George Secor

The moment he accompanied his father to a duck blind in Erie Marsh near East Monroe, Michigan, as a 6-year-old boy, George Secor began a lifelong fascination with waterfowl.

In addition to traveling extensively to hunt throughout his life, Secor became a dedicated waterfowl conservation leader who served on Delta Waterfowl's Board of Directors from 2002 to 2012, including a two-year term as Chairman. Secor died on Jan. 15. He was 87.

"Anything that has to do with waterfowling gets my undivided attention," Secor said during a March 2024 interview. "I truly love everything about waterfowl and waterfowling— calls, shotguns, decoys, all of it."

A research geophysicist turned financial advisor later in his career, Secor enjoyed eight decades as a hunter. The pursuit of ducks and geese took him around the world to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland, Argentina, Nicaragua, Canada, and throughout the United States. He was part of a club on the Great Salt Lake in Utah and particularly enjoyed hunting on Idaho's Snake River.

His burgeoning passion for waterfowl hunting naturally progressed into a strong interest in collecting fine decoys. Starting in the late 1970s, Secor amassed impressive shelves of duck decoys that include examples from master vintage carvers such as Thomas Chambers, John R. Wells, Phineas Reeves, and George Warin.

"Ontario decoys are the primary thrust of my collection—everything from St. Clair Flats birds to eastern Ontario," Secor said in 2024. "Toronto, Hamilton, and Smith Falls are very well represented."

Canada goose decoys crafted by Chambers, Reeves, Ken Anger, and Tom Jones were among Secor's most prized decoys; however, he tabbed two canvasback pairs as favorites.

"I am torn between the Hank Catton canvasback pair and the John Wells canvasback pair," Secor said. "I like both of them very, very much. The Catton birds are very distinctive. They look like they're in motion."

In 2024, Secor decided to bestow a unique gift to support conservation and Delta Waterfowl. He enlisted Copley Fine Art Auctions of Pembroke, Massachusetts, to auction his collection of 80 premium vintage waterfowl decoys. Copley sold the decoys over two auctions, the first in July 2024 and in the recent winter sale on Feb. 21-22.

"I believe wholeheartedly in Delta's mission," Secor said. "I've always liked the idea of an organization that is training students. In order to have waterfowl, you have to nurture them and protect their breeding grounds, and Delta does it. So, I want to support Delta by donating my decoys."

Secor's collection netted a donation of more than $240,000 to Delta Waterfowl.

"Throughout his life, George Secor demonstrated exemplary leadership as a steward of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting traditions in North America," said George Freeman, the current chairman of Delta's Board of Directors.

The top lots at auction were a marvelous Canada goose decoy made by Chambers, which brought $37,200, and the special pair of Catton canvasbacks Secor so admired sold for $24,000.

"We're so grateful George chose to leave an amazing and impactful gift by auctioning his prized decoy collection," said Jeffrey Howell, vice president of major gifts for Delta Waterfowl. "We're celebrating George Secor's life and legacy as a waterfowl conservation leader. He's made a substantial investment in Delta's mission to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting." —Paul Wait