Hall Of Fame

[JohnR]

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

[Krispy]

I'm in full agreement with Saltheart.

Maybe this is a project for the MSBA

[BigFish]

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.

[beachwalker]

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

[Mr. Sandman]

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.

[beachwalker]

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 ?

[JohnR]

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....

[Goose]

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

[beachwalker]

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 ?

[pops02]

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.......

[fishsmith]

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

[Caffeine fisherman]

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.

[Tagger]

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..

[Crafty Angler]

Jesus, Mary and Joseph......

[Crafty Angler]

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.

[beachwalker]

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

[stripersnipr]

No HOF without Robert O. Greene and Charlie Soares