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IGFA Hall of Fame Inductees

The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame recognizes extraordinary achievements in recreational fishing around the world by anglers, captains, scientists, conservationists, writers, or fishing industry leaders. The first class, honoring 29 of the sport's luminaries, was inducted in 1998. Since then, 66 additional fishing greats have been welcomed to the Hall at the annual induction ceremony in October of each year. Along with the biographical video produced by the IGFA, each Hall of Fame member is honored with a plaque at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Florida, USA. Additional information, documents, and photographs of Hall of Fame members may be found in the E. K. Harry Library.

To learn more about nominating a candidate for the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, please click here.

Hall of Fame Inductees' Bios


  Capt. Alan H. Anderson   John W. Anderson II   Stuart C. Apte
Sir Garrick Agnew   Alan H. Anderson   John W. Anderson II   Stuart C. Apte

Robert S.S. Baden-Powell   C. Alma Baker   Ralph Bandini   Carlos Barrantes
Lord Robert S.S. Baden-Powell   C. Alma Baker   Ralph Bandini   Carlos Barrantes

Dame Juliana Berners   Willaim C. Boschen   George Bransford   Joseph W. Brooks
Dame Juliana Berners   William C. Boschen   George Bransford   Joseph W. Brooks

William K. Carpenter   Henry Chee   John R. Chibnall   Homer Circle
William K. Carpenter   Henry Chee   John R. Chibnall   Homer Circle

Pierre H. Clostermann     Roy B. Dean   Jack Erskine
Pierre H. Clostermann   William G. "Bill" Dance   Roy B. Dean   Jack Erskine

Roger William Fagen   George C. Farnsworth   Sara and Kip Farrington
Roger William Fagen   George C. Farnsworth   Sara C. Farrington   S. Kip Farrington

Clive W. Firth   Walter W. Fondren III   Thomas M. Gifford   Alfred C. Glassell Jr.
Clive W. Firth   Walter W. Fondren III   Thomas M. Gifford   Alfred C. Glassell Jr.

Peter Goadby   Theodore Gordon   Curt Gowdy   Zane Grey
Peter Goadby   Theodore Gordon   Curt Gowdy   Zane Grey

Yoshiro Hattori   Elwood K. Harry   Dr. Guy Harvey   Van Campen Heilner
Yoshiro Hattori   Elwood K. Harry   Guy Harvey   Van Campen Heilner

Ernest Hemingway   Dr. Charles F. Holder   Jimmy Houston   Steve Huff
Ernest Hemingway   Charles F. Holder   Jimmy Houston   Steve Huff

Lynn Bongue Hunt   Ruben Jaen C.   John C. Johnston   James W. Jump
Lynn Bogue Hunt   Ruben Jaen C.   John C. Johnston   James W. Jump

Bernard   Francesca LaMonte   Michael Leech   Helen Lerner
Bernard "Lefty" Kreh   Francesca LaMonte   Michael Leech   Helen Lerner

Michael Lerner   Al Lindner   Gary Loomis   Darrell J. Lowrance
Michael Lerner   Al Lindner   Gary Loomis   Darrell J. Lowrance

    Mary Orvis Marbury   Roland Martin
Henry Lyman   Harlan W. Major   Mary Orvis Marbury   Roland Martin

Frank J. Mather III   George G. Matthews   Albert J. McClane   Allen and Buddy Merritt
Frank J. Mather III   George G. Matthews   Albert J. McClane   Allen and Buddy Merritt

Johnny Morris   Paxson Offield   Frank M. O'Brien Jr.   Paxson H. Offield
Johnny Morris   Roy E. Naftzger Jr.   Frank M. O'Brien Jr.   Paxson H. Offield

Hidenori Onishi   Monty Padilla   Ernest W. Palmer   George Parker
Hidenori Onishi   Monty Padilla   Ernest W. Palmer   George Parker

William W. Pate Jr.   Capt. Bill Poole   Hidenori Onishi  
William W. Pate Jr.   William E. Poole   Lauri Rapala   Charles C. Ritz

Luis R. Rivas   Helen & Webster Robinson   Kay and John Rybovich
Luis R. Rivas   Helen & Webster Robinson   Kay Rybovich   John Rybovich

Frank M. O'Brien Jr.   Paxson Offield   Hidenori Onishi  
Julio Sanchez   Ray W. Scott   Milton C. Shedd   Stephen Sloan

J.L.B. Smith   Mark Sosin   James Wilson Strader   Dade W. Thornton
J.L.B. Smith   Mark Sosin   James Wilson Strader   Dade W. Thornton

Donald J. Tyson   Edward vom Hofe   Izaak Walton   Karl Wickstrom
Donald J. Tyson   Edward vom Hofe   Izaak Walton   Karl Wickstrom

Theodore S. Williams   John Wilson   Forrest Wood   Peter B. Wright
Theodore S. Williams   John Wilson   Forrest Wood   Peter B. Wright

Lee and Joan Wulff   Philip Wylie
Lee Wulff   Joan Wulff   Philip Wylie

 

To nominate a candidate for the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, please send a detailed submission letter to Rob Kramer, IGFA President. This letter should describe the nominee’s significant and lasting contributions to the sport of recreational angling. Nominated individuals can be anglers, captains, scientists, conservationists, writers, or fishing industry leaders. Supporting documentation included with the letter -- newspaper articles, biographical information, photographs, etc. – is extremely helpful, and all materials sent will be retained in the E. K. Harry Library archives. Once a person has been nominated, he or she will remain in consideration. Each year the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame Nominating Committee reviews the information submitted for all potential honorees. Their selections are then submitted to the IGFA Board of Trustees for final approval.