Today’s Friday Finale historical photo is of two of the most recognized faces in bass fishing, at one of the more somber times in its history – Tom Mann and Ray Scott at the funeral for Mann’s vicious pet bass, Leroy Brown.
If you’re not familiar with Leroy, here’s a few excerpts from the news story, titled “Leroy Brown is sent to final resting place,” that accompanied the picture:
“Brown died Aug. 20, 1980, but Mann had him frozen so his funeral could coincide with the opening of the Alabama Invitational Bass Tournament.”
“Brown was placed in a casket resembling a fishing tackle box, and mourners passed by the casket, each laying a Jelly Worm which Brown helped invent. He was buried under a four-foot marble marker within sight of Lake Eufaula.
“Mann named Brown after the Jim Croce song ‘Bad, Bad Leroy Brown’ because he controlled the aquarium. ‘Nothing ever did anything against him – turtles, not even eels,’ he said.”
Another story in the Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, GA) reporting on the funeral had some better, and interesting, details. For example, “leading the processional was Missouri mortician Shorty Evans, dressed in black.”
It was also reported that Ray read telegrams “from the hundreds sent in to express sympathy,” including one from Alabama Gov. Fob James in which he announced Wednesday was being observed as a day of mourning for all bass in Alabama. According to the story, other telegrams came in from Forrest Wood, Homer Circle, Jerry Reed, Porter Wagoner, and Sonny James.
One final note of interest were the companies who sent wreaths to the funeral, including Cal James, Zebco, Stren, Schaub Flowers, Okie Distributing Co., and Bass Pro Shops.
