Binky
05-25-2005, 06:57 PM
Eagle Bill Amato, Turned on the World to Vaporizers
By Don E Wirtshafter
Eagle Bill Amato, born Frank William Wood, passed peacefully in his sleep on
Sunday, May 22, 2005. Born, April 10, 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio, he was 63
at the time of his death. Two months ago he was diagnosed with advanced
cancer. He spent his final days helping ready a new publication of his
autobiography and enjoying time with his friends and family.
A resident of Amsterdam for 12 years, Bill returned to his native Georgia in
the United States so he could die in the company of his family and friends
there. Bill was of the Cherokee Nation in ancestry and spirituality. In
the face of grave illness, Bill kept his determination to die with dignity.
His passing was a lesson to all involved about how to face death without
fear.
Eagle Bill is known for the popularizing of the vaporizer, which he termed a
"safe and effective alternative to smoking." For over a decade he was a
favored exhibit at the Sensi Seed Hash Museum in Amsterdam. The museum
attracts visitors from around the world and Bill enjoyed sharing his new
technologies any willing inhalers.
Bill wore many hats in his life. A native of rural Georgia, Bill's first
venture was doing the local thing, stealing cars. In his autobiography,
10% THC, A Cannabis Tale, Bill describes how a friend turned him on to
marijuana and this changed his perspective on life. From then on he quit
doing stupid, illegal stuff and became a small-time marijuana salesman.
Bill started growing pot in the late 60's. This started with one castaway
seed that sprouted next to his driveway. The plant grew to 9 feet tall
before Bill noticed it and reached 17 feet tall at harvest. Bill had a
new occupation. The next year s Bill planted 18 plants and year by year
his ambitions grew as fast as the weed. At the time he got busted he was
raising exotic birds and horses and living the good life.
After prison, Bill continued to grow for himself and became a recognized
expert in home growing of quality sensimilla. At one point he visited
Amsterdam and made friends with the Ben Dronkers family, proprietors of the
Sensi Seed Company.
Bill's second life conversion came during the weekend that Bill and his
companion Linda visited me at the Ohio Hempery. Linda wanted to pick up
some cloth for sewing. Bill wanted legal advice. I was heading out to
a regional Rainbow Gathering and invited them along. Bill quickly rose
into the spirit of the gathering and has not been the same since. That
weekend we had a long chance to talk about Bill's legal problems.. Bill
was tired of being in the closet. He was determined to shake up the world
about his two issues, native rights and marijuana. He said he did not
care what happened to himself in the process. After hearing of the unsafe
chances Bill was taking in Georgia, my advice was clear, get back to
Amsterdam as quickly as possible. Bill would be safe there..
Thus Eagle Bill was born; a native spirit out change the horrendous laws
against marijuana and hemp. Linda sewed her hemp cloth into a full battle
dress for Bill to wear on his mission. Bill finished his affairs in Georgia
and headed off to Europe.
Bill met a good reception on his return to Amsterdam, especially from the
Dronkers family. This was soon before the 1994 Cannabis Cup. Sensi
Seeds gave Bill space and he blew away the crowd with his new technology.
It remained the most popular exhibit at the Cannabis Cup for 10 years,
earning Bill and Sensi Seeds numerous first place cups. Soon he set up
shop on a daily basis in the Hash Museum and used that platform to turn the
world on to vaporization.
Bill devoted the rest of his life toward making people aware that smoking
herbs like tobacco or cannabis causes inhalation of carbon monoxide and
carcinogenetic tars. These harmful compounds have no known psychoactive
effects. The only reason to burn herb was to generate hot air to
evaporate the aromatic resins from the unburned material. Vaporizers use
hot air only, no smoke and few carcinogens are produced. The result is
a much cleaner high than anything anybody had experienced before.
Bill invented several forms of the vaporizer including the 10 gallon jar
model he displayed at large shows for its dramatic effect. His one piece
glass "shake and bake" pipe was adopted by the Netherlands government as
part of their medical marijuana program. The Eagle Bill vaporizers are
now available at most any pharmacy in Holland.
Two weeks before his passing, Bill's daughter Debby hosted friends and
family for a sendoff to Eagle Bill. It was Bill's wish to have friends
gather while he was still alive, rather than at a funeral he could not
participate in. He hated to miss a party. Several of members of Bill's
Cherokee clan attended as well as guests from as far away as the
Netherlands. We had a blast. Bill was vaporizing and rallied his energies to
tell stories of his illustrious past. This gathering finished, the Eagle was
ready to fly.
Bill is survived by his daughter Debby Wood of Cumming, Georgia; his adopted
son Oswald de Moor of the Netherlands; granddaughter Kimberly Wood of
Marietta, Georgia; former wives and still friends Don Dawn Hughes of
Cumming, GW and Linda and Girlfriend EmmyClark, of Georgia and special
friends Emmea de Moor her son Oscar of the Netherlands and Ravi Dronkers
Dronkers of Amsterdam and Donny Minner of Atlanta .
No funeral service is planned. An Eagle Bill Wake and Bake is planned
for Sunday, May 30, 2005 at the Sensi Seed Hash Museum at 4:20 pm.
Condolences to the family should be sent to:
Debby Wood
5360 Cantrell Circle
Cumming, GA GA 30041
Or online @ www.eaglebill.com
The family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions can be sent to:
Common Sense for Drug Policy
1377-C Spencer Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17603 USA
www.cdsp.org
By Don E Wirtshafter
Eagle Bill Amato, born Frank William Wood, passed peacefully in his sleep on
Sunday, May 22, 2005. Born, April 10, 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio, he was 63
at the time of his death. Two months ago he was diagnosed with advanced
cancer. He spent his final days helping ready a new publication of his
autobiography and enjoying time with his friends and family.
A resident of Amsterdam for 12 years, Bill returned to his native Georgia in
the United States so he could die in the company of his family and friends
there. Bill was of the Cherokee Nation in ancestry and spirituality. In
the face of grave illness, Bill kept his determination to die with dignity.
His passing was a lesson to all involved about how to face death without
fear.
Eagle Bill is known for the popularizing of the vaporizer, which he termed a
"safe and effective alternative to smoking." For over a decade he was a
favored exhibit at the Sensi Seed Hash Museum in Amsterdam. The museum
attracts visitors from around the world and Bill enjoyed sharing his new
technologies any willing inhalers.
Bill wore many hats in his life. A native of rural Georgia, Bill's first
venture was doing the local thing, stealing cars. In his autobiography,
10% THC, A Cannabis Tale, Bill describes how a friend turned him on to
marijuana and this changed his perspective on life. From then on he quit
doing stupid, illegal stuff and became a small-time marijuana salesman.
Bill started growing pot in the late 60's. This started with one castaway
seed that sprouted next to his driveway. The plant grew to 9 feet tall
before Bill noticed it and reached 17 feet tall at harvest. Bill had a
new occupation. The next year s Bill planted 18 plants and year by year
his ambitions grew as fast as the weed. At the time he got busted he was
raising exotic birds and horses and living the good life.
After prison, Bill continued to grow for himself and became a recognized
expert in home growing of quality sensimilla. At one point he visited
Amsterdam and made friends with the Ben Dronkers family, proprietors of the
Sensi Seed Company.
Bill's second life conversion came during the weekend that Bill and his
companion Linda visited me at the Ohio Hempery. Linda wanted to pick up
some cloth for sewing. Bill wanted legal advice. I was heading out to
a regional Rainbow Gathering and invited them along. Bill quickly rose
into the spirit of the gathering and has not been the same since. That
weekend we had a long chance to talk about Bill's legal problems.. Bill
was tired of being in the closet. He was determined to shake up the world
about his two issues, native rights and marijuana. He said he did not
care what happened to himself in the process. After hearing of the unsafe
chances Bill was taking in Georgia, my advice was clear, get back to
Amsterdam as quickly as possible. Bill would be safe there..
Thus Eagle Bill was born; a native spirit out change the horrendous laws
against marijuana and hemp. Linda sewed her hemp cloth into a full battle
dress for Bill to wear on his mission. Bill finished his affairs in Georgia
and headed off to Europe.
Bill met a good reception on his return to Amsterdam, especially from the
Dronkers family. This was soon before the 1994 Cannabis Cup. Sensi
Seeds gave Bill space and he blew away the crowd with his new technology.
It remained the most popular exhibit at the Cannabis Cup for 10 years,
earning Bill and Sensi Seeds numerous first place cups. Soon he set up
shop on a daily basis in the Hash Museum and used that platform to turn the
world on to vaporization.
Bill devoted the rest of his life toward making people aware that smoking
herbs like tobacco or cannabis causes inhalation of carbon monoxide and
carcinogenetic tars. These harmful compounds have no known psychoactive
effects. The only reason to burn herb was to generate hot air to
evaporate the aromatic resins from the unburned material. Vaporizers use
hot air only, no smoke and few carcinogens are produced. The result is
a much cleaner high than anything anybody had experienced before.
Bill invented several forms of the vaporizer including the 10 gallon jar
model he displayed at large shows for its dramatic effect. His one piece
glass "shake and bake" pipe was adopted by the Netherlands government as
part of their medical marijuana program. The Eagle Bill vaporizers are
now available at most any pharmacy in Holland.
Two weeks before his passing, Bill's daughter Debby hosted friends and
family for a sendoff to Eagle Bill. It was Bill's wish to have friends
gather while he was still alive, rather than at a funeral he could not
participate in. He hated to miss a party. Several of members of Bill's
Cherokee clan attended as well as guests from as far away as the
Netherlands. We had a blast. Bill was vaporizing and rallied his energies to
tell stories of his illustrious past. This gathering finished, the Eagle was
ready to fly.
Bill is survived by his daughter Debby Wood of Cumming, Georgia; his adopted
son Oswald de Moor of the Netherlands; granddaughter Kimberly Wood of
Marietta, Georgia; former wives and still friends Don Dawn Hughes of
Cumming, GW and Linda and Girlfriend EmmyClark, of Georgia and special
friends Emmea de Moor her son Oscar of the Netherlands and Ravi Dronkers
Dronkers of Amsterdam and Donny Minner of Atlanta .
No funeral service is planned. An Eagle Bill Wake and Bake is planned
for Sunday, May 30, 2005 at the Sensi Seed Hash Museum at 4:20 pm.
Condolences to the family should be sent to:
Debby Wood
5360 Cantrell Circle
Cumming, GA GA 30041
Or online @ www.eaglebill.com
The family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions can be sent to:
Common Sense for Drug Policy
1377-C Spencer Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17603 USA
www.cdsp.org