On November 2nd, 2005, the bokhara world lost one of it's greatest leaders. Darrel passed away, ironically enough, in his loft (probably the place he would of picked anyway). He was 62.

I first met Darrel through my mother back in 1983. Darrel had given me a pair of bokharas in the hopes that I would continue the breed. As college and career took over my life, I had moved on from pigeons. I had lost contact with Darrel until January 2005.

I was thinking about Darrel when I was browsing the internet. I was curious where he was and if I could find him. Actually, Darrel was the easiest person to find - I just Google searched on "Bokhara, Ferguson" - and there he was. We started emailing and it was if not a moment had gone by.

My first email to Darrel went like this:

From: Michael Olsen
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 8:50 AM
Subject: Michael Olsen

Hello Darrel,

This is Michael Olsen from San Jose, California. Are you the Darrel that worked as an IBM CE correct? Has a wife named Meg?

From: Darrel Ferguson
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 5:44 PM
Subject: Michael Olsen

You bet your butt! And I'm every bit as good looking as you remember.

Starting with the last time I saw you give me a detailed accounting of every minute of your life and the rest of your family!

I laugh every time I read his response. Darrel was the funniest man on the planet.

I really have to thank God that I was able to contact him before he had to go. I'm so thankful that I got that last year to say the things that I wanted to say to him.

I am also very thankful that there is something that I can do for him in his absence.

I am grateful to the I.B.T.C for their patience and allowing me to honor Darrel in this way.

P.S. - Darrel emailed me the above picture under the title "Something for your wallet" - :)