With the passing of Stan Gibbs, a few people have contacted me online and offline about a Hall Of Fame of sorts for him and the handfull of others that might be appropriate.

OK - if we put together a HOF or Memorial Page, how would we want to do it. I can certainly think of a couple deserving people if it were a memorial page but a local scene HOF might not be a bad thing either, and you don't need to move onto the next world to be in.

H.O.F. might be the Stan Gibbs and the Bob Ponds and the Woolners and Murats of the world. How would we chose who is in ? What also gives some of us the credibility (thinking myself on this) to promote someone as a Hall Of Famer? All I am is a semi competent angler that happens to have some semi competant computer skills - hardly the qualifications necessary to elevate people to the H.O.F. What would make S-B, as an entity, an expert authority to do this? I ask this as though we can certainly have a HOF page, any true HOF page must have some platform of undeniable credibility to it.

Sure, picking a Gibbs or a Pond is easy and hard to argue with but there might be times when picking someone in the top 5% might still be someone on the margins of the Hall Of Fame. Charlie Cinto? Yeh, he's probably in but what about someone like Tim Coleman? In or Out? (Personally I think he's in). It's easy to say this guy or that guy but it can't be easy if it is too have any sense of credibility to it.

So, I'm looking for comments, opinions :doh:, and suggestions

sweet :)

i'll differ to the veterans here.

my .02 would be that they had to contribute to the public as awhole an just not someone who catches a few large..I know of aleast two other 73 #er's that were gotten that you will never hear of...it's got to be people that have give everything they know back to those who don't an just not the one's who take advantage of catching a few biggies to make a name for themselves or advertise someone else's plug, grear or product.
these true fisher people are far an few between.

Most of the big names that have gone before us, that have contributed something very large to the sport of saltwater fishing would be nearly shoe-ins; but its the lesser know people, the local anglers that have given to the sport but on a smaller scale that would take more thought.

Not really a veteran but Stan Gibbs and Frank Daignault should be the first two members and then we can take it(argue) from there. It's not whether you like them---it's how much influence they've had on the sport. In my opinion those are the top two.:bgi:

10x10 too for memorial hall along with Brad.

I would say a vote is necessary to pick up to 3 per year maybe to start with. How's that? I agree that it would have to be guys that have given back to the sport of surf-fishing or fishing for striped bass, guys like Stetzko,Coleman even Crazy Al :)

Haven't seen one yet that I disagree with, but maybe the criterion should be guys (and gals) who have made positive contributions to the sport whether they are well-known or otherwise, and not just make it for those who have passed on. There are people out there who deserve the accolades while they're still around to enjoy 'em.

Perhaps another idea would be to have people contribute short stories or anecdotes in an archive about the Hall of Famers as they remember them.

Excellent idea! :btu:

Arnold Lane probably didn't "give a lot back" to surf fishing, but if you had a HOF and he wasn't in it, it would be like Joe D not being in baseball's HOF.

Could you put in a #^&#^&#^&#^& Hathaway even if he got tossed from the MV Derby for cheating? It'd be like keeping Pete Rose out, I guess. Certainly, like Rose, he has the stats on paper.

Iron Mike has more 60s than most guys will ever have 50s but he's still a young guy. Does he go in right now or does he have to wait until he has some years on him?

Besides CA, some guys from my area you'd have to consider are Bill and Charlie Beckmann, Raplh Votto, Al Bentsen, Jack Yee, Paul Melnyck and Billy "the Greek" Legatis.

Sorry, counsellor, I've reread my own post several times just to be sure and it really wasn't my intention to suggest that anyone be excluded but rather recommend that we include the living as well.

As for Yee, Billy the Greek, Al Bentsen and Paul Melnyck, all of whose names I recognize, and the others with whom I am not familiar, of course. Hey, listen, all I know is what I read and I don't get off the Island a lot.

