House Resolution 92

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING MR. ALFRED WILLIAMS FOR BEING THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN INDUCTED INTO THE BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME.

WHEREAS, Mr. Alfred Williams, of Jackson, Mississippi, is the first African American to be inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, a truly outstanding achievement; and

WHEREAS, after valiantly serving his country in the Vietnam War, Mr. Williams began fishing in bass tournaments, often as the only African-American competitor, and winning way more than his share, and he joined a local B.A.S.S. Nation bass club, made the Mississippi state team, and then won the 1983 Bassmaster Classic divisional qualifier on the Ross Barnett Reservoir; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Williams earned a berth in the Classic that year on the Ohio River at Cincinnati, Ohio, making history as the first African-American angler ever to qualify for the prestigious championship, and he finished 10th out of 42 contenders, ranking ahead of Hank Parker, Rick Clunn, Denny Brauer and Roland Martin; and

WHEREAS, a true trailblazer, Mr. Williams' success attracted many more African-American anglers to bass fishing and paved the way for Ish Monroe, Mark Daniels, Jr., and other African-American pro anglers to follow; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Williams is also credited with popularizing the use of hollow-body frogs, which accounted for many of his 200 tournament victories on the Ross Barnett Reservoir; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Mr. Williams also added weight to his favorite Snag Proof models to make them ride lower in the water and dramatically improve hook-setting success, and he drew more strikes by adding a rattle chamber to the belly and replacing the stock rubber legs with spinnerbait skirts, and because of this, Snag Proof incorporated his custom alterations in certain tournament models of its frogs; and

WHEREAS, throughout his long, illustrious fishing career, Mr. Williams competed in nearly 300 BASSMASTER and FLW events, winning four pro-level contests and earning numerous Top 10s; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to his community, Mr. Williams continues to serve as a mentor and role model to other African-American anglers in Mississippi and throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and honor extraordinary Mississippians, especially those such as Mr. Williams, whose dedication to the sport of fishing is an inspiration to all and brings honor to his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize and commend Mr. Alfred Williams for being the first African American to be inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and express most sincere wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Alfred Williams, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.