Exchange week. Party week. Travel week. Rest-up week. Whatever these December days between Christmas and New Year’s may be called where you reside, you can be assured of one thing when it comes to the media; its broadcasts and pages will be filled with a lot of ‘year-in-review’ lookbacks.
With so much increased violence, corruption, political upheaval, and a lack of respect for one another, looking back on the happenings of 2023 is not exactly a pleasant task. However, for me, the November 19th passing of Rosalynn Carter brought back several conversations shared with a former teacher and world-renowned fisherman, Don Daughenbauch, about his friendships with Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, Rosalynn, and the Carter family.
The much-respected first lady passed away after living a full and productive life on that date at the age of 96.
On the day Rosalynn was born, August 18, 1927, the New York Yankees were dominating baseball with their lineup of hitters known as ‘Murders Row.’ On that date, Babe Ruth laid down a sacrifice bunt in the 12th inning of a Yankees game. The bunt subsequently scored Mark Koening with the deciding run in a Yankees victory. The bunt came off Hall-of-Fame pitcher Ted Lyons, who had held the Great Bambino to just five hits in 113 lifetime at-bats. That season, Ruth had 14 sacrifice bunts. The only player in MLB history with any sacrifice bunts in a year, they hit 60 home runs.
Rosalynn Carter’s greatness had nothing to do with baseball, but her husband’s love for fishing carved a friendship bond with Daughenbaugh.
During his teaching years at South Williamsport High School, Daughenbauch often spent summers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as a fishing guide. His expertise became so well known that his fishing companions became senators, congressmen, presidents, financiers, and other famous people. Among that group was President Jimmy Carter, with whom Daughenbaugh shared many fishing excursions, including those along the Loyalsock Creek.
As Daughenbaugh once shared with me, an office worker at the South Williamsport High School answered a telephone call asking to speak with Daughenbaugh. The caller was told he could not be reached as he was teaching a class. ‘This is the White House calling,’ responded the voice on the other end of the phone. Thinking this was a crank call, the office worker hung up the phone.
The phone soon rang again, stating it was the White House and Rosalynn Carter wanted to talk with Daughenbaugh.
The subject of that conversation was a request from Rosalynn stating that she wanted to get the President a pair of fishing boots for Christmas that were like the pair Don had been wearing when they had been fishing together. Getting the President’s shoe size, Don went to work on the request. When he had made the purchase, he called Rosalynn to tell her he would mail them to the White House.
The First Lady then told Don not to mail them. Instead, she would be sending someone to pick them up. A few days later, a Secret Service agent knocked on his front door to pick up the President’s Christmas gift!
Among many other stories shared was a visit to Camp David to again fish with the President.
After a cold, windy October Saturday with poor fishing results, the two men returned to Camp David. Carter asked Don where his wife Mary Jane was. Told she was home in South Williamsport, the President replied, “We don’t go anywhere without our wives.” He then instructed his security team to “get her down for the weekend right now.”
Contacted at home, Mary Jane told the caller, “Don has our only car, and besides, I don’t have my hair done.
“Rent a car, and we’ll take care of your hair when you get here,” were the instructions she was given.
It was close to closing time on a Saturday afternoon when Mary Jane tried to contact a car rental company, stating, “I’ve been invited to spend the weekend with the President and First Lady at Camp David.”
“Sure, Lady,” came the sarcastic response.
Luckily, a friend came to the rescue and obtained a car from a local dealership for Mary Jane to reach Camp David. They spent the weekend dining with the President and Rosalynn in the main house, sharing conversation, and attending the little chapel for church to enjoy an exciting weekend. All brought about by a fishing trip and a pair of boots.
Don Daughenbaugh’s fishing prowess is well-known in our area. Those who know him have plenty of other stories to share. Those who don’t know Don and the fishing life he lived can learn more via the pages of a book he wrote in 2021 entitled Great People, Great Rivers.
The passing of Rosalynn Carter is just one of many stories that will be retold during those ‘year-in-review’ segments, but those memories Don Daughenbauch took the time to share with me will always jump to the forefront whenever the Carters are referenced.
