Passing of Ron Driscoll


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Hello All,

Not sure if many know Ron Driscoll, but heard he passed away a few weeks ago. A good nugget hunting buddy up North called and told me about it. Ron was pretty famous in Arizona for mining claims, prospecting and other ventures. He was really involved in some of the early clubs and pushes at Rich Hill, Arizona.

We are going to miss you Ron.

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Gosh Rob, many of the older personalities are now gone such as Richard... whom I remember

with Elizabeth were well known as the 'Gold Dust Twins.' They were about the first USA Minelab

Distributers and as I remember had a thriving store in Apache Junction. Richard is now gone,

and who knows what has happened to Elizabeth. (I heard yeas ago she was a waitress in some

café and just getting by... Sad

I also understand that Jack Gifford of Tesoro recently passed away. So many early leaders

are now gone... Fred and Lily Brust. Jim Lewellen, Ron Mack, Woody Woodworth, Ron Wendt,

Karl von Mueller, Karl Fischer, Steve Ryland are just two of many dozens...., Do you realize that both you

and Bill Southern are now early leaders with your successful forums and other then your cousin Chris

Gholsen with his AZ forum have stood the test of time... Over the years you have worked hard to get

where you are... working fulltime with Edison and being on the road would overwhelm most others,

me included... and I'm not posting this to 'butter you up' but I'm truly in your debt for all you have done

for me over the many years... jim

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geez, Jim, you are bringing tears to my eyes. Every new year the news does a segment of the famous folks that passed in the previous year, that is sad but not personal. The mention of all my heros dead and gone is very close and personal to me.

"everybody wants to go to heaven-nobody wants to die"

fred

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Hey Guy,

Jim Straight - I'm by no means any leader, but sure appreciate your comment. You're longtime friendship has meant a lot to me. I've mentioned a dozen times, if not more, that you are one of the reason I'm who I'm today in this hobby of metal detecting. Between your books and emails we sent back and forth and the help of the hands-on training and long-time friendship with Richard Doherty, I wouldn't be here today. I owe all my success to both of you guys. I sure wish Richard was around today and seen where I was at one point to what I have found to date.

I didn't know Ron Driscoll and some of the others very well, but I know they were like Richard to others.

Nugget Bob - Ya, he did a great job on that video. Funny, about a year ago that VHS tape surfaced here at home. I can't seem to find it now and wish I had a VHS tape of it. I think it would be great if someone would take that VHS tape and make it into a DVD. I couldn't tell you how many times I watches that video myself, but then again my cousin and I watched it together many times before a weekend trip to get us all fired up! Larry Sallee, Nugget Bob, Floyd Allen, Glenn ??? (can;t remember his last name off hand) and anyone else ..... ?

God Bless all these great guys and gals that have been mentors to the early learners like myself at one point. I sure hope they are all in Heaven looking down at their students today with a big smile on their face!

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As the saying goes "Pygmies, on the shoulders of giants, see farther then the giants themselves." Regrettably it is indeed true that many of the true pioneers of electronic prospecting and treasure hunting in general have passed away. Dutch, may I add to that list such names as Ken Doe and George Mrzkowski? HH Jim

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Jim ol friend... That you may!

Bob... Larry was truly a bright star that has never faded. Copies of "Zip-Zip" are highly sought

after by collectors and are known sell as high as $XXX.xx

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Jim ol, friend yes you may... You were a well known contributing writer in Mr. Doe's magazine.

Mr. Mrzkowski too... Great choices.... jim aka Dutch John (a mountain near Pioche Nevada)

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Here is a shot of the video Ron put together, my personal copy.

Ron Driscoll did a great job of combining 4 different brands of detectors in the video.

Its not as easy as you may think. alot of legal stuff too. I have to say it was fun being in this. we had a blast shooting it.

Rob as far as I know they are no longer in production.

GPX Power is correct Glen "Anderson" featured the Tesoro Lobo in the video.

Jim, Larry Sallee knew whites Goldmaster detectors. he knew things (tricks) about them, Whites didn't know

and thats one reason his book Zip Zip (also out of production)is still selling so well.

