Everett to be honored by Bass Fishing HOF

After more than 25 years of directing the Mr. Bass of Arkansas Pro-Am Tournament Circuit, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will award Ronnie Everett with the Meritorious Service Award.

The award was established by the hall of fame’s board of directors to give recognition to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to bass fishing. Everett’s family will be the guests of honor at a Bass Fishing Hall of Fame reception tonight from 5-7 p.m. at Horner Hall.

Everett’s father, a boat salesman, started the Mr. Bass tournament trail in 1974 to help sell boats, and he took over in 1990 when his father retired. After a seven year hiatus, Everett started the circuit again as a pro-am event, and many of the state’s top bass anglers, including Mark Davis, George Cochran, Ricky Green, Ron Shuffield, Stephen Browning and Doug Garrett, competed on the circuit.

“Without people like Ronnie Everett — who also convinced his wife Lori and his weighmaster Chris Course to always help out — I’m not sure we would see the success on the national level for tournament organizations like B.A.S.S., FLW and Major League Fishing,” said Bass Fishing Hall of Fame president Donald Howell. “Everett provided that exceptional first step for many bass anglers who enjoy the competition, and as we have seen over the years, many of those Arkansas anglers have had successful pro careers that all started with the Mr. Bass of Arkansas Pro-Am tournaments.”

Tonight’s event is open to all who are affiliated with the bass fishing industry, FLW Cup exhibitors, participating anglers and other invited guests.

The annual Hall of Fame Induction dinner will be held Oct. 3 at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum in Springfield, Mo. For more information, visit http://www.BassFishingHOF.com, or contact the hall of fame’s executive director Barbara Bowman at bfhof. barbara@gmail.com.