International Game Fish Association -- IGFA -- Inducts Five Into the Fishing Hall of Fame.

Business & News Editors/Outdoor Sports & Environmental Writers

DANIA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 11, 2000

On January 29, 2000 the International Game Fish Association will induct five new members into its Fishing Hall of Fame. The gala ceremony is sponsored by Rolex Watches, USA and is held at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum located at 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida.

IGFA President Michael Leech explains, "The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame was created to recognize and celebrate the true heroes of the sport of game fishing. Today there are more than 60 million anglers in the United States alone, and the men and women we profile in our Fishing Hall of Fame all played a major role in establishing recreational fishing as one of the most widely practiced sports in the world.

"All of the men being inducted this year had a true dedication to conservation, as well as the sport of fishing, which is one of the major missions of the IGFA," adds Leech. "It is with great honor that we add them to our other Fishing Hall of Fame inductees. We are also honored to have Rolex Watches, USA as the title sponsor of these induction ceremonies."

Walter Fischer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rolex Watch USA explains, "We are pleased to be associated with an organization like the International Game Fish Association because of their desire to protect our natural resources."

The IGFA was founded in 1939 by Michael Lerner, "....to encourage the study of game fishes for the sake of whatever pleasure, information, or benefit it may provide; to keep the sport of game fishing ethical and to make its rules acceptable to the majority of anglers; to encourage this sport both as a recreation and as a potential source of scientific data; to place such data at the disposal of as many human beings as possible; and to keep an attested and up-to-date chart of world record catches."

Today there are more than 25,000 dues-paying members in 125 countries, 670 affiliated clubs, and 300 official representatives worldwide. IGFA is universally recognized as the authoritative voice of sport fishing, setting ethical standards and rules that confirm its founders' vision.

Five sport fishing greats are being inducted for 1999.

Theodore S. Williams was born in San Diego in 1918 and became known to the world as Ted Williams, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, garnering many kudos including two triple crowns, two MVP awards and "Player of the Decade" (1950s) by The Sporting News. Williams ranks among the top saltwater and freshwater anglers. The author of "Fishing the Big Three: Tarpon, Bonefish, Atlantic Salmon," he admits his greatest angling thrill is "releasing a great fish."

Ralph Bandini (1884 -1961) served on California's Fish and Game Commission, was involved with many conservation groups, and served on the board of directors for The Tuna Club of Catalina Island. While angling he rubbed elbows with many great angling pioneers including Zane Grey, George Farnsworth and William Boschen. Although he wrote many articles on fishing for Los Angeles area newspapers, he is best known for his three books, "Tight Lines," "Veiled Horizons" and "Men, Fish and Tackle," which are revealing volumes about big game fishing's formative years.

Ernest W. Palmer (1916-1991) hailed from down under in Adelaide, Australia. He was known as a formidable saltwater angler, with notable catches of a 1,148-pound black marlin and a 1,344-pound white pointer shark. He was also known as an avid conservationist, holding posts with the Game Fishing Club of South Australia and the Game Fishing Association of Australia, as well as promoting the formation of the New Zealand Game Fishing Council. Palmer organized and judged numerous national and international tournaments and in 1962 became the first IGFA representative from Australia. In 1978 he became the first IGFA Board of Trustees member ever to be appointed from outside the U.S., and served with distinction throughout his life.

Charles C. Ritz (1891-1976) was the son of Cesar Ritz, whose hotel chain set a world standard for elegance. He grew up in Paris and was internationally known as an angler, author and incurable tinkerer. He invented the prototype parabolic fly rod (built by Pezon et Michel), designed a Vario-Power rod with a glass butt and bamboo tip, and the LL/LF (Long Lift/Long Flex) all-glass rod. Known for his outstanding casting ability, he perfected a technique called "high-speed, high-line." His book, "A Flyfisher's Life," is required reading for any serious fly fisherman. Ernest Hemingway called Ritz "one of the very finest fishermen I know."

JLB Smith (1897-1968) came from South Africa and together with his wife, Margaret, spent a lifetime researching and writing in ichthyology. Professor Smith is credited with identifying 370 fishes new to science, authoring nine books, publishing more than 200 scientific papers and penning more than 400 articles. International fame found Smith in 1938 when he identified the first coelacanth, which was previously thought to have become extinct some 70 million years ago. Named in his honor, The JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology in Grahamstown, South Africa continues to make stellar contributions to the study of marine, estuarine and freshwater fishes.

The IGFA's crowning achievement was the completion of the one-of-a-kind, $32-million IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, FL, part of Sportsman's Park, an anglers' and boaters' paradise sprawled lavishly over 51-acres. The three-story facility includes a 60,000 square-foot, world-class interactive museum; the Fishing Hall of Fame; a living wetlands; seven distinct educational and historical galleries; a marina; an extensive research library; and the IGFA administrative headquarters.

The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum is located at 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach. Museum open daily from 10 a.m. For more information, please call Cheryl McDonald at [phone].

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