That sound corny? It's not. I'm talkin' as the child of two immigrants -- they didn't have a clue about bass fishing, let alone why I'd "chuck" a fancy college degree to take a risk on the bassin' world. Well, wish they'd met Forrest Wood. Because if they did, then they'd understand a whole bunch of the why.

For what it's worth, here's my impression of Forrest -- from up close and personal, and also other stuff:

Solid and unchanging -- He was himself and he was a solid person, meaning someone you could count on. He didn't change to "fit the times" or whatever. There's great peace for everyone when someone is like that.

Worked hard and inspired -- Forrest, Ranger Boats, his family, Vexus Boats and I'm sure whatever else Forrest had a hand in had/has a huge Wood work ethic that inspired people to work hard. They were INSPIRED -- they weren't guilted into it or whatever. Folks WANTED to work hard for Forrest. That's unusual and great.

High bar and customer service -- I never worked with or for Forrest, but I assume from knowing folks who did and seeing what they produced that he insisted on a high bar...meaning high quality. I love that. I mean, why do it any other way? Same for customer service: You could find none better than Ranger. Period.

Loved every minute -- The only times I saw Forrest not smiling were when he was listening, maybe giving instructions to someone, or thinking of a good/funny line to throw at you. To me seemed like he had JOY, which is different than happiness. Joy is internal and flows out, happiness is a fickle state of being. How I see it anyhow.

Humble and did not have to be the center of attention -- Forrest commanded attention because of who he was (pioneer and legend), how he was (calm and intentional) and how tall he was. But he never NEEDED to be the center of attention. He was humble and gracious.

He and Nina supported folks -- I bet no one knows how many people Forrest and Nina encouraged and "saved" in the bassin' biz, and I bet outside of it. They encouraged people, they financed people, and no doubt they've done other things for people. I'm sure the number is in the thousands. That's amazing.

He loved bassin' -- He loved it. He loved the people in it. He loved us all. And I'm pretty sure he was grateful for it all too.

To me those are qualities of an ultra-solid American man. Solidly 100% American. That's how I see it anyhow. How great would it be to be remembered for even half that list!

I didn't know Forrest well, but here's one quick personal story from way back:

I started in the bassin' biz in the early '90s. I was a real enthusiastic long-haired Yankee (had a ponytail, it was pretty long!), showed up at my first Classic working for B.A.S.S. media. I was like, Wow here's all the people I've admired, in person!

Since that was before the internet and cell phones, I only "knew" 'em from Bassmaster Mag and TV. They had no idea who I was or what I looked like -- with no 'gram, how could they! Anyhow, I was for sure the only dude at the entire Classic with long hair. Didn't bother me at all, just making a point...

...which is: It didn't bother Forrest one bit either. When I met him, he was super gracious, understood who I was (a new B.A.S.S. writer), actually welcomed me to bassin' (pretty sure it was, "We're glad to have you") and remembered me the next time I saw him, which was probably the next Classic.

Don't know if you can feel what I was feeling there, but man -- it blew me away. Forrest Wood! And he was the same every time I saw him: welcoming, remembered who I was, gracious and intentional.

Gotta shout out being intentional: It's one of the best qualities a person can have. When you talked to Forrest, he looked you dead in the eyes and never got distracted.

Forrest was a great man. As a so-so man myself, and a bass-head, I miss him already. But lucky for us we can still see him in what he left us, including the folks in his family and in a bunch of stuff in bassin', like boats.

Thank you Forrest. Thanks a ton. Love from one bass-head.

Just gonna list SOME of it:

Ranger Boats and Flippin, AR -- You can't throw a catfish in Flippin without it landing near someone who knows the Woods, is related to the Woods, benefited from the Woods or knows how to do something related to building a bass boat. That's beautiful man, wow.

B.A.S.S., Ray Scott, Helen Sevier -- Forrest supported their eras of B.A.S.S. and vice versa. Believe Ranger sponsored B.A.S.S. from 1972 to 2000. Ray said:


Vexus Boats -- Run by Forrest's family. Family that's related by blood but not only blood cuz that Flippin bass boat industry is one big family.

Pros -- He and Nina supported too many to name, but here's a couple famous dudes who are still at it:

(I think that's ^ Tommy Biffle?)

Suppliers -- Even though I don't know for sure, I'm sure anyway that Forrest, Nina and Ranger "made" some suppliers/vendors...meaning their biz created other businesses and employment for folks. To me, that's the ultimate in business: making lives and families possible for people.

Oh yeah:

Forrest won the 1979 B.A.S.S. New York Invitational on the St. Lawrence River with 47-03 (3 days) -- Hank Parker says it "was the first time anyone ever won a B.A.S.S. event with nothing but smallmouth bass." Forrest also qualified for the '72 and '79 Bassmaster Classics where he finished 24th and 9th respectively.

Check Hank talkin' the '79 Classic, which he won:

Wow man, just wow.

Forrest fished 101 B.A.S.S. tourneys (the last in '92) and had 28 top 10 finishes...but only finished in the money 26 times?? Anyhow, he could fish! Before building boats he was a fishing guide....

Here's Ray, Hank and Forrest, from Bassmaster.com:



For more Forrest bassin' info, read these posts about Forrest's life -- by Colin Moore at FLW and Craig Lamb at B.A.S.S. They're the best ones I've seen.

If you think it's easy to have a family biz or have folks who work for you think they're part of one big family, think again. It's rare. It happens because of who's at the top and what the work environment is -- meaning how the folks who work there are thought of and treated. So here's a little family:

Ranger Boats family -- should be about 100 pics but....



Then Vexus Boats:

Forrest was also community -- here's just one example in Flippin:


Dang I know I'm not doing this justice but you know what I'm sayin'....

He was a fishing guide who built boats because he knew he could do it better, saw the need for a bass-specific boat, and probably wanted some stuff on his boat that wasn't available on other ones. That's how it all started.

Here's the first Ranger Boat, 1968 -- Forrest in the bow:


Believe this is the first Ranger bass boat, also a '68:


Ever since then, bass fishing has been on the map. That was '68 -- check these dates:

> 1967: B.A.S.S. founder Ray Scott held his first tournament, named the All-American.

> 1968: B.A.S.S.'s first newsletter was sent out, which would eventually become Bassmaster Magazine.

So...Forrest built a bass boat, and from that he created a company, helped create a national and international sport/pastime, supported many folks and helped many of their dreams come true, created jobs and careers which led to families and their dreams and careers, supported his community, and did who knows how many other positive things for folks everywhere.

Pretty darn stout.

2. Former AR Gov Mike Huckaby tweeted this:

Jerry McKinnis told this story almost 10 years ago on Bassmaster.com -- here's a piece of it:

How they met:

Too cool.

What became Bull Shoals ( from here):

Forrest and Jerry fishing for salmon and trout in Canada, on The Fishin' Hole. These guys fished for a whole lotta trout on the White River too:



Fishing the White River with Orlando Wilson -- remember that show? Forrest is totally chill guiding that river boat with a paddle:



Fishing with Jimmy Houston. Forrest knew how to hold a fish for pics!



Forrest and Nina in the vid of Jerry Hopper's country tune about working at Ranger back in the day: