Springville man receives a sportsman lifetime achievement award March 3

Albert “Bud” Underberg of Springville received a lifetime achievement award from the Erie County Sportsmen Federation March 3.

The following is a letter of nomination submitted by the Springville Field and Stream Club, signed by Carl Ott of Springville:

“On June 6, 1928, New York gained a new citizen and we all gained a great friend. ‘Uncle Bud’ has been an inspiration and great example to everyone who has been lucky enough to know him.

Despite being stricken with polio as a teenager, Uncle Bud has let nothing stop him in doing anything he wanted out of life.

As a young man, he held various jobs and, in the late 50s or early 60s, he became a state rabies control fox trapper. Even with a handicap, he holds two records: most fox taken in a season (264) and not losing a single trap in one season.

He joined our club in 1969 after starting as a hunter safety instructor in 1960. He served a director for numerous years, was president from 1978 - 1979 and received his life membership in 2004. As a safety instructor, he served until his retirement in 1996. Lord knows how many students he taught, but none forgot him.

It was his unique style to capture and keep his students’ and parents’ attention with his stories and life experiences, and none were boring. He was able to tell these stories in a way that young and old alike understood. No one left a meting or a class with him unimpressed. In between these courses he also taught trapping courses, from 1982 - 1996, of which he was extremely qualified. He married Betty Jackson and soon became a father of four great boys, who all loved the outdoors. Gee, I wonder who taught them how to shoot.

In between his many endeavors, he decided he needed an easier way to travel in the winter and proceeded to build a rear engine snowmobile that sure had a strong resemblance to the Ski-Doo Bombardier® that came out a couple years later. Makes you wonder where they got their model from.

To this day, when Uncle Bud comes to a meeting and a view to share, all ears will stretch to hear what he has to say. We are all richer for knowing him, especially me for being able to call him Uncle Bud.”