James Von Ceil Bleess
My wife and I knew Terry from the first time he set up in the motel scene at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. At that show, much of his inventory was Graves Mountain Rutile and Lapis. He had done very well at both localities in recent collecting trips. These were great classic specimens available in quantity. A collector could choose between groups or big singles. There had been nothing like this for a generation. This would be Terry's forte, setting out assortments of specimens from famous classic localities, long unproductive.
Terry was a very quiet guy, not one to begin a conversation with a stranger, certainly not talkative. Engaging yes, but no chatter. Actually, he seemed rather to himself. The question becomes, how does a very casual guy become a major mineral dealer and be quiet and retiring, not given to talk above the crowd and never to call a passerby into his dealing space? As I knew him these years I can say he expanded his business one customer at a time one sale at a time, one deal at a time for after the first deal, that customer hurried back. Word of mouth is a well know force in the mineral hobby and always worked in Terry's favor. Later it became a mantra; check Terry first to see what is new because whatever it is, it will be good and he will be informative and forthright.
Fair and polite, kind and calm and always willing to share mineral facts and lore with anyone, yet without a doubt, that one had to initiate the conversation. Terry was offered a look into an amethyst locality in Georgia.
Largely through Terry's mining expertise and growing business exposure that look in became the world famous Jackson Cross Roads amethyst locality.
Here Terry could really shine. Jackson's Crossroads locality would prove to be a top producer over many years. The work was strenuous, backbreaking even, yet the reward was there for the effort. This would be close to Terry's bread and butter effort. At about the same time Terry began to explore the Adams farm near Hiddenite, North Carolina. With customary zeal he found this very rare spodumene variety, within walking distance of the place where the mining stopped in 1926. This effort was on and off but profitable. Arguably, the finest single crystal of Hiddenite was mined by Terry along with many other super fine crystals.
Also occurring near the town of Hiddenite were emerald crystals, some of remarkable length and color. Terry mined many large excellent North American Emeralds. Together, specimens of these minerals will grace museum and collector displays for generations to come because of Terry's effort and skill.
Consider for a few years at Terry's booth Citrine from North Carolina was almost a common mineral. Before Terry, yellow quartz was very difficult to acquire. Next year, collectors shouldn't expect to have near the selection. Terry is gone, his expertise is gone and the all to brief experience of buying fine specimens from old North Carolina localities will no longer exist. Such is the rhythm of the hobby. Unfortunately the field and the players change, now and then abruptly.
Do not look for a replacement. We, each of us, are too unique for that. We have lost very much. A great dealer, collector, miner, associate and friend is gone. There is no one to step up. No one can fill this void.
Goodbye my friend. An entire profession and hobby loved you and will miss you greatly.
Godspeed!
