My friend Dave Harper

I'd like to say a few words about my friend Dave Harper. As some of you may know, he fought a battle with Cancer for the past couple of years. He got much better for a time and then the cancer returned, stronger then ever. I saw him about 3 weeks ago, he told me that he was back doing the Chemo treatments but he was doing well, just a little tired from the intense treatments. I never saw him down, he never complained, and was his own happy go lucky self. Well, it turns out he was not doing so well after all. His liver had started to give out, and when they realized what was happening Dave went into the hosptial again. There he went into a coma and never woke up. Dave passed on to greener pastures on October 1, 2010.


The first time I met Dave was back in 2003, at the annual VLS competition  Mastercon. I went to the regristration table, and inquired about where to enter my figures. Dave showed me where to go and what to do. It was only later that he told me that the first time he saw me, he thought "I was a punk ass kid there to destroy stuff". As weird as that sounds, it is a very fond memory. After Mastercon we stayed in touch and he offered for me to sculpt a few figures for Warriors. As a result I would drive up to their home at least once a month to stay for the weekend and talk shop and sculpt figures. This continued for a couple of years until they moved down to Texas, (where ironically I would end up as well) and we became good friends. I would not be where I am today if it was not for Dave, it is as simple as that. There are a lot of things I am wanting to share, but not really sure how to put it into words. Even though we did not speak every week, we always just picked up where we left off the last time. I concider him a close friend and he will be very much missed. See you on the other side D-Man.