THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 20, 1994 TAG: 9407190165
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Leslie Creech hates to read.
``I have to read all day at work,'' explains the Virginia Beach businessman who runs an insurance agency. ``When I go home I want to watch TV.''
Creech, however, read something in December 1991 that got his attention. While Christmas shopping with his wife, Lisa, and daughter, Erin, Creech came across a book called ``How to Keep the Children You Love Off Drugs,'' by Ken Barun. Erin was a third-grader at Red Mill Elementary School at the time. Lisa teaches at the school.
Creech remembers reading that one-third of all fourth-graders nationwide had either been approached to use drugs or had in fact used them, according to a Weekly Reader survey.
``Man, I couldn't believe it. It shook me up,'' he said. Creech turned off the TV for a few nights, read the book and got busy.
A member of the Virginia Bluewater Gamefish Association, Creech decided to turn his favorite sport into a good cause, too. Dr. Jim Wright had been involved in the ``Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs'' program so Creech called him for advice.
``The sport's so expensive and Dr. Wright had been trying to do it all himself,'' said Creech. ``We (VBGA) decided to help out.''
Creech and his 80-member organization have continued the program for the past three years. Most of the deep-sea fishermen own boats or know someone who does.
In May, the group sponsored a qualifying trip for the July junket.
``We had 12 or 14 boats with 59 kids looking for bluefish. The ones who did best got to go this time,'' Creech said.
The VBGA was formed around 1970 but was inactive in the '80s. It's now back in full swing.
``Ray Temple rekindled interest. Larry Davenport, John Oatman, all the guys deserve credit,'' said Creech.
``Getting the kids recognition, the right kind of recognition, positive, is what this is about.'' MEMO: [For a related story, see page 6 of The Beacon for this date.]
ILLUSTRATION: Larry Davenport, first mate on this trip, gets the fishing rigs
ready for use. He also served as tour guide and educator.
by CNB