Hi All

I have gone to Bill's site for OnePfoot products and this is the message now there.

Dear Fellow Angler,

One of the great things about buying a business is you get to stand on the shoulders of your predecessor. Without their work, yours would be much harder. I feel very fortunate to have gotten to know Bill Franke (and his wife, Karen), and just as fortunate to have learned so much from him in a relatively short period of time.

I hope to ensure that ONE-PFOOT produces the same high quality parts and offers the same high level of customer service in the future. Part of ensuring that is the happy circumstance of my recruiting Eric Lyle to this project. Eric will be a co-owner and brings not only a three decades of passion for fishing to the business, he also brings machining, design and computer skills that are extraordinary. Beyond that, he is intimately familiar with the internet sporting goods industry. It's no false modesty on my part when I say he is the "brains" of the operation. That is simply fact. Of course, I intend to do my part to see that we continue to meet the standards set by Bill, and have five decades of fishing and some machining and related experience as well to draw upon. We're both excited to serve the angling as well as the vintage fishing reel community.

Eric and I are doing some work on the website, and before long you'll see the results, including a shopping basket feature, which will allow you to conveniently purchase ONE-PFOOT products. I will also be posting periodic notes regarding our progress on this and other things we are doing to stand-up the business from its new base in Erie, Pennsylvania. Please feel free to contact me at: dan@onepfoot.com or call (814) 969-9411.

Best for both Eric and I,

Dan

May 28, 2012

As you can see Bill has sold the business because of health issues.  I sent an e-mail to Dan:

Hi Dan

 

This is Lee Goldsmith, a very good friend of Bill’s and I am wondering how he is doing.  Can you give me some idea of his health.  I tried last weekend to see him but he was not home, may have been down your way in PA.  I have had a link to OnePfoot for as long as I have had my web site.  www.loonsecho.net/lfp/   I am hoping that we can still do the exchange of links as bill did for me and I for him.  I am looking forward to getting to know you and hope you come over and check out my site.  It would be a pleasure to have you as a member.

 

Please keep us all informed as you get into the business of creating the wonderful OnePfoot products that Bill conceived.

 

Thanks for your time.

 

Lee Goldsmith

Test Engineer

 

And is response back was:

Thank you for your note, Lee.  I wish there were undeniably good news about Bill's health, but he has challenges to face.  You were right regarding his location:  He and Karen are in PA visiting family.  

 

I've only gotten to know Bill over the past few months, but I've known many people in his situation over my 57 years.  He's a great example of spirit and courage, as I'm sure you've seen. 

 

Knowing that it would take at least two people to do what Bill easily did by himself, I recruited an old friend to help me with Pfoot.  Eric and I are currently working on the website as well as unpacking equipment and tooling.   We'll certainly keep your link on our site.  Frankly, there's a lot I want to learn about fishing in Maine, so I'll also be an avid reader.

 

I'll pass along a link to our updated website when we put it up.  

 

Best,

 

Dan

 

Hope this helps anyone who was wondering what was going on with Bill.

See Yah

Lee