SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— For Immediate Release — Mar. 18, 2025 — When talk begins to center around the significant figures in the history of Texas bass fishing, no conversation is complete without a mention and nod to Earl Golding and Phil Marks.

Both were proud Texans whose vast contributions to the sport made them easy choices to receive the Meritorious Service Award from the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. Golding was a Waco-based sportswriter who is credited with starting the first competitive bass tournament while Marks played a pivotal role in developing numerous tournament-proven baits for Strike King that turned into top sellers.

Both Golding and Marks will be honored posthumously at a Hall of Fame function Thursday, March 20 in Fort Worth, Texas. They are the sixth and seventh recipients, respectively, of the MSA.

“Learning more about these two gentlemen through our Board’s process in honoring them with the Meritorious Service Award allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation for the impact they had and still have on the sport of bass fishing,” said BFHOF Board President John Mazurkiewicz. “It will be the Board’s honor to celebrate this special recognition with Earl’s and Phil’s family, friends and industry associates in their home state of Texas at one the biggest annual events in the bass fishing world.”

When the late bass fishing legend and Hall of Famer Ray Scott recognizes you by saying “Earl … without a doubt should be considered a forefather of competitive bass fishing,” millions of bass angler deserve to know more about Golding.

He began his career at the Waco (Texas) Tribune-Herald as a sports reporter in 1949 and began covering Texas’ flourishing hunting and fishing scenes a year later. In 1955, he hatched the idea of a fishing tournament to be sponsored by the newspaper as a way to determine who was the best bass angler in the state. Held at the newly-impounded Lake Whitney, the invitation-only tournament was the first of its kind not only in Texas, but in the nation. Seventy-five anglers were invited and 73 showed up to fish.

As word of the tournament spread, Golding received letters from anglers across the state expressing interest in competing the following year. In response, Golding instituted an open format, and the event has been going strong ever since. This year’s Texas State Bass Tournament, as it’s presently known, is scheduled for April 26-27 at Toledo Bend Reservoir. The event will mark its 70th anniversary in 2026. It is believed to be the world’s oldest “open” bass fishing competition and has maintained the tradition of awarding the tournament champion only a commemorative wall plaque that carries the inscription “Winner of the State Tournament”. There is no cash payout.

Golding, with support from his wife, Martha, served as the tournament director for 25 years and did so without receiving any compensation. In 1998, Golding was the fifth inductee in the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2007 at age 81.

While Golding created the tournament framework for anglers to scratch their competitive itch, Marks spearheaded the development of baits that helped anglers from all backgrounds catch more fish.

Marks was a proud graduate of Texas A&M and spent his professional life in the fishing industry. He served as Strike King’s head of research and development and vice president of sales for many years. He collaborated with key pro anglers to design and refine baits that helped win numerous titles at every level of tournament angling. From Bassmaster Classic titles, Bassmaster and FLW Angler of the Year titles and numerous wins across the Bassmaster, FLW and MLF circuits and events worldwide, Marks helped solidify Strike King’s status as a premier lure manufacturer. It’s difficult to truly measure Marks’ influence and accomplishments within the fishing industry.

“Phil Marks was instrumental in the success of Strike King in many ways,” said former Strike King president John Barns. “Not only was he a talented and innovative lure designer, he was also very involved in selling Strike King products to several of our largest accounts nationwide. He was an incredible fisherman as well, winning countless tournaments, many times using lures that he designed. Phil was bigger than life in the fishing industry and had close relationships with many professional fishermen and industry leaders. He was loved and respected by all. His mark on the industry will be felt for years to come.”

One of his signature creations was the Strike King 10 XD crankbait, which he introduced to the world during his victory at the 2012 Sam Rayburn FLW Tour Open. He used a prototype version of the bait, along with other Strike King lures, to amass 82 pounds over four days, including a 32-pound, 12-ounce limit on the final day. That win and the exposure it created for the 10 XD catapulted the lure to one of the all-time winningest baits in major tournament history.

Outside of his business pursuits and his passion for the outdoors, Marks was a devoted family man, coaching sports teams for his children and sharing his passion for life with family and friends. He passed away at age 55 in 2020.

“The best words I have to describe Phil is that he uniquely embodied everything that is right about the fishing industry and this lifestyle we’re all so passionate about,” said Ken Eubanks, CEO of Rather Outdoors, Strike King’s parent company. “Phil was unique, genuine and authentic in everything he did, both within his profession, and his life overall. He is deeply missed, and I consider him a truly irreplaceable part of our company, and my life, along with the many other lives he’s touched over the years.”

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The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors and is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. Since 2017, the Hall’s inductees and memorabilia representing the history of bass fishing have been showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo., where it has rapidly become a popular destination. Bass Fishing Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are held annually on the last Thursday in September at the White River Conference Center inside Wonders of Wildlife. For more information about the Hall, its mission, and to become a supporting member, visit www.BassFishingHOF.com, or contact BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at [email protected].