KENNEBUNK, Maine - Robert O. E. Elliot, 99, died early Sunday morning, July 28, 2002, at his residence in Kennebunk. He was born in Hyde Park, Mass. [December 20, 1902], and spent a good part of his youth in Woolwich, Me. Moving to Hampton, N.H., he graduated from Hampton Academy [Class of 1920] and returned to Boston University to study journalism. In 1925, he married Annie Colwell of Hyde Park, Mass. and they moved to Hampton, where he worked on Hampton Union newspaper, the Boston Herald-Traveler and The Portsmouth Herald.

While in N.H., he wrote a rod and gun column for the Portsmouth Herald and wrote fish and game publicity for the State of New Hampshire. In 1946, he moved his family to Augusta, Me., and took a position as Director of Recreational Promotion for the Maine Development Commission. He worked for several state of Maine agencies, including Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, retiring in 1971 as Director for Travel and Tourism for the Maine Department of Economic Development.

After his retirement, Mr. Elliot remained active promoting Travel and Tourism for the New England Camping and Travel Association and the Heritage Trail Foundation, as well as performing public relations for a firm which imported Hardy fishing tackle.

Through all these years, Mr. Elliot continued as a prolific free-lance writer, photojournalist and author. He published a wide variety of books, including: "The Eastern Brook Trout", "All about Trout", "Bass Fishing in New England", "Salmon Fishing in New England", "Trout from Maine to California", and "The Making of an Angler". He also had over 100 articles and stories appear in national publications such as Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, True, Argosy, Fur Fish and Game and a host of others. He served as Contributing Editor to Field and Stream for several years. He also contributed to three Hunting and Fishing Encyclopedias.

Mr. Elliot was a lifetime member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, serving on the Board of Directors for that organization. He is a past Master of the Augusta Lodge #141 AF&AM, and a member of the Kora Temple Shriners in Lewiston. He was also a member of the Maine Association of Retirees. He received the "Silver Trout" award from the Trout Unlimited Organization.

Bob's love of fishing and Maine's outdoors was only surpassed by his love and devotion to his wife and family. He spent many happy hours in the field pursuing his passions, fly fishing, hunting upland birds and golfing.

A son, Harvey Elliot, and brothers John and Ben, two sisters, Alice and Mae, predeceased him. .Surviving are his loving wife of 77 years, Annie of Kennebunk, Me.; daughter Mary Ann Rico and her husband Enrique of Houston, Texas; two sons, Neil Elliot of McMinnville, Oregon, and Dale Elliot of Mount Vernon, Me.; one brother, Bill Elliot and his wife Alzena of Hampton, N.H.; twelve grandchildren; twenty-two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

ELLIOT - Robert O. E. Elliot, 99, died Sunday morning, July 28, 2002 at home in Kennebunk, Maine. A graveside committal will be held at 2 p.m. on August 17 at Pine Grove Cemetery in Belgrade. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.