Posted on 12/17/2009 9:25:20 AM PST by AuntB
“Not good news ... but that's life. We all end up dead in the end ... it's what we do between birth and death that counts.”
Those were the words of our friend, Larry Toelle, just days after receiving the news that he had only a short time to live. Having battled cancer for several years and thinking he’d conquered the beast, this came as a shock to all of us who knew and loved this fine American gentleman.
We thought he had more time, that we would get to see him again, but when I got the email from a mutual friend this morning, “This breaks my heart”, I knew what the message was before opening it. Still, it doesn’t seem real. Larry was the one we ALL counted on. His was the voice of wise leadership and compassion and action when it was called for.
On a spring morning in 2001, I had the local radio station tuned in. A deep voiced, articulate, intelligent man from Fort Jones, California was organizing a ‘rally’ to protest the governments taking of farmer’s water in the Klamath Basin of Southern Oregon. He made me believe we could make a difference. That day I phoned “Mr. Toelle” (pronounced Tow-lee) and told him that I felt I could get some friends and property rights activisits from the internet to help out the effort.
Nearly 20,000 people showed up for the ‘Bucket Brigade’ the following May of 2001, in a town of only 14,000 people. The entire world now knew of the plight of those American farmers. As my friends and I stood, passing buckets of water to symbolically fill the empty canal, a graceful, well over six foot tall gentleman in a western suit and hat greeted me with tears of gratitude and pride in his eyes.
This was the first time I met Larry. It wouldn’t be the last. Months and years passed as many of us worked to bring attention to Western property rights and the use of them we were losing daily because of government’s overreach. And always, there was Larry. From the top of the Soda Mountain where the government was taking private property for a ‘national monument’ to the day in August of 200l when Larry and dozens of his friends defied the government’s armed guards who were keeping the water turned off from a dying Klamath Basin.
When he wasn’t with his neighbors or organizing the 'Restore the Spirit of America‘ concert, he was in Washington DC lobbying or in Florida leading a caravan of patriots or observing the incursion of illegal aliens on U.S. Citizen land along the Mexican border, warning this too, was a property rights issue.
In an article titled, “Orick CA: The Rural Cleansing of America”, Larry is quoted:
“Larry Toelle, a field director for the People for the USA, was the last speaker and he explained about how rural communities have been confronted with an agonizing barrage of county, state, and federal regulations the are quite literally strangling the life out of ranchers, farmers, and other multiple-use interests.
Toelle urged everyone to become S.O.B.s. After telling folks that most people thought he was one, he said that those of us fighting back against the socialization of our natural resources by the radical environmental movement have to become tough and take on the persona of a S.O.B.
Toelle said, "Our enemies in the Green Party who are seeking to destroy this country are tough customers and we have to become even tougher...become one mean and tough S.O.B."
A few years ago, when I made Larry’s beloved Siskiyou County, California my new home, he was there with his grandson in tow within a few days to welcome me to ‘the hood’, though our homes in this rural community were 40 miles apart. When Larry Toelle was your friend, you knew you always had a friend.
When he told me he was dying, I don’t know what I said. What does one say that makes any sense? But Larry didn’t just preach it, he LIVED what he said.
“ .....it's what we do between birth and death that counts.”
Well done, friend.
____________
Larry M. Toelle passed Dec. 13, 2009
Larry Toelle is survived by his long time companion, Tess, his mother, a daughter and grandchildren he cherished. He was a veteran, serving his country in Viet Nam. The cancer he incurred was a direct result of the use of agent orange during that war.
Remembrances may be sent in care of: Tess at 14517 Quartz Valley Drive, Ft. Jones, CA 96032
Sad ping. I know there are some of you I have left out. Too many on the old Klamath Falls list are no longer with us.
Rest in peace, Mr. Toelle.
My dad took a spill off of a horse and broke a rib. The Xrays showed that he had cancer. When they did further tests the doctor said he only had a couple of months left. My dad’s response was, “I have a list of things I have to do before then, are you sure?”
When the doctor said he was, my dad said, “I guess I better get started.”
My dad refused to be bedridden until the very end even though I had to help him get on his horse the last few days. His horse was an ornery one that would toss you if he felt you were not paying attention but he never put his head down or bowed his back when my dad was on him in a weakened state.
They don’t make men like Larry M. Toelle or my dad much anymore. God didn’t break the mold, he just put it away for a while.
“They don’t make men like Larry M. Toelle or my dad much anymore. God didn’t break the mold, he just put it away for a while.”
Hope he gets that ‘mold’ out soon, we’re losing the good ones.
Just before Thanksgiving, Larry planned to drive to Arizona to visit his mother. He didn’t waste one day of his life.
Thanks for letting us know. It’s so sad that such a Great American had to use up so much of his lifetime defending rights we all took for granted for over 60 years!!!
