Casting Legend Cliff Netherton Dies

Casting legend Cliff Netherton, who celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year, died at his Virginia home on December 5. An email from the American Casting Association, of which he was once president, summed up Netherton’s accompishments and contributions to the sport of competitive casting this way:
“Cliff was the author of The History of the Sport of Casting, Early Times and The History of the Sport of Casting, Golden Years. He enjoyed a successful career as a physical education instructor and coach. He taught individuals, not only in school groups, but also in fishing schools, special fishing clinics, Boy Scout jamborees, and instructors’ workshops. Cliff designed and actively promoted the Certified Casting Instructor’s Program for the ACA. Over the years, he taught casting to thousands of individuals.
Cliff served as President of the ACA, Executive Secretary of the International Casting Federation (ICF), competed in many National Tournaments and was a past member of the ACA/ICF All American Team, participating in three ICF World Casting Championships. In 1973, Cliff was unanimously elected into the ACA Casting Hall of Fame.”

“Working closely with Myron Gregory, Cliff founded the International Casting Federation (ICF) in the mid 50’s and also got the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to recognize the sport of casting in 1958. During his term as ICF Executive Secretary, Cliff earned recognition and membership for ICF as the world governing body for Casting sport in the General Assembly of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
Through this GAISF membership, Cliff later followed the development of the World Games (for non-Olympic sports) and made many ‘perfect casts’ to insure that Casting would become one of the founding, participating sports at the first World Games in Santa Clara, CA in 1981. Casting has since participated in 1985, 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2005.
ACA Director-at-Large Chris Korich reported on Cliff scoring ‘A Perfect’ 100th birthday back in May of 2010 and shared that Cliff, along with Jean Netherton, accompanied and supported Steve Rajeff and many other ACA casters to their first ICF World Casting Championships. He added they were, ‘Always present to cheer our successes and support our best efforts, personally, I can say that Cliff and Jean have made the single biggest difference in my casting life.'”
(Thanks to Gary Eaton for this story.)