Corky Carroll Interview Temporarily Postponed:

Due the recent loss of Mike Haley, John Grey, and Bill Holden, the interview will be temporarily postponed out of respect. Many sights have been posting this article and out of respect for their contributions to surfing, I will do the same.

'A Toast to Three O.C. Surfing Legends' by Corky Carroll as published in OC Register.

http://www.ocregister.com/column/one-mike-bill-1982125-john-surfers


"Before I start this week's column let me say that I wish I was writing about something else other than what I am this week. Something happy and funny. Unfortunately this is NOT one of those columns.

Orange County surfing was hit with the deaths of three of its surfing legends all in a three-week span ending with Super Bowl Sunday. Mike Haley, John Grey and lastly the amazing Bill Holden. I really don't like reporting on this kind of stuff but in this case I felt I had to.

Mike Haley was United States Surfing Champion in 1960. He is the younger brother of Jack Haley, who was champion in 1959 and owner of Captain Jack's Restaurant in Sunset Beach. Mike grew up in Seal Beach and went to High School in Huntington Beach.

He was one of the great surfers of the 1960s. He was also one of the more stylish dudes around and, along with his first wife, Sherry, opened one of the most successful "hip" clothing boutiques in Laguna Beach during the mid/late 60s cultural revolution. Mike was one of those dudes that had a lot to do with putting the "love" in the "summer of love."

Mike was also a well-respected big wave surfer during the early days of big wave riding on the famous "north shore" of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. He was involved with the development of the first motorized surfboards and also an innovator during the shortboard transition years. This guy was most definitely one of the greatest Orange County surfers ever.

Steve Pezman of Surfers Journal emailed me that he got word of Mike being diagnosed with liver cancer and made the trip up to Mike's home in Northern California to visit him along with fellow O.C. surf great Richard Chew and longtime friend and surf historian Roy Crump. Mike died two weeks after the diagnosis at 64 years old.

A week later we lost the silky smooth stylemaster John Grey. John was not as famous as either Mike Haley or Bill Holden but was one of the most respected local surfers also of the 1950s and 60s. John is one of the guys that I used to try to copy my surfing style after. A goofy-foot, like myself, he would surf the beach break near my house in Surfside often.

Also an expert snow skier John spent the last part of his life in the mountains of Colorado around the Aspen area. It was in Aspen that he passed away. The exact cause has yet to be determined. John was in his late 60s.

Then Bill Holden. While loading up his car with goodies and getting ready for a big Super Bowl party Bill suddenly had a massive heart attack. He was 78 and had been a mainstay in Orange County surfing since as early as the late 1940s.

One of the first window stickers that I ever remember was the old Surfboards by Holden one. Bill was a master surfboard shaper and innovator who had a hand in the transitions from balsawood to foam and from long to short and back to long again.

He was the first surfboard builder inducted into the International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame when it started in the year 2000. As much for his surfboard building accomplishments Bill was known for being one of the most stoked and happy dudes you could ever want to meet. I did not know him all that well, but every time I saw him he made me feel like we were old and best friends and it made me happy to be around him. He was one of those people who just give out a light and a warmth that makes you smile. Really a great man and a great person.

So the other afternoon I was sitting on my deck with my pal the "Iguana." The Iguana is another old-time Orange County surf legends and friend of the three departed surfers that I have just told you about. We were lamenting our friends and feeling glad that it wasn't one of us and decided to toast them at sunset.

It turned out to be the best "green flash" of the year so far. That means good luck. We clanged our glasses and gave an adios to Mike, John and Bill and gave thanks for the good luck that we were both still above water and able to surf one more day.

Appreciate life, my friends."