Drs. Bill Shear & Fred Coyle are arachnological legends, true scholars, kind and wonderful gentlemen. I was fortunate to meet Bill & Fred early in my career … they have been friends and inspirational mentors since this time.

Highlands Spider Course, 1992

I was able to visit with Bill & Fred on a recent trip to Appalachia.

One of the remarkable outcomes of this visit was a donation of reprint libraries – Fred’s spider reprints, Bill’s Opiliones literature (and many specimens!!).  These treasures have found a new home at SDSU. Thank you Bill & Fred, I promise to treat these with care, and when the time comes, pass them to the next arachnological generation.