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I made a
nostalgic trip to Eufaula, Alabama recently to visit with Tom
Mann’s widow, Ann, and other family members, and to visit the
sites of some glorious BASS tournaments on beautiful Lake
Eufaula. I also wanted to pay my respects at a most unique
monument that was part of Tom Mann’s remarkable legacy and
legend – the Tombstone of Leroy Brown.
Yes, it is
the final resting place of a bass – Leroy Brown in fact, the
baddest bass in town. Buried in 1981, Leroy’s monument sits in
a quiet spot behind Tom Mann’s former Fish World, site of a
mammoth aquarium that Leroy called home.
Named for
the character in Jim Croce’s blockbuster hit of the 70’s, “Bad,
Bad Leroy Brown,” Leroy the bass fell for a strawberry Jelly
Worm fished by Tom Mann in 1973. |
Tom Mann rests beside the monument he erected to Leroy Brown
after his funeral in Eufaula, Alabama in 1981. |
Tom told me the
fish was just different from the other bass. He had, according to
Tom, “intelligent eyes” that appeared to perch near the top of its
head. The two bonded in some mysterious way and Tom took him home
to his 38,000 gallon aquarium where Leroy soon took command. For
nearly eight years he ruled the waterworld at Tom’s Fish World, an
attraction for tourists and anglers alike in the old southern river
port city.
Tom claimed
Leroy Brown was a quick study. Despite various lures dropped into
the test tank over the years, Leroy didn’t fall for another fake.
Mann claimed he would turn and hit any lure with his tail. Also,
Leroy was known to protect the female bass, bumping the ladies away
from a lure as a warning to take lockjaw. He was especially
aggressive in protecting a bed of freshly laid eggs.
Leroy finally
died of old age. The famous fish was placed in a velvet-lined
coffin (a Plano tacklebox) and sprinkled with Mann’s Jelly Worms. A
memorial service was held and more than 700 fans attended including
fishing luminaries such as Forrest Wood, Hank Parker, Roland Martin,
Orlando Wilson and many more.
The Eufaula
High School band played Croce’s song. Telegrams from the likes of
Hank Williams Jr., Porter Wagoner and Jerry Reed expressed their
regrets at the passing of a special bass. I gave the eulogy with a
lump in my throat even though all was in mock solemnity. There were
tears in many eyes. Leroy represented a shared passion for those
present. So many good times in so many places.
But during the
night, some individual or individuals stole the body of Leroy Brown
and the coffin. Tom Mann offered a $10,000 reward for information
leading to the grave robbers and finding Leroy’s remains. Weeks
later, a telephone call from the Tulsa OK international airport
reported, “We have a box here and it smells pretty bad. Could be
your Leroy Brown.”
The culprits
were never unveiled or the mysterious disappearance of Leroy Brown
solved. But the remains were buried and Tom erected the tombstone
and statue at considerable cost to make the final resting place for
Leroy Brown.
Looking back,
in spite of the fun and the tongue in the cheek, we all loved and
respected Leroy. He was everything I admired in the bass. He was
tough, smart and independent. A worthy opponent sought out by
worthy fishermen. |