Iron Mike? Absolutely. Mike's a good friend of mine, he's accomplished a helluva a lot for a guy his age and there's another Islander much younger still who has all the potential in the world for all-star status, though that's yet to come. The Iron Man has certainly made a "positive contribution to the sport" by example in his dedication to surfcasting. The proof there is in the pudding.

Same goes for the other CA, too, Crazy Alberto whom I've had the pleasure of fishing with, if only too briefly. And I hope to take Alberto up on his offer to go trouting with him one of these days.

In conclusion, Mike, I'm hard put to find anything anywhere in my post to further suggest that consideration hinge on some sort of provincial restriction.

On the other hand, I do have to submit that any HOF worth a damn would also have to include the much-maligned #^&#^&#^&#^& Tremblay who is from this neck of the woods and known from the cold waters of Maine to the Jersey shore . :laughs:

ahh put EVERYONE in there

from goofball to godlike

its all a laugh :laughs:

keep it comin' :)

Here's a couple of other deserving individual's;
William A. (Doc) Muller
Frank Woolner
Fred Schwab
Fred Golofaro

Originally posted by theSURF121
Here's a couple of other deserving individual's;
William A. (Doc) Muller
Frank Woolner
Fred Schwab
Fred Golofaro

Yup, in that vein, also:

Jerry Sylvester
OHP Rodman
Frank Daignault

Arnold Laine
Frank Woolner (his brothers too)
Jack & Kay Townsend
Both Tony Stetzko's
Charlie Murat
Stan Gibbs
Mac Reed
Bob Andrews

That is, if were voting ;)

I'm sure once my coffee kicks in I will think of more..

CS, you have a good criteria there.. but, a lot of the real good surfcasters, as U know, were (are) like some clams... ;) tough as hell to open up :laughs: but thats what made 'em good.

Senator John H. Chafee

Two guys who had a big influence on my life were Paul Kukonen and Warren Taylor.
Paul owned a small tackle shop on Green Street Worcester for probably the better part of 40 years. He was sort of the "all/everything" when it came to the New England hunting and fishing scene.
Paul taught me to tie flies and wrap rods when I was in the sixth grade. Plus, who coulf forget he annual winter hunting and fishing movies each winter at the Little Theater in Worcester. I wish I'd save all his "hand-drawn" maps to all the hunting and fishing spots he sent me to over the years.

Warren Taylor was a guy I met in the late 60's while shad fishing on the Palmer River in Rehobeth Ma. He was the first guy I ever met who was a saltwater "fly-fishing" only guy. That was a pretty rare thing way back when. I was 15 years old then, so he probably didn't consider me much of a threat, so that's likely why he was free with the info. What I remember most was the saltwater flies! Up until then, all I'd ever seen was trout flies. When he started pulling out box after box of beautifully tied flies, my eyes must have popped out of my head!

WHEW! sounds like a cool idea....but making the choices will be a hell of a task. Naturally the decisions will need to be so unbiased it would make your head spin. induct joe shmoe but 80% of fisherman cant stand his guts...youll have ridicule. Induct john doe because he's a hell of a fisherman (but also your best friend) you'll have ridicule!etc.etc.etc.

Just my opinion.....this is a great idea! However, I would simply start off slow and small. Maybe with three names, they should be pioneers and innovators in the sport of fishing. There will be much debate, just as there has been already, but I think that a few names will stand out. Stan Gibbs, Frank Woolner, Bob Pond and Charlie Murat to name a few, there are many more. Maybe a ballot and vote system by the members here or a board made up of five members to decide. Something along those lines. Maybe add three people every six or twelve months and the HOF page would contain a bio of the persons life, some of their accomplishments and some of their contributions to the fishing community. Also a few nice photos. People could sign into the HOF Forum and learn about some of these people and maybe, if possible, the bio's could be written up by someone who actually knew the person. Just a thought, trying to help out. My .02 cents for what it is worth.:huh: :kewl:

I forgot another LI candidate, Jack Frech.

How 'bout categories - that would help. Sorta like the Nobel prize or Oscars of surfcasting, ya know - one for plug-builders, one for rods, one for surfcasters, one for conservationists, maybe subdivide it by states to avoid possible border skirmishes :rolleyes: etc, etc. - that might help for a start.

I still like the idea of stories to go with the people, which would also acquaint us with those people who aren't as well known but certainly deserve the recognition.

So far, it's all good :btu:

Shang Wheeler
Lefty Kreh
Lou Tabory
Stetzcos
charlie moore
pond
gibbs
and a lot more

:)

Charlie Moore:bgi:

Catching 60's, 70's or even bigger should not be a consideration. Some of the best there has ever been never caught a 50. Woolner didn't, Gibbs didn't, DePietro never did either. It's what they contributed as a whole rather than the singular event of catching a dream bass. Sure hard work and time on the water will get you a big one but don't forget the luck factor.

Woolner was the sage laureate of our sport. Gibbs the creator/innovator. DiPietro was the guy behind the counter giving the straight up as to where, when and how. How about Old Man Mac Reed, I learned more from him about the beach than anyone I ever met. Leo Perry of Cherry Valley Ma. who was directly responsible for the development of the Reverse Atom after fashioning a squid plug out of a mahogany dust brush handle on the beach and that spawned other squid plug imitations and who in one morning on the Canal in the fifties caught upwards of 40 BASS, 80% of which were over 30 pounds on a homade swimming plug of his.

There are countless others who made contributions but the better were always willing to share and developed certain techniques. There has to be parameters met that include a certain someone in the HOF not just the taking of a few big fish, they would have had to have had a direct inpact on the evolution of the sport. Just my two cents.

If you do convene a sort of "panel" to oversee this HOF page, I nominate Flaptail to preside. He is the kind of person I was talking about to sit on such a panel. Someone with the knowledge and experience to share in such an undertaking.

Had a thought....maybe instead of a Hall Of Fame call it a "Forum Of Fame". :huh:

Carl Johanson

i gotta put a vote in for the shizzolater :laughs: :laughs: :laughs:

eben that thing has me laughing everytime i am on da' inta-net

priceless :D

Not a bad idea as long as it just doesn't become a popularity contest, LOTSA "clicks" on these fishin' sites :rolleyes: :smash: johnny "the Ratt Boy"

I just think its going to be tough considering everyone has a different take on what it means to be a "great" fisherman.

What no nominations for Charlie Moore???

:D

a couple of posts back there specialist.

you think i would leave the great Charlie Moore out of that :eek:

Ask what the final/end objective of the HOF would be; Appreciation of innovators and contributors that should not be forgotten. It would be a crying shame to see people say 10 years from now Stan who?

People that have contributed greatly to the sport and have either passed away or in retirement, should not be forgotten.

Bios of these people would be a great learning tool for the younger generations.

People that are still active, are still contributing and still have allot more to contribute. They should be in the HOF later in time.

Just my 2 pennies.

Herold and Whitty Kruger (sp)
where a big influance on my early salt water fishing , rod and plug building. Dont have the time for it any more damn)(&)^%%
/ al

home again till the 16th or 17th.
when and where is the fling thing??

Rich Johnson, He's a Hall of Famer in his own mind.

The truly great don't need recognition in a fishing site's Hall of Fame. The choosing of the less obvious people is a pandoras box I think we would do better to avoid.

While its a thoughtful jesture at Stan's passing , I think it a bad idea overall.

bummer Saltheart

just another thing we don't agree on :)

I look at the potential in this project as more informative for many who seek knowledge of those who have come before us, and those who fish among us right now. To inform people of who these people are that so many speak of. I am at a meeting for MSBA the other night and I mention the passing of Stan Gibbs.....a couple guys older than me don't even know who Stan Gibbs is! Not that that is the point but if the information is available, I think it will make people a little more knowledgeable. That can't be a bad thing. I also would like to know more of the many people that I have seen listed here. Charlie Murat I have read several stories about him, but I do not know anything really substancial about this man....what were his trademark characteristics, what avenue of fishing did he excell in, what makes him so special or interesting that these many years after his death people still speak his name. There are many more names listed in this thread that I would love to have a source to go to and learn more about these fascinating people. Isn't that really the reason behind such "Halls of Fame" as they are called? To always remember the people, their accomplishments and their contributions to their chosen passion? I think this would be a huge reason to have such a "Forum of Fame", to educate many who come to this site to learn as many do.:uhuh:

exactly bigfish

don't make a big popularity contest make a creative, educational place where people can be bio'd and addendums and editing can occur. we can learn about history. I think a lot of us enjoy history

who votes them in ?

thats a tough one and I can see how Saltheart sees an issue brewing.

screw it. you have to be deceased. truly.

we can deal with........ :)

charlie moore is on right now and i can't trun the channel fast enough

he's babbling on about lake fishing (homo )

blahblahblahblahblahblahblah............:(

Originally posted by Slipknot
Carl Johanson

Carl was a mentor of mine, man did he like to fish!

He still does

We all have had mentors. That is one of the greatest thing about this sport. If you love this hobbie you allso like to share it with others.

Yes they were/are great people.
Yes they passed down and shared their knowledge.
Yes they were/are highly skilled.

However we need to draw a line. If we don't then Saltheart is right.

What was their overall contribution to the sport?
Was it to a few people, many, a certain area, or did they have an influence to saltwater fishing that effected the the whole sport overall?

My thoughts are that they had to of either of;
been an inovator that had great influence on the sport,
or had a great impact on legislation so that we can still have fish to catch and places to fish from.

I did not want to say anything but I agree with saltheart . Not that my opinion here is anymore important then anyone elses....I think we should pass on this HOF thing. We each know who the great ones are....

what about the educational aspects ?

should we pass on learning from people and their contributions ?

maybe it is just me. trying to make progress everyday.

The sharpies new better than anyone that it was perseverence and dedication that delivered the goods.

IMO many posts are personal raves attempting to define a statement or are good, light hearted fun.

statements need to be backed up with fact or corrections.

they work together.

some of the topics are incredibly boring on any of tese sites wit a lot of mudslinging involved.

A forum such as this (like my interest ina 4wd forum) create substantive topics and information to discuss

:)

I have to agree with Satheart and Sandman. I think naming it Hall of Fame is a bad idea. Any Hall of Fame you go to for any sport is strongly based on performance. In fishing you cannot judge performance like any other sport and there arises the problem. In striper fishing there is no batting average, homerun total or number of championships won. The entry requirements then become subjective to peoples opinions. Questions become Who are the "mentors"? , Who made "contributions"?, Who did you look up to? Who is a "great" fisherman? whose your buddy? etc... There is no way to judge the answers to these questions and to evaluate them fairly since everyone will have different opinions.

I would be more in favor of a historical memorial page. Writing about past history is something completely different and is worthy of documentation. It's also much more palatable than saying that someone is deserving of "fame and recognition".

Ed

so then let's just rename it ?

what's the big deal ?

What Ed suggests is what i think will work. A memorial section if you will where anyone can post a thread and info about anyone they want to remember and share memories about.

If you want to memorialize Gibbs for a big contribution to the sport , fine. if you want to memorialize your Uncle who took you fishing as a boy eben though he didn't fish himself , that's fine too. Like the 10X10 section only for anyone who has someone who wants to post about them.

now you are on the right track

this wouldn't be cooperstown it would S-B memorial page.

No big deal to get in but hopefully not a lot of BS either

:)

Point well made, Ed. The tall, quiet stranger steps outta the shadows with yet another cogent comment. :btu:

That's pretty much what I meant about stories or anecdotes in regards to those who were listed, done in the tradition of an oral history. But honestly, I gotta tell ya that I didn't think that John just proposing an HOF would lead to a provincial pi$$ing contest over who was in or out right off the bat. I think all of us agree that we can probably do without that here, that sort of crap is what keeps me away from the other sites of late. Ya know, I mean, WTF.

Yup, Ed, you're right, sort of the cyber version of the Fisherman's Memorial at Brenton Point. It would be a great project for all of us, whether we contributed to the collection or just simply spent time going through the archives on cold winter nights.

Ed B is right.

But what kind of memorial…… page, forum, or both?
A page would be more permanent, and still be there years down the line, and not get archived or buried under a ton of other submissions.
A forum would allow submissions of great articles and build a collection.
Or both, a page on Mr. Stan Gibbs, and start a memorial forum for every one else.

Or have we opened up a Pandora’s box, and maybe just forget it.

Tough call for the webmaster.

Is this a dead issue or still under consideration?:confused:

dead, hmm.

probably. maybe I had something to do with it. no scrub gonna influence a new page on this site :)

Still under consideration. A few people brought it to my attention and wanted me to float it for people's coments, questions, and discussion.

Personally, I'm uncomfortable with "selecting" or helping to select the who's who and deserving of a HOF. Sure some people are easy to chose and there would be little disagreement but others still deserving might not make it for whatever reason.

Also, while S-B can certainly contribute and prod "it" along, it must be something more than what S-B thinks to lend it some kind of legitimacy. Sure, we can add a "memorial page", no problem at all. But I feel it should be something beyond just S-B. Thoughts? Comments?

have a poll. start with the (in)famous.
Maybe explain that it would be done in segments.

I can see how you fear this but some of you folks have the experience to be prudent.

personally I don't think a living person should be on it. decreases the numbers you have to consider.

but i am a scrub you see :) :laughs: :laughs: :)

Plenty of people have opinions about those who are or who are not in some of the "other" Halls of Fame, baseball and so on. You are always going to have controversey and opinion one way or the other. I have stated it before in prior posts, more than anything it should be informative and educational to all those who visit the site. I for one would very much like to know about all of the great fisherman who came before me and "blazed the trail". Stan Gibbs is a person who I very much would like to know more about.....just a "regular joe" just like you and me, who loved to fish and made a few contributions (whether they be large or small). That is all these people are....just regular everyday people who put their pants on one leg at a time who shared the same passion that we all have....."fishing"! Can't anybody see that???!!!! These folks do not need to be "glorified" by this site! They simply should be remembered.....remembered for the notoriety they achieved through their passion to fish. What some would call "fame" for these people is simply regional. These people, many of them, are not known outside of the Striper Coast really.....they are treasures of our own way of life, people who worked hard and fished hard. To them fishing was important, just as it is to us, so shouldn't this just be a way to pay tribute in some way, be it a small way but a tribute just the same? My .02 cents.....I think I have already chipped in about .16 cents worth, but I truely believe in this so lets give it a go folks.:wave:

I am with BigFish and beach walker;
informative and educational,
remembered,
not glorified,
oh yah, and in the big fishing hole in the sky.

Select a baker’s dozen or so of non-scrub senior members for a panel.
Come up with criteria.
Then create an avenue for submissions.

By the way, what’s a scrub? (Not insulted, just curios.):pop:

I believe it is another word for a jacka$$ (Not talking about you Beachwalker) am I right?:huh:

rookie member

Ron @ the sm den used 2 call me the rookie;)
now I'm a rookie here 2 beach:laughs: :laughs: :laughs:

Okey dokey......well, here goes nuttin'...:D:

Since we can probably at least agree on who should be on a nominating committee, let me be the first to stick my head outta the foxhole and start a list of who might be considered for considering who might be in a HOF perhaps here or somewhere else.

I'll leave it to you to figure out why I really chose who I did and my personal choices on the nominating committee are listed in no particular order. They are friends in some cases and in others, people I know only by virtue of online discusions at S-B.com. In all cases they're people who haven't yet set off my BS Detector and whose opinions I value. Being that we all hang out here, my only criterion was that they are S-B members. Most all are senior officers, as I see it.

JohnR, in my opinion, should be left to his usual position of moderator/referee/bouncer. Marquis of Queensbury rules, gentlemen, no hitting below the belt, no rabbit punching in the clinches and make a clean break when so instructed by the ref.

:smash: :fishslap: :smash: :fishslap: :smash:

DISCLAIMER: I just woke up from a pasta induced power nap after dinner and I'm still a little fuzzy, so gimme a break. Please address all references to my half-assed ideas, my personal habits or the manliness of my performance in the surf or elsewhere to my PM box (as well as any comments you may have on the marital status of my forbears or the depth of the gene pool I came from) so as not to impede the progress of the nominating process.
All correspondance will be answered on a first-come-first-serve basis.

So, howzabouts:

DZ
Ed B
Flaptail
Al Goldberg
Mike P
Crazy Alberto
striprman
Capesams
vineyardblues
Slipknot
Fish_Eye
Habs
Joe

I can add a few more and probably will after my coffee is done brewing.

Just thought it might be a way to get the ball rolling on the HOF nominating committee and initiate a spirited discussion to while away the winter doldrums.

:hidin:

Anyone else have a personal list?

Outstanding. :claps:

I know DZ. Have not had the pleasure of meeting the rest. But if they are all of the same caliber thats one heck of a panel.

I think Crafty's post shows exactly why this whole thing is a bad idea.

His list of ten of S-B's "senior officers" includes 5 guys who don't even have 100 posts under their belt here. 4 are less than 50 and 3 don't even have 30 posts.

Give me a break! :smash:

Its exactly this type of potential selection and more importantly exclusion to both the HOF and the now proposed "Selection Committee" that will lead to the trouble I'm calling Pandoras Box and exactly what we don't need here at S-B.

Can all the HOFamers have bobblehead dolls made in their likeness too. Just because guys have their pictures in magazines and write articles or happen to get a big fish or two does'nt make them better than you or me. I personally know a handful of guys from Newport to Narragansett that are otstanding fisherman that maybe a few of the people on this board might know and the others would say , who? Putting people in a HOF is a popularity contest. The only things that should be in a fishing HOF are the monsters that get caught.

See - as for a HOF, I think it would be unwise for S-B to take any kind of a lead. S-B could participate and maybe even create some of the framework of the site but any real HOF would need to be above and beyond the site.

I think, at this time, perhaps having S-B create/participate in a memorial for those legends that have passed might be a bit more realistic

I'm in full agreement with Saltheart.

Maybe this is a project for the MSBA

You people reading anything I said??? Just curious, because it is actually yourselves who are damning this project up! Your first mistake is by calling it a "Hall of Fame"...therein lies your biggest problem. People read too much into anything called a "Hall of Fame"....they get offended when the people who are included are not what THEY call "the best" in this sport, and that is not what this should be about. That is why I proposed what I stated earlier. A forum that contains these people in photos and bios that are informative and educational, so that people can know them and understand who they were and the contributions that they made to Saltwater Fishing as a sport, a passion, and a pastime. Not that these people, any of them were the best fisherman, or the best rod-maker, or the best plug builder or who caught the biggest fish or the most fish.....just that they simply were! That they existed, and this is who they were or are, and these are their contributions and also some of the great "personal" achievements that they had as a fisherman....plain and simple without having a brighter spotlight on some and not so bright a spotlight on others. That is not what this should be about.

Example: Stan Gibbs was born in Easton, Massachusetts in the year 1915. Stan began his passion for fishing at an early age catching sunfish and pickeral in his native Easton. Relocating his family to Sagamore in 1945, Stan was able to concentrate on his passion for fishing by honing his skills fishing the fast moving current of the Cape Cod Canal etc. etc. Stan began turning plugs from broom handles in the basement of his Sagamore home etc. etc. People having seen the success that Stan was having with his home made plugs began asking him if they could purchase a few and the cottage industry of Gibbs Plugs was born etc. etc.

