Early History of the Main Line Fly-Tyers
by Ed Jaworowski
In spring/summer of 1971, Dennis DiBonaventura and Ed Jaworowski, employees of Coxʼs Sport Shop, Bryn Mawr, PA conceived the idea for a fly tying and fishing club. By fall 1971, meetings were held every second Thursday, in the ski shop on the second floor after the store had closed. Ed supplied coffee and donuts and presided over the meetings. Jack Sebzda and others tied flies, rented films were shown, tackle and techniques were discussed. By spring 1972, Ed called for by-laws to be drafted and regular officers elected. Dennis DiBonaventura was elected the first President. Various regular committees were eventually formed (Planning, Refreshment, Political Activities, Membership).
The club quickly outgrew the store facility, and in spring 1972, Tom Gilmore and Rich Greco, teachers at Archbishop Carroll HS in Radnor, made the school available for MLFT meetings. Ken Clark was the second President. Occasional guest speakers became a regular feature. Ed Jaworowski and Bob Bryan designed the club logo and patch while sitting at Bobʼs kitchen table using a box of his daughterʼs crayons. The outline of the mayfly was meant to symbolize an idea, which comes to realization in the solid image of the fly in the vise. Club-sponsored picnics involved member's families.
By late 1973, interest began to wane. The club membership and treasury were both pitifully low, and serious consideration was given to disbanding. Bob Bryan, Ed Jaworowski, Tom Gilmore, and Gerry Tucci met at Bobʼs home and committed to reorganizing the club, with Bob stepping in as President and Tom named as Membership Chairman, a position he fulfilled with a vengeance. With barely enough money for stamps for a single mailing, the group scheduled and advertised a series of notable guest speakers and programs for the next year, relying on their ability to promote the ambitious undertaking. Letters, phone calls, in-store posters, and signs brought dramatic results.
They moved the club meetings to the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center in the Roxborough section of northwest Philadelphia, where Gilmore was now the Centerʼs business manager. At the first meeting of the resurrected club, the room was packed, and an anonymous donor presented the club with a check for $500 (a significant sum in mid-70ʼs dollars!) because, as he put it, “Iʼm so impressed with what you are doing”. That renewed effort, supported by that donation, gave new life to the club and ensured its future. By the time Ernie Schwiebert arrived in spring 1974, the place was overflowing. George Kawchak followed as president. Since that time, the club has undergone many changes of leadership, membership, and direction. Its continued growth, marked by its ability to adapt, is a tribute both to the founders and all those who succeeded them.
In addition to many programs presented by members, here is a sampling of celebrity speakers from those early years.
Several of these (e.g. Schwiebert, Jorgensen, Kreh) made repeat visits:
• Ted Simroe (Leonard Rod Co.) (March 73)
• Bob Popovics and Butch Colvin (Salt Water Flyrodders of America) (73)
• Ed Koch (May 73)
• Lou Tabory (1973-74?)
• Ernie Schwiebert (first visit March 74)
• Poul Jorgensen (Oct 74)
• Lefty Kreh (first visit May 76)
• Jim Bashline (Feb 76)
• Al Caucci and Bob Nastasi (77-78?)
• George Harvey and Buck Metz (April 77)
• Keith Fulsher (Nov 77)
• Lee and Joan Wulff (January 78)
• Vince Marinaro (June 78)
• Sid Neff (November 78)
• Dave Whitlock
Letter from Ed Jaworowski
I just got off the phone with George Kawchak. As best we can recall, when he was president, I was vice-president, and Leon Guziewicz (now deceased) was either secretary or treasurer, Leon insisted we incorporate as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Because of the free classes and instructions MLFT offered, we think there may have been an "educational entity" (something like that) component to the incorporation. It must have been around 1975.
ing a club in 1971. I worked part-time for Jim Cox as buyer and advisor for the fishing department. I organized things and ran the meetings every two weeks, from fall 1971 until spring of 1972, held in the ski department on the second floor of the store. It was a rather informal, unstructured affair. I then insisted we elect regular annual officers, but refused to accept the first presidency. Dennis was the first president, followed by Ken Clark, Bob Bryan, and then George Kawchak. (I'm pretty sure that was the sequence.)
Along with myself, Tom Gilmore, George, Leon, and Bob Bryan were the backbone of the club in those first several years until it got on its feet and became self-sustaining. Once the membership built up, largely due to Tom Gilmore's efforts, we were able to invite speakers like Ernie Schwiebert, Lefty Kreh, Lee Wulff, etc. I can tell you more anecdotes about those early years, and some may be a little hazy, but that will give you some idea of what happened prior to the incorporation.
