Ranger Boats founder and fishing industry legend Forrest L. Wood received one of the highest honors bestowed on members of the angling community when he was inducted into the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Hall of Fame on Oct. 26.
Wood joins an impressive list of angling pioneers and luminaries in the IGFA Hall of Fame, including Curt Gowdy, Homer Circle, Ray Scott, Zane Grey, Ernest Hemingway, Izaak Walton and others. Inclusion into the IGFA’s Hall of Fame, located in Dania Beach, Fla., is open to anglers, captains, scientists, conservationists, writers and industry leaders who make significant contributions to the sport and requires the approval of the IGFA Board of Trustees.
In its induction of Wood, the IGFA said: “Though Forrest sold Ranger Boats in 1987, two original trademarks remain: his white cowboy hat and his wife of almost 60 years, Nina, the first Lady of Ranger. Forrest and Nina are the two halves of the success story that is Ranger Boats, a company that rose to preeminence in the industry, took hold, set firsts, and defined standards. And as Forrest helped make bass anglers rock stars and fishing tournaments major media events, he never lost sight of the importance of the sport and the value of the experience to individuals and to families. For his enduring vision, the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame honors Forrest Wood.”
Wood is also a member of numerous other shrines, including the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, Arkansas Business Hall of Fame, International Boating Hall of Fame and the National Marine Manufacturers Hall of Fame. In addition to being the namesake of FLW Outdoors, he's received a Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Sportfishing Association of America and the BASS Federations and was also named on of the “50 Legends of Fishing” by Field & Stream.
