CHRIS PAGE A legend among fishing guides who also made a lasting impression on middle school students in Port Aransas, Chris (Ernest Henderson) Page Jr. died on his 70th birthday Friday, Oct. 12, 2007.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Fred Rhodes Memorial Pavilion at Roberts Point Park.

Page had been a fixture on the Port Aransas waterfront since 1960 when he left a job teaching biology in Calallen. By 1965, Page's interest in fishing had become great enough that he took a job with Port Aransas ISD, teaching science to fifth- through eighth-graders. Before moving here permanently, Page's family spent their summers in a Church Street cottage that belonged to the late Elda Mae Roberts. Page worked during the summer months for Woody Ousley, then the owner of Woody's Boat Basin, known as "The Outboard Inn."

In an interview for the South Jetty when he was named to the Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc. Hall of Fame in 2006, Page said, "In the summer of 1969, Doyle Marek got me my first captain's job working for Bill Whitten."

The Whitten crew, with Page at the helm, won the Deep Sea Roundup in 1973.

"He allowed me to hire some good mates: Harold Reeves, Jim Graves and Bill Mathews, to name a few. After Whitten retired in the '80s, I ran several other sportfishing boats, but it was a different ball game."

Page has been associated with Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc. for many years. His daughter, Leslie McBee, was the first winner of the Boatmen's scholarship.

Page himself was president of Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc. in 1985, when the organization staged the 50th Deep Sea Roundup.

When he wasn't fishing, Page was a science teacher and principal at Brundrett Middle School. He worked for the Port Aransas Independent School District for 27 years before retiring.

He also served on the Port Aransas City Council and as mayor pro-tem.

Page was born on Oct. 12, 1937, in Corpus Christi to Ernest H. and Frances Page.

He is survived by his former wife and mother of his children, Jo Ann Page of Port Aransas; a son, John C. Page of San Antonio; a daughter, Leslie C. McBee of Euless; a brother, Robert D. Page of Alvin; three grandchildren, Nicole Page, Tyler Page and Kevin McBee and one great-grandchild, Bryce Aiden Page.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made by donations to the Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc. Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 501, Port Aransas, TX 78373.