The University of Georgia Chapter of the National Football Foundation recently paid tribute to one of its most loyal friends, Phil Niekro, who played in the Big Leagues for 24 years, becoming one of the biggest names in the sport’s history.
With his remarkable legacy, Knucksie, as he was commonly called, was a Superstar, but you would never know it. He truly was one who walked with kings without losing the common touch.
Spending time on a river or creek was purest of fun for him. He had never fly-fished until he met Jimmy Harris of Unicoi Outfitters in Helen in the North Georgia mountains. Overnight, he became a seasoned fly-fishing angler. He was, shall we say, “hooked.” He waxed on and on about this outdoor experience, which was something of a phenomenon for him.