It was good to see Bill Vetter's name mentioned. I first met Bill in about '66 or "67 and he owned several Hurlows at that time. Bill V. was in his late 30's/early 40's ( I think) at that time and was employed as a photographer in some branch of the govt. in D.C. He was probably the nicest person I ever met thru cycling. Funny, bright, modest, personable,approachable, a smart mechanic and a strong rider. Bill V. was a good friend and cycling buddy of Sam Cotten and I was a complete bike neophyte. ( riding a Gitane Interclub ) Even though I knew nothing about cycling Bill and Sam kindly invited me to do a Richmond/Williamsburg/Richmond century with them and it was a moment of epiphany for me. Thanks to them, right out of the gate I learned the right ways to ride in a group and just riding in general. I learned to appreciate the rewards of riding with knowledgable riders.This has become especially significant to me in the intervening years as I frequently
ride with people who are pretty much clueless.
Bill and Sam also taught me the importance of Bill Hurlow in the ranks of builders, I was able to see and touch Bill's work frequently and I have continued to carry the torch in the intervening years. In the early 70's I acquired two Hurlows that I still have. One has been resto-modified and the other is in process.
Vetter married Nan Vetter sometime in the 70' and they did a lot of touring and Bill's pics and stories often showed up in bike mags. Tragically, Bill was killed in an auto accident in the late 70's or early 80's.
My friend Aaron Dykstra of Six Eleven Bicycle Co. won the Rookie of the Year award at this year's NAHBS and I have taken the time to talk Hurlow to him and let him see Bill's work with the paint off. Aaron combines a fine sense of inventive aesthetics, an awareness of design history with superior craftsmanship in his frames and it is with youngsters like him that the tradition continues.
Dick Howard
Salem, Virginia
U S of A