Collector's favorite musher is 5-time champ

March 18, 2005

CASEY RESSLER/Frontiersman Valley Life Editor

Paul Reed has collected halfway award silver ingots for years, but ironically, his favorite musher is someone who has never won the prize.

Reed said his favorite musher is Rick Swenson, the five-time champion who coincidentally has never received either the Alascom (1980-1993) or the GCI (1993 to present) Halfway Award.

"I just think Rick is the cat's meow," Reed said. "One year, I was broadcasting the restart for KMBQ and I was wandering around the area, and I was wearing a fluorescent orange hunter's coat. Rick walked up and said, 'Maybe I should sign this for you so it's not so damn bright.' I just stood there, amazed. I was in awe. I still kick myself for not engaging him in a conversation.

"I've always respected Rick for the way he handles his dogs, and I love his competitive spirit," Reed said.

Reed has been on plenty of adventures, but the Iditarod still captures his imagination. As a member of the U.S. Air Force, the Vietnam veteran saw a film in 1978 about Alaska. He talked his wife into moving, and they never have left. He retired from the Air Force, but he hasn't retired from another passion - fishing.

For the last 18 years, he has been on KMBQ 99.7 in the summer, giving everyone fishing reports as the "Master Angler." His love of Alaska is apparent, and his passion for the Iditarod is just as intense.

"One year I was on the trail, and Jeff King came by and asked me to stand on his snow hook while he put booties on his team. We have it on video, and you can hear me giggling like a little kid in a candy store," Reed said.

Reed is always looking to add to his collection. If people know where he can find Larry "Cowboy" Smith, they can e-mail Reed at cougar@mtaonline.net.

Reed is also trying to get ingots from Eep Anderson and Susan Butcher to help complete his collection.