| Outdoors |
Sport fishing legend leaves behind a giant legacy
A
labama and the world lost a great man when Ray Scott a true professional bass fishing tournament with stringent rules passed away on May 8, 2022. The “Bass Boss” was 88 years and a big purse,” Ray recalled. “My biggest challenge was money. I old. didn’t have any! I had to work smart.” No person in history influenced fishing more than native AlaThat first tournament led to a national professional fishing trail bamian Ray W. Scott, Jr. Field & Stream magazine once listed Ray and spawned a multi-billion-dollar industry. In 1968, Ray founded the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, formerly based in Ray’s as one of “20 individuals who most influenced outdoor sports hometown of Montgomery and now in Birmingham. during the 20th Century.” “My first tournament proved without a shadow of doubt the I first met Ray while reporting on a Bassmaster Classic for a passion for an organization was there,” Ray remembered. “Bass newspaper. A consummate salesman, Ray always made a point to anglers across the country were hungry, not just to compete, but meet new people and speak to them for a few minutes. Over the also to get together and share knowledge. The energy and passion years, we bumped into each other at various events and I interviewed him several times at that 1967 tournament for both print and radio. were beyond belief. When He never disappointed. we reached about 10,000 Born Aug. 24, 1933, members in B.A.S.S., that Scott grew up in Montgave me more confidence. gomery during the Great Then it was, ‘Let’s see how Depression. Forever an far can we go!’” entrepreneur, young Ray More than just promoting fishing tournaments, delivered groceries on his Ray encouraged people to bicycle, cut grass and sold release bass. That changed peanuts at baseball games fishing forever. “Catch to help his family during and release” became the those lean times. When not standard for competitive working, though, he went fishing for bass and other fishing. species. He also pressured “I loved fishing from my boat companies to design earliest memories,” Ray and build better livewell once told me. “I’d hop on systems. my bike with a cane pole “I didn’t invent catch and a can of worms to fish and release,” Ray once said, for bluegills anywhere I “but we did make it popucould find. Then one mag- During his lifetime, Ray Scott became friends with many celebrities and powerful people, including former President George H. W. Bush. He often took them fishing at ical day when I was about his private lake. lar in bass fishing, and that 7 or 8 years old, my life changed the sport in so PHOTO COURTESY B.A.S.S. changed. I was fishing and many ways. We preached all of a sudden, this shimmering silver creature leaped out of the that a bass is too valuable to be caught only once. We helped fishermen learn how great it felt to catch a 5- or 6-pound bass and water on the end of my line. I was in awe of its strength. I had then lean over and let it go and watch it swim away, hopefully to caught a largemouth bass. From that moment on, bass fishing was be caught again.” my passion.” Scott sold B.A.S.S. in 1986, but continued to serve as the BassAs a young man, Ray began selling insurance until drafted into master Classic emcee for years. He turned his attention to anoththe U.S. Army in 1954. After his discharge, Ray used his G.I. Bill er one of his passions – deer hunting. He founded the Whitetail benefits to earn a business degree from Auburn University. Institute of North America, Inc. to fund research on white-tailed In March 1967, a storm cancelled a fishing trip, but Ray experienced what he called a “brainstorm in a rainstorm.” He envisioned deer, particularly on nutrition issues and availability of deer food a national professional bass fishing trail. That summer, after sellsources. ing insurance for more than a decade, he quit his job to organize “I can honestly say I have no regrets,” Ray told me a few years a bass tournament. ago. “Only in America could a guy like me with no money, but a “The concept of a bass organization grew out of my idea for vision and a dose of hustle have been able to pioneer two outdoor industries and make a positive difference in the lives of anglers and hunters across the country. It has been a great journey!” John N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer who lives in Semmes, Ala. He also hosts an outdoors tips show for WAVH FM Indeed it has, Ray. You broke a lot of ground for many others. Talk 106.5 radio station in Mobile, Ala. Contact him at j.felsher@ You left us, but your huge legacy will continue. Farewell and rest hotmail.com or through Facebook. in peace, “Bass Boss.” 28 JULY 2022
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6/8/22 1:45 PM
