He was a renowned novelist and outdoor writer, an eminent member of the bench and bar, and a skilled fly fisherman. Author of 11 books (and a 12th posthumous book, Traver on Fishing) and numerous stories, including Anatomy of a Murder, a Michigan Supreme Court Justice who wrote over 100 finely crafted opinions, and self‑proclaimed “U.P. Cribbage Champ,” John Voelker made many contributions that live on today. The Foundation’s mission is to pay tribute to John Voelker, the ideals for which he stood, and the values that his life and writings exemplified.
John declared that the first thing we should do is establish a Native American Scholarship. Why? “Let ’em read my book!,” he proclaimed, pointing to Laughing Whitefish. That historical novel describes a Chippewa woman’s 19th century fight for justice — all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court. So, we republished Laughing Whitefish in a limited edition of 300, each of which John signed. Foundation Members’ contributions have helped 30 Native American scholars from Michigan and Wisconsin tribes to achieve the dream of a legal education.
The Robert Traver Fly Fishing Writing Award was first presented in 1994. Writers from around the globe competed, and the winning submission was illustrated and published in Fly Rod and Reel.
Starting with the 2019 Traver Award, the winning entry will be published in The American Flyfisher – Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing
So far 22 awards have been made, currently in the amount of $2,500, to authors who have gone on to distinguish themselves in this field. Our late Board member, Charles Kuralt, described this as the most prestigious outdoor writing award in the nation.
Nick Lyons, co-founder of the Traver Award wrote:
The Foundation has worked with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the City of Ishpeming, Trout Unlimited, and the Anglers of the Au Sable to encourage a love of flyfishing and “the environs where trout are found.”
Please consider a tax‑deductible subscription to our limited, signed editions of John’s Trout Madness.
As a non‑profit, tax‑exempt 501(c)(3) Foundation, we encourage you to become an active Member who: