Arkansas' Penny Berryman, one of the most influential female anglers in the history of competitive bass fishing, has died after battling cancer for several years. George Cochran, a longtime friend of the family, confirmed the news for BassFan this morning.
"She went to sleep (Sunday night) and never woke up," Cochran said.
Berryman was a member of the Bass Pro Shops national team and qualified for championship events on numerous trails. She was the 1997 Bass 'N Gals Angler of the Year and won that circuit's Classic in 1992 and its U.S. Invitational 3 years later. She had four Top-10 finishes on the Women's Bassmaster Tour from 2006-08.
"Penny always was nice to me when I covered the women's tours," said longtime outdoor journalist Alan Clemons. "She was very professional, accommodating and always appreciative."
She's survived by her husband, Dick, and children Sam and Lisa.
