LEEBY WILLIS/ ROGER WILLIS CAMPS

Samuel “Leeby” Willis

Leeby Willis

4-29-21 interview

of Harkers IslandI

Leeby’s brother Roger, who was 3-4 years older, built and maintained a camp near and to the east of the horse pens.

After the service, Leeby and he would ride motorcycles on Shackleford–and likely, in early 60s, Roger built a camp there.  Roger was a commercial fisherman snd boatbuildere who had married Carol, the daughter of Earl Rose of the Rose Boatworks and they had built a house near the works on HI.  Roger would go to the banks to fish but the family also went there for getaways.  Roger was there “a lot”.

Leeby remembers only a few camps there 1958-60, when he himself began to build a camp there primarily for fishing.

Lebby completed the pilings and floor for a camp but was called up to the Army from 58-60 and he never completed his camp.  He believes someone else likely used the “start” and completed a camp.

He had chosen a spot with a creek or cut into the island that shortenend the distance they would need to carry gear to set nets on the beach.  His camp was located near Roger’s.–Leeby thinks possibly Kenny Willis completed his deserted site.

Leeby never repeated a “start” after returning, and fished with local crews of men from boats. .