Amen, Waspman, amen.
I hope we don’t have to wait till your day comes to find out all the beautiful behind the scenes efforts you have made!!! God Bless You, AuntB!!!
You are too kind. I simply followed the lead of great men.
One of the latest efforts by Larry was to prevent the breaching of our dams. In yesterday’s paper I see the enviros are pulling out of the talks because we aren’t getting rid of the dams fast enough to suit them.
http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/news/x2010183088/California-group-pulls-out-of-dam-removal-talks
One of the parties to negotiations to remove dams from the Klamath River in Southern Oregon and Northern California is pulling out before the final agreement.
The Northcoast Environmental Center in Arcata, Calif., announced Monday it cannot accept several provisions of the deal that is expected to be signed next month.
Klamath Campaign coordinator Jay Wright says the agreement fails to compel dam owners PacifiCorp, the states of Oregon and California, or the federal government to commit to dam removal now.
He adds the group is unhappy about a related deal allowing farming to continue on Klamath wildlife refuges and that California’s $250 million share of costs is part of a huge water bond before voters that would fund other projects the Klamath Campaign cannot support.
Following are Larry’s words about this:
What do they think they’re doing - the shocking truth
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
To the Editor of Pioneer Press by Larry Toelle, Fort Jones
After digesting over 250 pages of legalistic and bureaucratic prose, the result of “two years” of secret negotiations between environmental groups, various government actors, tribes, and the wayward Klamath Water User’s Association, you can’t help but ask: “What do they think they’re doing?” The answer is found in Appendix B “Schedule and Budget.”
The shocker, of course, is Appendix D “Hydropower Agreement”, the dam removal plan. Referenced throughout the agreement, Appendix D seems to be the object of eveyone’s affection. Frankly, little else is discussed. Those signing into this agreement, agree to use their best efforts to carry out the “Hydropower Plan” and protect the agreement, come hell or high water.
Unbelievable as it is, Appendix D does not yet exist. That’s right, the Hydropower Agreement, the apparent purpose of this agreement, only exists in the minds of those who negotiated for two years. So, “Where’s the beef?”
The beef, of course, is found in the budget. Here, you’ll find what these folks are really after. It is chock-full of goodies for environmentalists, tribes and yes, Klamath Basin irrigators, those tribes and irrigators who have the right credentials, that is. Woe be to the rest of us.
Apparently, the originators of this document felt they could stampede the politicians into a corral, squeeze them, and the Eagle would poop out some bucks for their cause. Not a bad plan, but straining in both credulity and credibility. Or perhaps, the politicians were looking for some cover, and this agreement might provide it. How do you spell “earmark?”
Not surprising, the government actors were/are careful to exclude themselves from any real responsibility. Careful to not sign-in, they seem only to want to sign-on to the agreement. There are, after all, huge budget increases for their departments.
For those of us who pay attention to this sort of nonsense, most bet that this dog won’t hunt.
It might make a good pet for some deserving environmentalist, but that’s about it.
Speculating is dangerous, but if we were to speculate, then we’d have to speculate that there’s more to come out of these “secret” negotiations, or should we say “manipulations.”
Of course, we’ll complain loudly. We’ll jump up and down, throw a fit, and expend more energy than is necessary to see this thing go away. That’s OK, we’ve done it before. If we’re smart however, we’ll pay close attention to what is being said, and who says and does what. The devil here, is in the details. There are big bucks on the table, powerful players, and some not-so-honest folks behind those closed doors.
http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org/settlement/articles/shockingtruth021308.htm
Thanks for the ping to this sad news. Goodness we need so many more like him these days.
Prayers for those he cared for and those who cared for him.
HUGS to you my dear AuntB. You are one of our treasures too.
Thanks, amom. We’ve lost so many good ones. I miss them all.
More from Larry:
Now we will have to march down to the capitol ourselves to talk some sense into those folks
Pioneer Press March 26, 2008
To the Editor by Larry Toelle, Ft. Jones:
Some of us who engage ourselves in issues such as the dam issue, might get a little inspiration from reading the Federalists Papers, and the often forgotten Anti-Federalist Papers. Both dealt with the same issue of governance and the form of government that we have. In them, there’s a lot of discussion regarding “faction.” How the competing interests of the people were going to be resolved and how government would be corrupted by those interests.
The week before last, Quartz Valley was alerted that a pending state Senate Bill might be cause for concern. California SB311 had passed out of the Senate and over to the Assembly unopposed. In fact, SB331 was marked with “urgency.” ... meaning that it was being fast tracked and heading for the Governor’s desk.
SB331 defines a new class of “trespass” adding it to an already complex set of trespass laws found in the Penal Code. Intended to provide Gaming Tribes leverage to remove dissidents off the reservations, and therefore out of the gaming business, the bill was written for a few unique situations found in southern California tribes. So, what’s the problem?
The problem lies in the “plain language” of the bill. As written, the bill can be construed to apply to any reservation where the reservation’s government wants to remove people, any people. In the case of Quartz Valley, the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation might construe the bill to mean they could close county roads, remove non-Indian property owners, remove Shasta Indian members, turn off irrigation water and generally, cause a ruckus, obligating the County Sheriff to write infractions and people would have to appear in court, thereby denying “free enjoyment of their homes and properties.” Although the legislative history seems to preclude this possibility, it will nonetheless be something for the courts to decide. Most of us aren’t comfortable with a court deciding anything, let alone whether we can live peaceably in our homes.
Well, we thought, we’ll just write some nice letters to the folks in Sacramento, and persuade them to change a word here or there, and avoid the ruckus. Wrongo bucko! What we ran into instead, was a well oiled political machine, one intent on servicing its benefactors, the tribal gaming folks. They’re pushing and paying and pulling this bill through the legislature, no holds barred. Full steam ahead, damn the torpedoes, the Barona Tribe wants it and we’re going to get it for them.
Although Siskiyou County sent a letter and a lawyer to appear before the Assembly committee and Assemblyman LaMalfa carried our petitions personally, the Public Safety Committee passed it on unopposed. Ya gotta love “faction.”
Now, we’ve got to take the time and expense of going to Sacramento ourselves and try to talk some sense into someone’s head. Not an easy task for a small group of long-in-the-tooth retirees, but we’ll be there anyway ... fighting faction.
The old timers who argued about “faction” in the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers saw this, over two hundred years ago. And we think we’re smart.
Larry Toelle, Fort Jones
http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org/settlement/letters/marchcapitalToelle032608.htm
Larry was a good friend and neighbor. I will miss him terribly. I could always count on him to give me a frank opinion on what I was doing wrong. Sometimes we did not agree.
In a past job, I helped to organize many Win Back the West events. Larry and I ran in opposition to each other in a mock election for the Governor of the State of Jefferson. (I was Granny Liberty.) Both of us lost after much hilarity. I also accompanied him to the second headgate opening. (My friend Nancy and I organized the bus loads of folks that went from our county to the bucket brigade.)
Larry had a wry sense of humor, a wonderful Texas drawl and was extremely intelligent. He was among the first developers of personal computers, although most of his work was on military systems.
“I also accompanied him to the second headgate opening.....
Larry had a wry sense of humor, a wonderful Texas drawl and was extremely intelligent. He was among the first developers of personal computers, although most of his work was on military systems.”
Oh, marsh, you’ve worked so hard and have done so much. I often smile when I think of that one day, before the first headgate excursion. Larry absolutely enjoyed himself dragging you from one place to another that you had no idea where or WHAT you would be getting into.
It’s hard to imagine him not being around.
You got that right. He would say he had something to show me and he would pick me up at such and such a time. Off we would go to Lord knew where. (Usually the Upper Klamath.) It was always an adventure with Larry.
God bless the freedom lovers.
News today from our area. This is just the thing that Larry has and would be fighting. The enviro extremists just won’t let go until the last family farmer is gone.
As Larry said, “The old timers who argued about “faction” in the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers saw this, over two hundred years ago. And we think we’re smart.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2409694/posts?page=12#12
Grants Pass, Ore. -
Three environmental groups that don’t like the pending deal to remove dams on the Klamath River have banded together in an attempt to set a new course.
Oregon Wild, WaterWatch and the Northcoast Environmental Council announced Tuesday the formation of Klamath Conservation Partners.
They don’t like a restoration agreement that would guarantee irrigation for farmers in the upper Klamath basin without guaranteeing water for struggling salmon runs.
They also object to continuing access to national wildlife refuge lands for farming and want to shorten the timetable for dam removal.
The agreement to possibly remove four hydroelectric dams from the river in Southern Oregon and Northern California may be signed next month.
There will be a memorial service at Greenview Grange, Yreka, California, Sat.Jan. 30th 2pm
There is more to the Klamath than the Upper Basin farmers. Siskiyou County Supervisors oppose the removal of the Klamath dams - a trade the Klamath Project farmers made to secure their water. It harms all the property owners who live around Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs in Siskiyou County, removes a source of recreation (great bass fishery) for the locals, and could pour toxic sediment on downriver communities such as Klamath River, Seiad and Happy Camp. Frankly, we felt betrayed by these farmers. They also are quite willing to raise all our power rates so they can have theirs lowered.
The Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement has huge flaws and institutes a regional government structure reportable to the feds. This will undermine local control and the Board is likely to oppose that too. So don’t go tooting the upper basin farmers horn on this one.
Oh, I hear you Marsh, loud and clear. And agree. I was just posting the news I saw that day on the subject.
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