Born Carl Richey Cordell, Jr. and known better as “Cotton” due to the color of his hair, Cordell invented some of the fish-catchingest lures ever designed.

The Red Fin, Hot Spot and Gay Blade have filled tackle boxes for decades. Cordell even helped Fred Young with the Big O which started the crankbait craze in 1973.

Cordell supported the industry in many ways, including sponsorship of Bill Dance’s first TV fishing show.

Cordell was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 1988, the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2002.

He died in his home town of Hot Springs, Arkansas at age 86.