At Ohio University in the sculpture foundry in 1995, I became interesed in forging steel. My bronze casting instructor, David Klahn, recommended that I call Butch Frazier, a local mechanical contractor who took some classes in the school a few years earlier and did work on the Foundry / Studio.
Butch was my most influential mentor. He taught me the plasma cutter, direct modeling in steel, forging, hammering copper...
He talked a great deal about Jeff Fetty and insisted that visit Jeff. Butch worked with a coal forge and a big stump, like Jeff. In my visit to Jeff's Leaning Oak Forge, ironically, is when I decided on my gas forge.
Butch introduced me to ABANA and other Blacksmithing organizations and resorces.
In 1996 I attended an ABANA Hammer In in Alfred, New York where I sat in on a lecture from Albert Paley, Francis Whitaker and Tom Joyce. I took along a copy of the Anvil's Ring, collected autographs from every influential smith / artist at the show then delivered it to Butch. That is my last memory of him. I don't know if he is alive.
Later that year, I attended another conference in Colorado with Francis Whitaker.
