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Low Res, 1.88 MB Published in the United States of America 2019 • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 2 AMPHIBIAN & REPTILE CONSERVATION A Tribute to William R. Branch (1946–2018) amphibian-reptile-conservation.org Amphib. Reptile Conserv. September 2019 | Volume 13 | Number 2 | e186 ISSN: 1083-446X i eISSN: 1525-9153 Cover photo legend, in Bill’s own words: This remains one of my favourite shots, although it is an old slide and this is the best digital scan I have of it (but of woefully low res). It was taken about 25+ years ago, and I was driving to work when I saw these flowers in bloom beside Port Elizabeth airport. I had an image of a cobra rearing in front of them, the Port Elizabeth Snake Park had just got a beautiful Cape Cobra in from the Northern Cape, and so I asked Rob Hall to come and help manipulate the snake. I didn't have a long lens and so had to lie on my belly with a 55mm Nikkon with 1.4 convertor. I used in-fill flash, held by Rob about 1m away and to soften the deep shadow under the snake's belly. I kept shuffling forward to get a more dramatic pose and had taken several shots when the snake disappeared from the viewfinder. Rob was standing to the side holding the flash and also a snake stick to ward off the cobra. When the snake disappeared I instinctively rolled back, heard Rob shout "Shit, that was fast!", and the snake bit the camera body about 6cm from my shutter finger. A bead of venom glistened on the camera body. Looking through the lens I had lost all sense of distance and simply got too close to the snake. It remains the closest I've come to a snakebite. Technically the picture works because the snake is alert but its mouth is shut and it is not looking straight at the camera. It therefore doesn't appear too threatening, allowing viewers to admire what remains my favourite snake. Bill Branch Amphib. Reptile Conserv. ii September 2019 | Volume 13 | Number 2 | e186 Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 13(2) [Special Section]: i–xxix (e186). Compilation of personal tributes to William Roy Branch (1946–2018): a loving husband and father, a good friend, and a mentor 1,*Werner Conradie, 2Michael L. Grieneisen, and 3Craig L. Hassapakis (Editors) 1Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013, SOUTH AFRICA 2School of Natural Resource Management, George Campus, Nelson Mandela University, George 6530, SOUTH AFRICA 2Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA 3Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (amphibian-reptile-conservation.org) and Amphibian Conservation Research Center and Laboratory (ACRCL), 12180 South 300 East, Draper, Utah 84020-1433, USA Abstract.—Personal contributions to William “Bill” Roy Branch by famly members and colleagues: Colin Tilbury, Alan Channing, Dot Hall (Pitman, Basson), Rick Shine, James B. Murphy, Luke Verburgt, Julian Bayliss, Michael F. Bates, Pedro Vaz Pinto, Kirsty Kyle, Krystal Tolley, Mzi Mahola, Brian J. Huntley, Roger Bills, Johan Marais, Mark-Oliver Rödel, Paul H. Skelton, Aaron M. Bauer, Stephen Spawls, Andrew Turner, Ernst H.W. Baard, Amber Jackson, Margaretha Hofmeyr, Jens Reissig, Harold Braack, Atherton de Villiers, Marius Burger, Mike Raath, Werner Conradie, and Martin J. Whiting. Keywords. Influence, contributions, farewell, African herpetology, history, researcher Citation: Conradie W, Grieneisen ML, Hassapakis CL (Editors). 2019. Compilation of personal tributes to William Roy Branch (1946–2018): a loving husband and father, a good friend, and a mentor. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13(2) [Special Section]: i–xxix (e186). Copyright: © 2019 Conradie et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License [Attribu- tion 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/], which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The official and authorized publication credit sources, which will be duly enforced, are as follows: official journal title Amphibian & Reptile Conservation; official journal website: amphibian-reptile-conservation.org. Received: 5 August 2019; Accepted: 5 August 2019; Published: 10 September 2019 On 14 October 2018, William Roy Branch, or simply but we couldn’t resist. Bill as he was known to most, passed away after a short Bill was a family man who loved and was so proud of struggle with motor neuron disease. He was not only his three sons. When we married his generous heart took one of South Africa’s most well-known and respected on my children and grandchildren with the same warmth. herpetologists, but also a dedicated husband, a father, a Science was his passion which he loved to share. Bill in good friend, and a mentor to so many of us. We have lecture mode could not be halted. His sense of humour taken this opportunity to collate personal tributes from was legendry. A kind, gentle man but also a humble family, friends, and colleagues, to showcase the influence man. He never boasted of his achievements. In his later Bill had on our lives and careers. years, these qualities made him so popular with National Geographic travellers. Tributes from family members A man of huge intellect with a broad knowledge of all things. A kind, generous, and wonderful man. Truly a Donvé Branch (Bill’s wife) real mensch. I was so proud to be his wife. He is greatly Bill was an amazing man with a huge passion for life. missed. When we married I introduced Bill to the world of pots and potters, and he introduced me to the world of James Vlok (Bill’s stepson) reptiles and herpetologists. Very different worlds, but Bill Branch was a man of passion for his craft and they became one we both loved. Over the years I was natural science. He was an adventurer and an explorer; privileged to meet and host many of you. If I sometimes a man who inspired motivation and discovery of the looked stunned when you arrived at our door, please world around us. He could keep you interested with a forgive me. Bill very often failed to tell me we would keen knowledge and a sense of humour that would have be having a guest. Together we started to collect art, you laughing and learning. He will be sorely missed by succulents, and books. None of which we could afford, family and colleagues alike. Correspondence. * [email protected] Amphib. Reptile Conserv. i September 2019 | Volume 13 | Number 2 | e186 Tributes to William Roy Branch (1946–2018) a better position to help me. Christian Vlok (Donvé’s grandson) I wrote to Bill and offered to assist with any affairs of Gumps told me so many interesting stories about his the herpetological kind from Zululand. Bill wrote back trips. He gave me my first Masai machete and a lizard. I immediately, expressing a keen interest in the snakebite knew I could ask him anything and he would know the data and also wondering if I might be able to collect some answer. I will miss my Grandpa Gumps so much. of the local Pelusios for karyotyping. We met for the first time a few months later. Bill was visiting Durban, Analeah Vlok (Donvé’s granddaughter) and Sarah and I arranged to meet him at the British I loved Gumps because he taught me so many things. Middle East Indian Sporting and Diners’ Club near the He taught me which plants I can or can't eat, and about Greyville race course, to sample the local curries. A truly snakes and frogs, which I love. I miss him and every time memorable evening (I still have intermittent diarrhoea). I I go into his room I think of him. think that I may also have introduced Bill to the pleasures of a good red wine―or was it vice versa? Jenny Vlok (stepdaughter-in-law) And so began a friendship which lasted nearly 40 Bill, to look at all things herpetological on a daily basis years. and know that I can't ask you any more questions about Driven with a boundless energy and an amazing it, fills my heart with such sadness. You were so patient zest for life, sharp wit, wry humour, and capacity for in your explanations, always interesting and funny. With sharing, Bill attracted people to him. Whether by active your mismatched socks and wild hair, your fancy salads involvement or by association, he had a lasting impact and poor man's capers, hilarious Easter egg hunts with on all those who encountered him. Bill adored the simple a difference, cheeky Halloween surprises and Christmas things in life, and lived his life simply. He loved the gifting, not only were you an Amazing scientist but also camping and field trips that were an integral part of his an inspiration, and a motivator, allowing my children work and which provided him with so much satisfaction. to be knowledge bearers and researchers in their own An avid angler since childhood, he had pulled many a environment. We love you Dear Bill, and will miss you carp from the rivers and dams of the Eastern Cape. Bill’s always. laboratory and office in the Port Elizabeth Museum was always a wondrous place to visit. Beyond the entrance Nicole Kingston (Bill’s stepdaughter) door which was plastered with a selection of humorous Bill was a rock, a voice of reason, and a safe place and “Bill” references, a mixture of chaos and creativity, so loved. I am so truly privileged to have known him, preserved snakes and lizards in piles, the air reeking and am a better person for it.
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