The Hall’s “Super Fan”
By Bruce Stanton
President, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Board of Directors
If there is such a thing as a Bass Fishing Hall of Fame “super fan,” then that person is no doubt Larry Sullivan.
Sullivan lives in Kent, Wash., on the south side of Seattle. That he attended the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame banquet in Springfield, Mo., on Sept. 24 isn’t unusual. That he drove 2,000 miles and nearly 30 hours to attend the festivities might be considered a bit out of the ordinary! (For the record, Larry said his total round trip was 5,600 miles!)
Sullivan didn’t just drive to Springfield for the banquet. He made sure to show up for the “President’s Tailgate!”
OH, WHAT A NIGHT!
Hall of Fame Welcomes Class of 2026
Mike Whitaker thanked his attorney friend who drove him to the ceremony. Rick Pierce thanked his father and countless others. Takahiro Omori was thankful his childhood plan came together.
Gratitude was a theme of the evening inside the White River Conference Center on September 24th as the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame welcomed five new members at its annual induction ceremony. In addition to Whitaker, Pierce and Omori, Don Iovino and Pam Martin-Wells were also recognized for their achievements and contributions to the sport of bass fishing on and off the water.
H O O K P O I N T S
Dance presented with
Ray Murski Award
Joins Scott, Morris, Clunn as recipients of lifetime honor
Bass Fishing Hall of Fame member Bill Dance became the fourth recipient of the prestigious Murski Award during the 2026 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The award recognizes individuals whose lifetime of service, leadership, and impact have left an enduring mark on the sport of bass fishing.
Dance joins an esteemed group of previous recipients that includes Ray Scott, Johnny Morris, and Rick Clunn.
“When you go to a Bassmaster Classic or ICAST or a Bass Pro Shops grand opening, to find Bill Dance you just look for the long line of people,” said Hall of Fame Board President Bruce Stanton. “It’s usually an hour to an hour and a half that people stand in line, to this day, to meet the 86-year-old man with the ‘T’ cap because they love him. And he loves them back.”
For more than five decades, Dance has been one of the sport’s most recognizable ambassadors, introducing countless anglers to bass fishing through tournament competition, television programming, and educational content. His influence extends far beyond the water, helping grow the sport and inspire generations of anglers.
Wearing his signature University of Tennessee cap and Hall of Fame blue blazer, Dance reflected on his friendship with the late Ray Murski, for whom the award is named.
“Ray was a good man – a man of integrity, generosity and character,” Dance said. “He was someone who truly loved this sport and the people in it. I was fortunate enough to call him my friend and that makes tonight all the more meaningful.”
The presentation was one of several memorable moments during Hall of Fame Weekend as the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame celebrated the individuals whose contributions continue to shape the sport’s legacy.
SEA OF BLUE
Past inductees gather to celebrate Class of ’26
Twenty-two Hall of Fame members traveled from across the country to honor the Class of 2026, demonstrating the strong bond and enduring respect shared among bass fishing’s greatest ambassadors. View the full photo gallery.
Preserving the Legacy of
Bass Fishing
One of the core missions of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is to preserve and share the stories of those who helped build our sport. This year, improvements were made to the Hall of Fame display area, including a redesigned plaque hallway that provides greater organization and distinction between inductees.
Visitors can also now view induction class banners displayed throughout the venue, offering a visual timeline of Hall of Fame history. Together, these enhancements strengthen our ability to honor the men and women whose contributions continue to influence the sport we love today.
POV: 1st time attending the
HOF induction banquet
Each year, Hall of Fame induction banquet brings together bass fishing’s greatest legends, industry leaders, and passionate anglers to celebrate the sport’s rich history. For first-time attendees, the experience often exceeds expectations.
For Nick Dumke, attending the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet was both inspiring and eye-opening.
“Hearing the acceptance speeches and how thankful they all were, while also seeing so many legends of the sport all there to support each other was such a cool experience.”
Dumke said some of the day’s most memorable moments included the excitement of the live auction as well as hearing Bill Dance accept the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A first visit through the Hall of Fame left an equally lasting impression.
“Without these people and their history, the sport would be nowhere near where it is today. I think it’s extremely important for everyone to see that history.”
Professional angler Dean Rojas also attended Hall of Fame festivities for the first time. Although he had long been familiar with the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and its inductees, the overall experience surpassed his expectations.
“To be among the industry’s pioneers and trailblazers was a great experience for me.”
A Special Thank You
To everyone who suported and participated
in Celebrate Bass Fishing Week 2026
History’s Caretakers
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors is an inspired group of volunteers from all sectors of the sport who are based around the country and donate hundreds of hours every year to its operation.
The Board’s executive committee includes Bruce Stanton from Fort Smith, Ark; Neil Paul from Anderson S.C., Todd Hammill from Grand Rapids, Minn.; Mike Valster from Pella, Iowa, and John Mazurkiewicz from South Bend, Ind. Other board members include Steve Bowman from Little Rock, Ark.; Todd Ceisner from Buffalo, N.Y.; Daren Cole from Norman, Okla.; Mark Copley from Hot Springs, Ark.; Kathy Fennel from Benton, Ky.; Gene Gilliland from Norman, Okla.; Craig Lamb from Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Tom Lang from Athens, Texas; Alan McGuckin from Skiatook, Okla., Joe Opager from Milaca, Minn; Brandon Palaniuk from Rathdrum, Idaho; Matt Pangrac from Moore, Okla.; Dan Quinn from Hudson, Wis.; Pete Robbins from Vienna, Va.; Keith Stevenson from Revelstoke, British Columbia, and Kevin VanDam from Kalamazoo, Mich. Barbara Bowman, based in Little Rock, Ark., is the Board’s executive director.
If you are interested in offering your time and talent to further the mission of the HOF please contact bbowman@bassfishinghof.com.
Looking Ahead