Fill in the many voids left by me with facts of any time in the service Stan did, his many occupations which put food on the table for his growing family, his hunting and trapping expertise, and personal accounts of some people who knew him in regards to the type of person he was and the places he used to haunt. You see, these people are no different than any of us....they worked, fed their family and indulged a passion in fishing just as we do. They don't hit game winning homeruns, or score Superbowl winning touchdowns.....they were and are people just like us. As soon as the rest of you boil it all down to the simple thing that it needs to be to make it work and benefit eneryone, then it will come together and be a beautiful way to simply honor these many people. As far as treating it like a "Hall of Fame" by convening a panel and voting people in periodically, that is the mistake. Make a long list of people who could be included and maybe add one to the "Forum" periodically, whether it be one a week or every other week or whenever someone has time to do the work to put the information up, it really is just about remembering them and letting other people know who they were and what they did as a fisherman or woman. I am done on this thread, I have spoken my mind and it is up to the rest of you to take the ball and run with it or argue it to death, ultimately it is up to the big guy JohnR. Later folks.

John & Saltheart,

You men will do what is correct but I have tonstate what I believe Bigfish is saying.

Try not to make it a big deal and A Hall of Fame.

This concept took root in my mind when Stan Gibbs passed away.

My vote is for a memorial page with bios and stories of the fisherman so enshrined.

Past people. I believe it equates to less politics and still serves the prupose that the original impetus fostered

:)

Again, Saltheart is right.. Take my word for it, it will not be a that prestigious a thing to be nominated to be on this (or any) HOF web site no mater what your intent. In fact, it may be embarrassing for the person (dead or alive) that is nominated. Most of these guys lead a low-profile life/fishing style and do not seek the glory of some web based “top 10 list” .

Begin Story:
One night on BI under the bluffs, I ran into a local fellow I seemed to cross paths with most nights. IMO he's probably one of the better surfcasters I've ever met always scoring with big fish when many went fishless. When I saw what was in the back of his truck my eyes popped. The bass were running but so were the weakfish. There were some big weaks taken along with the bass. It wasn't uncommon to see fish the low teens but he had one that went 23.5# . That is a big weakfish, at that time the IGFA world record fish (maybe still is?). I saw it weighed myself on a legit scale. And I watched as he cleaned it. I mentioned that was potentially a record fish and he should submit an app and take a photo, line, ect... and he went on a 5-minute rant and wanted nothing to do with notoriety or records.
End Story

Do you think a fellow like this would want his name on a website telling the world how great he is/was? IMO, many of these HOF'ers don't want your recognition...maybe secretly they do in your hearts, but not publicly, and surely not on a web site. I know you are trying to provide knowledge and help to others but please don't insult or embarrass your HOF’er in the process.
I think you are opening a "can-of-worms" here. My vote is pass.

That is why if they are past fisherman it isn't a big deal.

WE (maybe just I) am looking for knowledge and history (stories) about past characters and their contributions.

Am I too far away to be heard ?

Are there any out there with a similar interest ?

Guys - I agree that S-B should not be a driving force behind a Hall of Fame. I don't think that "S-B" (or any website for that matter) has the credentials, even though some of its members may. My points regarding a H.O.F. is that S-B might provide some of the underpinnings of a potential site but shouldn't be the driving force and sure as hell isn't an authority on running it.

YES, I'm all for a historical memorial, and a general Fisherman's Memorial only has one requirement to be "nominated", your line is tight in the neverending surfline. It could be a way that we can appreciate some of the legends and some of the die hard "regular" people such as ourselves (with the primary difference being that we are still alive).

BUT, what if someone like the guy Sandman talks about wouldn't want any part of it?

Chipwood - agree. Welcome to the site BTW....

