Producer: Ed Jahn Videographer/Editor: Nick Fisher Additional Crew: Devan Schwartz
Special Thanks: Oregon Historical Society, Winding Waters Rafting, Enterprise, Oregon, Ian McClusky, NW Documentary Arts and June Jennings
Oregon river legend, Haldene "Buzz" Holmstrom, was the first person to run the entire length of the Green and Colorado rivers, including through the Grand Canyon. He died mysteriously from a gunshot while rafting the grand Ronde.
Buzz Holmstrom, the first person to boat solo through the Grand Canyon
River guide and author Vince Welch retired from commercial river running to write the story of Buzz's life. He returns to Buzz's roots in Coquille to find the story of a local farm boy who grew famous in the 1930's, only to disappear from the public consciousness in latter decades.
Vince Welch, author of The Doing of The Thing, looks at pictures with June Jennings, Holmstrom's niece.
Vince Welch and his team and guests handle rafting and boating trips very differently these days.
Resources and Information
More on Buzz Holmstrom by author Vince Welch: