Inductees

John L. Morris is an Ozark native who learned his love of the outdoors at an early age. Hunting and fishing in the Missouri hills left an indelible mark on him. That mark has inspired him to encourage millions of people to gain a greater appreciation of the outdoors and take a hand in protecting our natural resources.

A graduate of Glendale High School and Drury College in Springfield, Mo, his lifelong love of the outdoors led him to pursue competitive fishing and eventually to qualify for five consecutive Bassmaster’s Classic World Championships. John’s love of fishing and first hand communications with anglers inspired him to found Bass Pro Shops in 1971.

Today, Johnny Morris continues to travel the globe in pursuit of giant bluefin tuna, marlin and many more of the most coveted of angling trophies. He is considered one of the world’s foremost big game anglers and in 1992 received the Fisherman of the Year award from the Sport Fishing Institution.