B.A.S.S. Honors Ray Scott
As Lifetime Achievement
Award Recipient... 

NEW ORLEANS, La. - For the moment Ray Scott, the founder of the world's largest bass fishing organization, is back on stage at the BASS Masters Classic world championship of professional bass fishing. Not to emcee fishing's biggest event, but to be honored for his creation.

The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society's (BASS) Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Scott during the opening ceremonies Sunday (August 3) in the New Orleans Sports Arena.

"We're paying tribute to the man who created the sport of professional bass fishing the founder of B.A.S.S., and the inspiration behind the BASS Masters Classic," said Dean Kessel, general manager for the Montgomery, Alabama based 600,000 member worldwide organization, now a part of the ESPN Outdoors and cable sports programming.

Scott, attired in his familiar white cowboy hat, fringe-decorated jacket with the B.A.S.S. shield, was greeted with a standing ovation by the 20,000 some fishing fans gathered for the final weigh-in of Classic XXXII.

For the moment, the crowd reacted to Scott stepping up on stage to the possibility that the all-time favorite weighmaster was going to, again, be the event's master-of-ceremonies.

Scott played along for the moment. Calling for his "A-Team" to respond and telling the "B-Team" to provide a cheer - an approach he used numerous times in hyping up the crowd to bring a tingle to Classic tournament pros and spectators.

Introduced by B.A.S.S. last year with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Birmingham, Alabama, to Rick Clunn, a four-time Classic champion and a 28-time qualifier for the world finals, the Award is the highest tribute to a member of B.A.S.S.

In his opening remarks, Scott made the point: "I'm a lifetime member of B.A.S.S. I'm here to thank you for this great honor…especially on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of B.A.S.S. It gives me a great opportunity to thank all the people who got me here…YOU, the bass anglers and the bass fishing fans."

To his faithful fans, Scott said: "I am convinced we all share something very special, especially the anglers who will weigh-in on this stage. We share DREAMS! Because, if ever a sport and an industry was built on dreams, it is bass fishing and B.A.S.S."

Scott related how his own dream evolved out of a small metal box with four names on file cards in 1967 with the start of his first All-American Invitational Bass Tournament at Beaver Lake, Arkansas. From those seeds, sprouted the names of 106 fishermen who came to fish the tournament and grew into the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society with over 600,000 members, bass clubs, state B.A.S.S. Federations and the Bassmaster Tournament Trail.

"So, I know a dreamer when I see one," said Scott. "And, while I have this special moment, I want to pay tribute to two of the greatest dreamers.

"One, the bass pro who slugs it out all year round with incredible skill, consistency and endurance. The other is the Federation angler, who fights his way to the Classic through a grueling series of events for his chance of an angling lifetime."

Pointing to the B.A.S.S. logo on his chest, Scott declared, "Today, all of these dreams are represented by this emblem known worldwide - the B.A.S.S. shield."

Then, Scott reeled off a roll call of achievements by the organization:

"Never forget when you display the B.A.S.S. shield, you're the ones who promoted catch and release. You're the ones who demanded clean waters. You're the ones who took a kid fishing. You're the ones who embraced safe boating."

"And, you're the ones who inspired the products and technology represented by the Classic sponsors and the Classic Outdoor Show.

"And, you're the ones, who created a new breed of American hero, the bass pro," continued Scott.

Looking to the future, by building on the organization's 35 years of rich tradition, Scott declared, "Combine this heritage with the vast resources of talent and vision of ESPN/BASS and the future of bass fishing and B.A.S.S. is limitless. The dreams have just begun.

"And, as we dream," continued the B.A.S.S. founder, "let's thank the Good Lord, that we live in a country that not only lets us dream, but lets us make them come true.

Asked about the revamping of the B.A.S.S. "patch" he designed in 1968, Scott admitted: "It looks a little bit different today. After 35 years, it (new B.A.S.S. emblem) represents a renewed commitment to everything B.A.S.S. stands for. Better fishing. Better products. Better conservation. Youth fishing. Safety. Fair and exciting competitions. Fishing heroes. It stands for the spirit of B.A.S.S."

Asked about the progress of his talks with the B.A.S.S./ESPN managers and possible return to B.A.S.S., Scott said: "There's discussions on-going. I've had meetings with Dean Kessel, the B.A.S.S. general manager, and Michael Rooney, vice president of ESPN Outdoors, talking about how Ray Scott might serve the organization in the future."

Scott underlined, "As a lifetime member of B.A.S.S., I'm still strongly interested in the future of the organization and the sport of bass fishing. Bass anglers are special. There's a chemistry that makes the B.A.S.S. members click. Maybe as an amBASSador of some scope we can lift the spirit of B.A.S.S. There are so many reasons members can take pride in belonging to the BASS Anglers Sportsman Society."

Scott stepped away from the Classic stage in 1998 after negotiations with B.A.S.S., Inc. and the ownership led by Helen Sevier ended. Sevier and some investors purchased B.A.S.S. Inc. in 1986 and sold their interest to ESPN in 2000. Scott, as president of Ray Scott Outdoors, Inc., has stayed active in the fishing tackle and marine industry as the national spokesman for Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, SOS, Inc., inflatable life vest and U. S. Reel, developer of the new Ray Scott SuperCaster 225 spinning reel. Ray Scott Outdoors, Inc. is headquartered in Pintlala, Alabama.