The greatest legacy you can leave is positive social change that continues beyond your involvement. This is exemplified by the Grand River Expedition – Verlen Kruger’s legacy to the people of the Grand River Watershed.

Verlen began life as a sharecropper’s son in 1922, and went on to serve as a tank driver, an Army pilot, then landed with his wife and children in Lansing, Michigan. At age 41 he was introduced to canoeing and never looked back. In 1990 Verlen founded the Grand River Expedition and was involved in Grand River Expedition 2000. After paddling more than 100,000 miles (30,000 more than the next highest record), Verlen passed away in 2004. A statue honoring his life was recently unveiled in Portland, Michigan.

Verlen Kruger is legend in the paddling world, holding at least 10 world records. While I didn’t have a chance to meet the man, Mike Smith, friend of Verlan and collaborator and Chair of the 2000 Expedition, tells me that Verlen’s stature drew paddlers to the Expedition as “everyone wanted to paddle with or meet their hero”. The Expedition was a way for people to share 13 days of camping, stories, and canoeing with Verlen. This was how Mike met him in 1990, “the beginning of our friendship that lasted until the day he passed away.”

Mike will paddle his solo “Sea Wind” canoe in this year’s Expedition, a boat designed by Verlan and built by Mike, Verlan, and friends.