Portion of Spring Creek in Centre County dedicated to veterans for fly-fishing

Dr. Gerald F. “Doc” Clair wasn’t a fan of the spotlight. Regardless, his friends, family and fellow veterans gathered Sunday under light rain to honor a longtime dream of his — the dedication of a portion of Spring Creek on his property to veterans for fly-fishing.

The portion of stream, located at 861 Trout Road in Houserville, is about half a mile, and will now be exclusively available to veterans for catch and release fly-fishing. Clair died in 2019 and though this was his dream, he wasn’t a huge fly-fisher. Instead, he was likely inspired by what his daughter describes as a lifelong connection to nature and his service in the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard.

“This is a dream my dad had always, always, always wanted to do,” Amy Bilyeu, Clair’s daughter said. “And to tell you the truth, if my dad was here, he’d probably say no. Because that means being put in the spotlight. My dad did not like everything focused on him. He liked to have everything focused on everybody else.”

The brief ceremony was held on the creek bank after a light lunch was served under a pavilion located just a few steps away. Despite the persistent drizzle, attendees with a connection to the stream shared brief stories, including legendary Pennsylvania fly-fisher Joe Humphreys and state Rep Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte. Members of the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a key factor in the coordination of the event, also shared remarks.

Bilyeu, who now owns the property, said she hopes Sunday’s festivities will be the first of many. She’s looking forward to seeing veterans socialize while fly-fishing in the backyard as her father always intended.

“I told my kids — I have three girls — even when I’m not here anymore, me and my husband, I want what is being done Sunday to keep going,” Bilyeu said. “I want this as a new tradition in honor of my family, my dad.”

The Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited presented a temporary dedication plaque affixed to a rock on the bank, with a permanent plaque set to arrive this spring. The plaque features an engraving of Clair, his wife Susan and one of his common sayings: “Watch where you walk and walk where you watch.”

Tom Garlow, the veterans fishing program coordinator for the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, said there were “no hiccups” when planning Sunday’s events. Garlow joined the project after learning about the idea during a chapter meeting.

“I thought it was great,” Garlow said. “So, I volunteered to help make it a reality.”

Access to the stream will be based on availability for all parties and Garlow said they’re going to operate it using “an honor system.” Interested veterans can reach out to the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited at springcreektu.org or to Garlow at garlowtom@gmail.com.

He’s hoping as many veterans get involved as possible and is trying to spread the word about the availability of the creek.

“By early 2026, we hope to have planned out several events through the course of next year, and have all the invites sent out,” Garlow said.

They hope to partner with groups such as Project Healing Waters, which aims to heal veterans through the art of fly-fishing, along with other programs dedicated to helping veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

As an avid fly-fisherman Garlow said he’s intimately aware of its healing properties.

“It’s my church,” Garlow said. “It’s pretty much the only place I can go where my mind clears. And I don’t think about anything.”

Benninghoff grew up three bends around the corner from the stream in the second-oldest house in Houserville and first met Clair, or “Doc” as he often called him, as a teen.

“I started working at the local hospital at 19, and that’s where I eventually met Dr. Clair,” Benninghoff said. “He was no bigger than I, but he was a force to be reckoned with — he was a smart guy.”

Bennighoff spent time sitting in Clair’s kitchen talking about a multitude of issues, from taxation to nature, and though they didn’t always agree, he always appreciated what Clair had to say. Clair supported his move to politics and the two maintained a friendship for years.

“I like Gerry because he was direct and to the point,” Bennighoff said. “I like the fact that he felt comfortable enough to share his beliefs and his thoughts with me.”

Because he’s not a veteran, Benninghoff won’t fish in that portion of the stream, but plans to fish nearby.

“I will come in through the backside, different places, and have a conversation with Doc periodically,” Benninghoff said. “Until you’ve taken a fly rod and laid a line on the water and have something strike it, that is an experience you’ll never forget. It’s one you want to repeat.”

The Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited also has a Veterans Service Program, which provides fly-fishing experiences for local veterans. The outreach program is powered by volunteers who assist in teaching the necessary skill set. Those interested in volunteering may reach out to Ray Faczan at rfaczan@aol.com.