Virgil Ward

Sorry to report that legendary fishing T.V. host Virgil Ward has died. Here’s a copy of the story I found on line:

Posted on Tue, Sep. 14, 2004
Fishing legend Virgil Ward dies at age 93

Three weeks ago Virgil Ward went fishing with his son, Bill.
Although he could barely climb into the boat, Ward was determined to fish. When the boat’s motor went out, Ward insisted on helping Bill paddle into shore.
“That was my dad,” said Sandy Curnutte, one of Ward’s three daughters. “He always had a very strong will, all the way up to the end.”
As usual, the day ended with a nice catch. It was the last time that Ward, one of the nation’s best-known fishermen, went fishing on his private lake.
On Monday morning Ward died of bladder cancer at his Amsterdam, Mo., home. He was 93.
Ward achieved fame through his nationally syndicated television show “Championship Fishing” and several fishing innovations.
“Virgil was one of the best fishermen in the country, and I’ve fished with a lot of them,” said Frank Fensom, who worked for Ward and owned Frank Fensom’s Sports Headquarters in Raytown. “He was honest, and he didn’t exaggerate. He just went out and backed up what he said.”
In 1950, he and his son began the Bass Buster Lure Company in the back of the family’s appliance shop in Amsterdam.
They patented the fiber weed guard, which is still used in manufacturing jigs. The feather jig was the first big success of the company and was followed by the maribou jig and the Beetle Spin. The company was sold to Johnson Fishing in the 1970s, but Ward’s career had long since taken off.

Ward built his reputation through several tournament victories, including the 1962 World Series of Sport Fishing, the 1964 National Championship of Fresh Water Fishing and the 1964 Outdoor Writers and Broadcasters National Fishing Tournament.
By 1963, Ward was writing a column that appeared in 455 newspapers and was host of a radio show on 200 stations.
“Championship Fishing” began in 1964 and was syndicated throughout the country. Ward went fishing around the world and often included celebrities like George Brett, Pete Rose and Wayne Gretzky. The show lasted 27 seasons and was the No. 1-ranked fishing show for 24 of them, according to http://www.bassinusa.com.
Last December, Ward celebrated his 70th anniversary with his wife, Cleda. He is also survived by four children, nine grandsons and several great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel in Butler, Mo. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Twin Lakes Hospice, 304 Main Street, Warsaw, MO 65355.

— Kevin Kaduk/The Star

Kids in Chicago grew up watching Bozo, I grew up watching Virgil Ward. He and his show made a lifelong impact on my brother and I. Along with dad, we never missed his show. One of my first lures was a thing called a Beetle Spin. Yep, Virgil invented it.

I’m turning 40 this year, and I remember this song as though I heard it this morning;

“From the lakes of northern Canada, to the Gulf of Mexico.
Wherever fish are biting, that’s where he’s going to go.
There’s a lot of exciting country just waiting to be explored. So join us now in the great outdoors, the world of Virgil Ward.”

Every Saturday at 5 pm, we would gather around the t.v. to watch.

My sons and I watched Virgil Ward through the years. One thing that I remember is the “famous fish tank demonstration” at the end of the show featuring the beetle spin lure. Remember, “Sometimes we pulled it through with a straight retireve and sometimes we bounced it off the bottom”.

THE WORLD OF VIRGIL WARD

My dad always liked his show. But not me. Nothing against Virgil, fishing shows in general were a BIG waste of time in my young mind. It’s so hard to believe that I used to have a strong disliking to fishing. I thought fishing was the most boring thing on the planet! I had more fun watching ant hills than watching fishing shows!

My…….. how things change. I’d rather fish than most other things and I’m never bored when doing it! Maybe the last time I got a good jogger on the noggin’ set me straight?

There’s no denying his impact on our sport, I just wish I would’ve appreciated it more in a time where I didn’t. I’ll likely never know what I missed.

As Virgil moves on, maybe this’ll leave room for a new fishing guru to take his place in our futures? I’m sure he’ll motivate someone to try and follow in his footsteps.

….. and why is it, that as I say these things, I keep thinking of Jake?