The Wadsworths did not arrive in Alaska as a brand. Gene “Whitey” Wadsworth came north from Idaho, homesteaded at Seldovia around 1945, and fished the Sea Scout. Ray was born there in 1946 and grew up in the boat. He has spent the rest of his life designing and building fishing boats, running them, spotting fish from the air, and inventing gear when the existing gear was not good enough. Doug grew up in that work, and is preparing to build the next hull.
Gene “Whitey” Wadsworth, 1915–2009
Orphaned Idaho farm boy, Navy veteran, then Alaska. Homestead on Seldovia Point in 1945, then two more log cabins on the slough. Fished salmon on the Sea Scout and the Mormon. His 1960 film of the run into Seldovia — later narrated by Whitey himself is on the Stories page. His book is The Tales of “Whitey” Wadsworth (see books). Below are Whitey and Gene pitching fish (with pews), in about 1960.
Ray Wadsworth, born 1946
Born Seldovia. Built and fished the Liahona seiners. Built Order of Magnitude, the turbine-and-jet herring boat that made 50 mph and the December 1996 cover of National Fisherman and many other publications. Founded Kodiak Marine Construction. Invented the TBRS pinbone removal system. National Fisherman Highliner, 1999. Pilot and fish spotter. Still fishes and tenders in Kodiak and Bristol Bay. His book is Airplanes, Boats, and Blessings.
Third generation, grew up in the fishery, still helps work Ray’s 70-foot steel boat in the summer, and is building a dual-purpose boat of his own, for tendering and possibly guest trips on the shoulders and in August–September. He keeps the family record on this site. Pictured below with the 4th generation (son Gene).
Ray owns some of the property on the slough where he grew up from about 4 years old - and where Whitey had his boat grid. Ray and Doug (and various grandkids) recently built a dock and are now adding a sitka spruce cabin/tool shed on it, and of course, a boat grid (he who dies with the most boats, wins).