A legend of the bass fishing industry, Ron Pierce, passed away on Sunday December 4, at the age of 81. He had suffered several strokes in recent years.
Pierce was a pioneer in the bass boat industry, founding Bass Cat in 1971. And he loved participating in the sport. Pierce fished in more than 100 Bassmaster tournaments from 1974 through 2008.
“What Ron did in the boat building industry was important,” said B.A.S.S. co-owner Jerry McKinnis. “But he also supported a lot of anglers. That was really important to the growth of the sport. He was a good partner with B.A.S.S.”
McKinnis is a resident of Mountain Home, Ark., where Pierce also resided. “He was a big influence in the community too,” said McKinnis. “He was mayor here for a while, and he just quietly played a big part in northwest Arkansas, and in the sport bass fishing. He’ll be missed.”
Bass Cat sponsors the following 2016 and 2017 Elite anglers: John Crews, Mike Iaconelli, Kota Kiriyama, Jay Brainard, Seth Feider, Steve Kennedy, Billy McCaghren, Carl Jocumsen, Britt Myers, Adrian Avena, and Gerald Spohrer.
Here’s a video describing the incredible career of Ron, and the company he built.
BCB STORY from JP DeRose on Vimeo.
The full obituary for Pierce is below.
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Ronald E. (Ron) Pierce
May 15, 1935 – December 4, 2016
Born: Nowata, Oklahoma
Ron Pierce, a member of First Baptist Church of Mountain Home, was born to Haskell Howard and Agnes Irene (Elgin) Pierce on May 15, 1935, in Nowata Oklahoma. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Jan Pierce, as well as three children and their spouses: Rick Pierce (Linda), Holly Scott (Keith), and Dee Ezell (Dr. Scott). He had eight grandchildren: Taylor Scott, Cole Ezell (Sally), Ryan Scott, Ryder Pierce (Dana), Jordan Carlisle (Austin), Aaron Scott, Aaron Cochran and Dylan Pierce; as well as four great grandchildren, Carter, Hunter, Emmett and Noah. His adopted son Lang Quang Phuc (Phuong) also had four children John, Aimee, Stacy and Loc, and they in turn provided him with great grandchildren. He is survived by one sister, Donna Sue Hendricks (Benny), and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In addition to his great devotion to his family, Ron engaged successfully and avidly in many hobbies including fishing, flying, baseball, woodworking, archery, golf, public service and the outdoors. He became a licensed pilot in the late 1950s, first owning an Aeronica Chief, and he owned several other planes thereafter. He was a champion archer and noted recurve specialist in the 1950s, manufacturing many top quality bows and arrows.
He loved baseball, and his competitiveness was encouraged by the traditions of northeastern Oklahoma as well as by many friends, roommates and legends. He played collegiately for the Oklahoma Aggies (OSU) and later in many regional leagues, including for the Phillips 66ers.
Ron’s began his professional life as a Plastics Engineer at Phillips 66 Petroleum Company in Research and Development, opening their first PVC production plant in the United States as the Production Manager. That position brought Ron and his family to the Mountain Home, Arkansas, area with Baxter Travenol Laboratories. They were immediately drawn to the area’s pristine beauty and the lure of Lake Norfork when crossing the 62 ferry. That led to ownership of the Dutchman Drive In restaurant from 1969 to 1973, which they purchased from founders Bill and Mary Dean. He was also a skilled homebuilder, and during his lifetime he constructed 10 homes, many for family members, including the homes that he lived in from 1962 through 2004.
Throughout his life, Ron had a great love of boating, which began in high school where he started building kit boats in shop class. Jan’s father stoked his love of fishing, and the family started Bass Cat Boats in 1971. It remains the only major bass boat brand still operated by the founding family. In December of 2011, Bass Cat acquired Yar-Craft Boats and expanded the company’s already-substantial footprint.
Bass fishing was more than a career for Ron. He also immensely enjoyed participating in the sport. Over the years he competed in hundreds of tournaments, including approximately 100 Bassmaster events all across the USA. In the late 80s Ron began visiting Lake Fork in Texas and he and Jan built a second home there where they made many great friendships. Indeed, from coast to coast they are blessed with many friends and acquaintances, including the Bass Cat and Yar-Craft families.
Above all, Ron’s greatest hope was to leave this world a better place and there is no doubt that he surpassed that goal. In addition to his family and his businesses, he was active in civic life. Among his many civic accomplishments, he was very proud of the 1 cent Mountain Home sales tax which was restricted and allocated to construction of the present Mountain Home swimming pool, and anchored both the Mountain Home Street and Water & Sewer Departments. He worked closely and tirelessly on issues related to Cooper Park, Baxter County Regional Airport Terminal, and the AGFC vs. USACE Black River Supreme Court ruling. Along the way he made many friends and earned the respect of a wide variety of civil and state employees for his service. People meant a lot to him.
Arrangements are by Roller Funeral Home in Mountain Home. A Memorial Service will follow Sunday December 11th at First Baptist Church MH, 2:00 PM CDT.