A New Mexico icon in the outdoor sports, Bob Gerding passed away on 18 December after a long bout with cancer. He was born in Denver, but the family moved to New Mexico in the mid-1940s. He attended Highland High School and graduated with a degree in business management from the University of New Mexico and in 2007 was elected to the Anderson School of Management Hall of Fame. After over twenty years’ experience in retail sales for Charlie’s Sporting Goods and others in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bob launched Bob Gerding’s Outdoor Adventure to help clients find just the right outdoor adventure for them. Due to his poor health, Bob decided to cancel the 2014 Bob Gerding’s Outdoor Adventures Hunting and Fishing Show in late November.
Bob is also widely known as “New Mexico’s Ambassador to the Outdoors.” Gerding hosted the weekly hunting and fishing program, “WILD New Mexico,” which aired on KASA-TV Channel 2, and KRQE-TV, Channel 13. His weekly fishing reports and tips were part of the 94-Rock morning radio program for years when it was hosted by T.J. Trout. Bob is also the author of the Classic A Practical Guide to Fly Tying which has been distributed in all fifty states and Europe. Bob also co-authored Troubleshooting The Trout with University of New Mexico professor Bill Black. Gerding is survived by his wife of 54 years, Harriet Loken Gerding; sons Michael of Denver and Patrick of Seattle.