Wes Skiles

I recently scanned some of my slides from days gone by and came across this one. I shot it when both of us were involved with the Florida Springs Task Force review of some springs along Econfina Creek running through Bay and Washington counties in the Florida Panhandle.

Unfortunately, I only had a chance to interact with Wes on a few occasions. I first met him when my girlfriend (now wife) and I were doing a photo dive at Ginnie Springs in the early 1980s on the Santa Fe River. Wes worked at Ginnie back then. We had a really pleasant but short conversation with Wesley

Later on, I had the privilege of working with him on the springs task force in 2005 at various founts in central and northern Florida.

His films and photographs have done more to raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of Florida's Springs than anyone I know.

I was sad to learn that he passed away in the Summer of 2010. While he has left this earth, his priceless legacy will live on for eternity.

Thank you, Mr. Skiles, for your outstanding contributions to protecting and preserving our most precious natural resource. You'll never be forgotten for your body of work.