There's gonna be some guys dieing to get on there:hee:

John,

am I talking about something you guys aren't ? the dude would be gone. Curtains down, out of eels, etc.

Are you thinking we need a note from the family ?

:)

I think this HOF page would be a bad idea, but i do like some of the suggestions being thrown out there. In my opinion, something like a recognition page, where ANYONE can write something else about ANYONE ELSE, who might have been a mentor, or inspiration, or perhaps just a good friend. Something on the lines of one person recognizing some else, for something they have done, with perhaps just little write up of what that might have been, much like what bigfish, and others have mentioned. I think to have some sort of " vote " or panel, would be a bad idea, as there would be too many outside factors involved. Simply put, we all have our heros, and hall of fame type of people in our lives that have made a difference for one reason or another, so they are very dear to us, but maybee not to someone else, but because of that, that dosent mean they should be excluded from a HOF. anyways, didnt mean to ramble on.......

Well said sandman, my vote is no HOF.
Keep the secrecy sacred.

JohnR,
We need your gavel.
This thread is going around in circles. I thought the idea of not having an HOF but instead, having a memorial page and/or forum was straightened out on the bottom half of page 3.

It seems a decision needs to be made on this so we can move on to next point.
:wall:

Carl Johanson ,, Angler #1 You have no Idea how many people Carl taught to fish ..Thru State program that he designed,,Mass Angler Educ Program ,,Isak Walton. definately a giver and my mentor... Hows about this one ..." Ted Williams" Remember him at the old Sportsman show with the flyrod..

Jesus, Mary and Joseph......

So I guess this what is meant by a "hot button topic"?

From the posts I've read (and reread, including my own) calling a memorial page a 'HOF' would be a misnomer and brings up other issues that no one - especially me but most importantly John - would want to see here.

None of the points I made were exactly mine to begin with and the 'nominating committee' I posted was simply a list of fellow surfcasters whose opinions I respect a great deal, some of whom are friends, all reasonable even-handed men with a passion for the sport and a helluva lot of time spent in the surf. Number of posts never entered into it. As for the rest of it, most of the time my writing style is - and always will be - at times tongue-in-cheek and occasionally a little on the smart-assed side as well. That's a function of where I came from, way too late to change it now and if it puts anybody's shorts in a knot, my apologies.

I've been around this sort of thing before - I was involved in the Fisherman's Memorial at Brenton Point. The bronze plaque on the monument was created from my photograph of a friend of mine holding his 52# bass from the '80's and his loss while fishing at Brenton Reef was the impetus for the memorial site overlooking the reef.

The purpose of that site was - and is - to memorialize those whose lives were lost at sea and there are inscribed pavers lining the area available to those who wish to remember their loved ones. Those memorial pavers also include the names of many who were not lost at sea but have passed on and serve as markers at a beautiful spot where people come to reflect and remember. If any of you haven't been to the Fisherman's Memorial, you should if you find yourself in the area - it's pretty moving. A memorial page or forum would have the same effect, I would think, minus the surf.

BigFish, Beachwalker, Ed B and others all made excellent points and I couldn't agree with them more. Ultimately, while it's apparent that everybody here has deep feelings on how best to approach it - if at all - it's John's call on S-B's level of involvement in such a historical site. He's worked pretty damned hard to create what exists here at this site and he's paid for it out of his own pocket.

IMHO, a memorial is certainly a great idea, whether it actually comes to pass or not. Personally, I get to reflect on the lives of those who either touched or influenced my life when I'm firmly planted on a set of rocks somewhere in the deep of night. Then the only memorial site I really need is between my ears.

Peace.

Well said CA,

Spent three years living in Newport and know the Memorial well. A beautiful place.

We'll see here what happens. I agree with you on the space between the ears. I think a memorial area would be fun for us and would also benefit the nubies who need a reminder on what it takes to produce the way these folks did.

This site is a great one indeed and I am sure John and Co. will make the correct decision

:)

No HOF without Robert O. Greene and Charlie Soares