Floyd Allen knew Minelabs. We hunted some of the same ground. A Very friendly and knowledgeable guy. this video was shot just prior to the release of the Minelab SD series detector and Floyd introduced me to it and changed my whole nugget hunting career, thanks Floyd.

AzNuggetBob

post-1452-0-88199200-1422073321_thumb.jp

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Now I remember... Glen Anderson.... He often was hanging out at the Quartzsite McDonalds.

I now also remember Ron Driscoll too. I can add more.... Fugal Floyd, Terry "T" Bone and I

hunted at "tungsten" and had coffee at the truckstop and Terry just loved the buffet. I also briefly

met AzNuggetBob at Oakie Jim's Lunker Hill operation... Oh... Terry mentioned he owed Jim McColloch

for a set of headphones and intended to pay Jim.... More later... tailgate,

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Bob, Terry was short of funds, and I sold him a high-end set of headphones with the understanding that he would pay me when he could. He never did. No big deal, friendship is worth far more than money. In fact, good friends are worth more than gold. I'm sure you'll agree. HH Jim

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Another story about T-Bone. One morning we were rattling down the road in his truck, the road paralleling an auriferous wash. I spotted a stone dyke intersecting the wash, causing the wash to divert around it. It was about 4 feet wide, maybe ten feet long (into the wash) flat-topped, with a rough surface, I said "Stop the truck, Terry, Dibs on the rock outcropping." Terry smiled and said "Y'all are too late, Gee Umm, I already got me 4 ounces of nuggets offen' that spot." Golden memories. Maybe one day I'll reveal the cool trick Dutch John played on me at a GPAA Gold Show. HH Jim

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Now I remember... Glen Anderson.... He often was hanging out at the Quartzsite McDonalds.

I now also remember Ron Driscoll too. I can add more.... Fugal Floyd, Terry "T" Bone and I

hunted at "tungsten" and had coffee at the truckstop and Terry just loved the buffet. I also briefly

met AzNuggetBob at Oakie Jim's Lunker Hill operation... Oh... Terry mentioned he owed Jim McColloch

for a set of headphones and intended to pay Jim.... More later... tailgate,

Jim, Glenn Anderson still hangs out at the Quartzsite McDonalds; I was just talking gold with him there this afternoon. He is the reason I first came to Quartzsite back in the late 90's, after watching the video.

- Lunk -

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Jim... If Dutch John played a "cool trick" on you, I hope he was not outa line. I fondly remember the "Yucapah days"

with Treasure Magazine and the great chicken dinners. You were a long-time writer back in the time of Mr. K. Doe.

Lunk... I chatted several times with Glen and several other notables at McDonalds and I'm sure they do not remember me

tailgate

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Jim, the cool trick that "Dutch John" played on me was awesomely clever. He handed me a nice specimen of auriferous quartz, and asked if I could guess where it came from. I suggested [location A]. No, it wasn't from there. says he. Then I suggested [location B]. Nope, not there either. {Location C] was also a no. Dutch gave me a grin, and then said "thanks for giving me three new locations to hunt!" (actually he probably already knew of them}. Proof that I didn't view my old friends actions as being out of line was seen by the fact that soon afterwards I gifted him with a rare old saloon token issued by his grandfather. Golden memories. By the way, if you seen Dutch John tell him that Hawkeye and I will be at our booth at the GPAA Gold Show at Pomona Feb. 7-8. HH Jim

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Well you know ol' Dutch John... Old age and cunning against Youth and aukwardness (sp?) as you are a kid to me.

I hope Reno Chris Ralph does not see this post as I pulled this trick on him :)

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Jim.... I really treasure your gift of one of my grandfather's saloon tokens. You have been a great friend over the

years. I hope you sell many copies of your Advanced Prospecting booklet... tailgate

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Jim McCulloch.

I was about to ask what "cool trick"you learned from "Dutch John". I knew if it came from him it had to be good.

That is a good one.

It has been fun trying to match wits with a guy that's in the Treasure Hunters Hall of Fame,and I have learned a great deal from him and his books,posts on forums

and his emails over the years have been priceless. Thanks Tailgate and Hawkeye.

If you ever get a chance to talk to these guys in person, gold show or what ever dont pass it up.

AzNuggetbob

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