celebrated far and wide, and for many weeks afterward, dozens upon dozens of newspaper articles appeared covering the event; not only in Sullivan County but from states as far away as Arizona and California. The goals of the fund-raising organizers were met and even exceeded, as the Catskill Fly Fishing Center raised between $40,000 - $50,000, enough to establish the fund for the new state-of-the-art Museum.

The Carter's fishing experience put Sullivan County, the Beaverkill and the Delaware River in the forefront of everyone's minds and was a great boost to the local economy as well as to the pride of the citizens who were fortunate enough to witness this significant event.

Judy Van Put is a long-time member of the NYS Outdoor Writers Association, and is the recipient of the New York State Council of Trout Unlimited's Professional Communications Award.