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The Bill Parsonson Award

At the Midwest Pond and Koi Society's Third Annual koi and goldfish show, Larry and Pat Christensen - our koi judges along with Ed Gillenwater - presented an award for the most unusual goldfish. The award was named after Bill Parsonson, and was presented to Mike Weynschenk for his panda telescope. The award is intended to be kept within the club membership, and will "travel" annually to the goldfish most representative of Bill's ideals for the goldfish - unusual, beautiful, and rare.

Bill Parsonson was one of the founding members of the Goldfish Society of America, and has been called the father of the American goldfish. Bill was Chairman of the Goldfish Society on three separate occasions; was Treasurer for 10 straight years; wrote over 35% of the articles published in the Goldfish Report through 1990; and personally committed several thousands of dollars to the Goldfish Society when funds were scarce.

On many occasions, Bill donated championship-quality fish to Society members so that they could have breeding stock, replace a lost fish, or enter fish into shows. He would offer friendly advice to anyone who called; I talked to Bill a few times on the telephone, not knowing that he was seriously ill, for Bill never was too busy to talk about his beloved goldfish.

To appreciate Bill better, I've included a few comments from his long-time friends. These comments were published in the November, 1991 Goldfish Report issue devoted exclusively to Bill Parsonson. Fred Rosenzweig writes "Bill is not just an acquaintance for those that know him - we call him a friend. Bill is not just another member of our society - he is our society and everything good that it stands for."

Al Foster says of Bill "…by far the most important member that any group must have in order to survive are the 'DOERS;" people who actually do the work. This is what Bill has been to all of us. No matter who you are in this society, old timer or new member, you would not be reading this issue at this second if it wasn't for Bill Parsonson."

Larry and Pat Christensen wrote of Bill, "Though time has grayed and thinned the hair on his head and two broken legs have slowed him down to where we can now keep up with him, his smile and good nature have never changed."

Finally, David Linnemayer, another of the Society's founders, wrote of Bill,
"…he has always been first and foremost a great lover of goldfish. His enthusiasm for the hobby has never been lessened or his desire to share his enthusiasm and knowledge with others."

This then, is Bill Parsonson, the man. Our Society is truly fortunate to have a beautiful trophy - dedicated to his memory - which will be shared among the members who have an interest in raising and showing goldfish.

 

---Peter Ponzio

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