SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Bass fishing experienced a historical night Thursday that left a lot of people in the industry happy.
After a decades-long search, the doors of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF) opened at an actual, spectacular facility. Along with the five inductees of the 2017 class – Shaw Grigsby, Bob Sealy, Morris Sheehan, Louie Stout and Wade Bourne – the man who provided that venue was honored.
“It’s an absolutely incredible feeling that we’re part of Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium,” said Donald Howell, president of the BFHOF board of directors. “Johnny has been a big, big supporter ever since we talked about this idea. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of this.
“For some of our original board members, it’s been 20 years plus in the making. More importantly, this new home will give us an opportunity to showcase bass fishing and those who’ve made contributions to the sport. It will give us a foundation that will allow us a conservation and education platform for the sport. We’re so excited for that.”
The BFHOF was the only area unfinished when Morris’ 320,000-square-foot celebration of the outdoors opened on Sept. 21. On Thursday, BFHOF co-founder and past president Bill Fletcher was honored to cut the ribbon, allowing about 200 guests inside the walls for the first looks. The visitors, mostly pro anglers and shakers in the industry, viewed the wall of inductees’ plaques and mingled among the displays recording the history of the sport.
“I can’t explain it,” Fletcher said. “I feel like I’m here in a dream world. It’s been an 18-year dream of mine – been through a lot of dry hoops.
“It’s really a Godsend to me. After working on this as long as I have, I came to the conclusion several years ago that the only way this was going to happen was with Johnny Morris.”
The 15 members on the board of directors, including B.A.S.S. employees Dave Precht, Gene Gilliland and Steve Bowman, had worked hard setting up the hall and preparing for the fete. They looked forward to their facility’s debut with some anxiousness as well, because its completion went down to the wire. (There’s still some outside work to finish.) They were pleased with the outcome.
“All of the comments for our place have been extremely positive,” Howell said. “When you have a guy like Kevin VanDam come into the space and say, ‘Wow, this is incredible!’ It makes you feel really good.”
After the ribbon ceremony, the crowd moved to an adjoining banquet hall for dinner, entertainment and the induction ceremony. (Bassmaster.com will publish profiles of each of the inductees over the next few weeks.) Many enjoyed their meal as country music artists Misty Loggins and William Michael Morgan performed. Dave Mercer served as master of ceremonies.
In the end, it was Morris who was asked to take the stage and be honored. Mercer had all the inductees in attendance come on stage with the board members. Mandy Murski took the mike and presented Morris with an award named for her deceased husband, Ray, an icon in the sport and 2005 inductee.
“It recognizes an individual who goes above and beyond to make our sport all it can be,” she told the crowd. “I think it’s so fitting, that in this place, and this year, that we present Johnny Morris with the Ray Murski Lifetime Achievement Award.”
She also presented Morris with a limited edition Remington Model 700 made in Murski’s name, then handed the mike over to another bass fishing icon, Earl Bentz, owner of Triton Boats. Bentz read a framed letter sent from George H.W. Bush, who was inducted into the hall last year.
Bentz said Bush and wife, Barbara, congratulated Morris and apologized for not being able to attend, then said Morris’ involvement in the hall was fitting.
“This is another milestone in your accomplished life,” the letter continued. “The life whose mission is to share your love of the outdoors. … One thing is sure, the imprint your passion conveyed will endure for generations. What a legacy. Sincerely, your friend, George Bush.”
Morris was somewhat humbled but took a turn speaking. He acknowledged that the new inductees were better speakers than one would expect from fisherman, and that’s because they all spoke from their heart. He told Mandy Murski that her husband was quite a character, and “you’re the best catch he ever made. He was also a grand gentlemen, and to receive this in his name is very special.”
Morris acknowledged a number of his “old Ozarks fishing buddies” in attendance, like Basil Bacon, Charlie Campbell, Stacy King, Rick Clunn and Bobby and Billy Murray. Morris mentioned how he and his father fished an early Ray Scott event. He recalled meeting the likes of Tom Mann and Bill Dance, and how many of the early pioneers designed lures and went on to big careers in fishing, and it was all because of the B.A.S.S. founder.
Morris hasn’t done too shabby either, as owner of Bass Pro Shops and numerous other business ventures in the outdoors.
“And I knew I didn’t want to do anything else,” Morris said. “I don’t deserve to be getting recognition tonight. I think I’ve been so blessed, but it’s all of our obligation to try to give back, and that’s what Wonders of Wildlife is about – hopefully to pass on the role that anglers and hunters … have played in this country. To preserve the opportunities for future generations to get out there.”
Morris closed the night with a video that showed what fishing was all about – being happy. He had the honor of taking out a young man in the Make-A-Wish program and videoed the boy catching a nice bass. It brought smiles to everyone in attendance when Alex agreed it was a “big fish,” and closed with the message of the night, “Stay happy.”