Gabe Dickens - Rest in Peace - Good Friend

One of the stalwarts of the Deep South Star Gaze from the very beginning back in 1983 passed away earlier today.  Gabe, a retired fireman from Gulfport, MS was a rock.  Good natured and hard to anger, but look out if you did.  The Deep South relied on Gabe.  For many years he was our Sergeant at Arms, Gabe the Enforcer if you will.  He was a good astronomer with simple equipment.  Ask someone about Gabe's "Hiss" Mount, an innertube under the rocker box of a dobsonian - let a little air out at a time and it would track the stars.  For a dew shield, Gabe would only use a modified plastic Mountain Dew bottle.  Gabe was cool, he was uninhibited, he was our oak tree.

In the end diabetes and Parkinson's did him in but Gabe lives on, we will never forget him.  He was and is and will remain the Spirit of the Deep South Star Gaze!