If you’re in your teens right now…you’ve probably never heard of him. If you’re in your 20’s, well…odds are still probably against you ever having seen or heard of the TV show Championship Fishing. Granted, if you are in your 30’s there’s a slim possibility the name Virgil Ward might ring of some familiarity. Yet, if you’re in your 40’s or older chances are then damn good Virgil Ward made an impression on your life…at least to some degree.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. On Sundays when I go to church with my family I often daydream by rewinding my life 35 years to a point when I was a young, antsy child tired of sitting on the hard, oak church pews. Nope, the payoff would be coming home from church…entering the house to the smells of a nice roast cooking for the traditional Sunday meal…and plopping down on the floor to watch Roland Martin and then Virgil Ward introduce me to the many piscatorial wonders of the great outdoors.
At the time it seemed like a fair trade off…I would worship in God’s house for an hour and the reward would be a relaxing afternoon watching TV shows that truly amazed my young mind. I guess you could say that Virgil Ward probably influenced me as an outdoorsman more than any other person I’ve never personally met. And I bet there’s a lot of others who can say that very same thing.
“From the lakes of northern Canada
To the Gulf of Mexico.
Wherever fish are biting
That's where we're going to go.
There's a lot of exciting country
Just waiting to be explored.
So join us now in the great outdoors,
The World of Virgil Ward.”
What an awesome theme song. Even 30 years later I can see the eagles flying and the deer scampering up the hillside (along the lake) as this theme song plays on.
Indeed, Virgil was like the father or uncle so many of us wish we had. Knowledgeable about fishing…but not cocky as if he already knew it all. In my mind Virgil was the quintessential outdoorsman who didn’t seem to flaunt his persona like so many would-be outdoor stars of today seem to do. Nope, instead, Virgil…often accompanied by his Grandson, Greg Ward, would invite you along in the boat as if you were his special guest for the day.
As a young angler and sportsman I never felt intimidated by Virgil. Today so many TV show hosts think they need to dazzle you by sharing their vast knowledge of the outdoors. No, Virgil seemed to be content just being out on a lake and fishing. If I wanted to see the big lunker fish I would tune in to Roland (Martin) and his show…but Virgil just made it feel like being outdoors and enjoying nature was one of the most important things in life to be doing.
And so my Sunday afternoons would go…laying in front of the TV vicariously enjoying the outdoors through this legend and his experiences. Oddly enough, it would be years later when I fully realized the true effect Virgil would have on my life.
Of course, I was not alone in that feeling. Had it not been for Al and Ron Lindner being touched by this inspiration of a man, perhaps the Lindners would never have gotten into television. Yes, Virgil Ward in his quiet, unassuming demeanor touched the lives of so many people around him. Even though I never had the pleasure of actually meeting him I have to believe his persona was as genuine and rare as they come.
Yes, even now when I am fishing up north on a Minnesota lake viewing the glorious sights and sounds of nature in between bites…if you listen close enough you just might catch me humming that Championship Fishing tune.
In 2004, at the age of 93 years, we lost Virgil in body, but not in spirit.
Makes me wonder if there a modern day Virgil Ward out there to inspire today’s would-be sportsmen? I sincerely hope so…but I’m not overly optimistic there can ever be another “Virgil Ward.”
May 25, 1911 to September 13, 2004
2008 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.Tags: Virgil+Ward, Championship+Fishing
Add this link to... Bury
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. On Sundays when I go to church with my family I often daydream by rewinding my life 35 years to a point when I was a young, antsy child tired of sitting on the hard, oak church pews. Nope, the payoff would be coming home from church…entering the house to the smells of a nice roast cooking for the traditional Sunday meal…and plopping down on the floor to watch Roland Martin and then Virgil Ward introduce me to the many piscatorial wonders of the great outdoors.
At the time it seemed like a fair trade off…I would worship in God’s house for an hour and the reward would be a relaxing afternoon watching TV shows that truly amazed my young mind. I guess you could say that Virgil Ward probably influenced me as an outdoorsman more than any other person I’ve never personally met. And I bet there’s a lot of others who can say that very same thing.
“From the lakes of northern Canada
To the Gulf of Mexico.
Wherever fish are biting
That's where we're going to go.
There's a lot of exciting country
Just waiting to be explored.
So join us now in the great outdoors,
The World of Virgil Ward.”
What an awesome theme song. Even 30 years later I can see the eagles flying and the deer scampering up the hillside (along the lake) as this theme song plays on.
Indeed, Virgil was like the father or uncle so many of us wish we had. Knowledgeable about fishing…but not cocky as if he already knew it all. In my mind Virgil was the quintessential outdoorsman who didn’t seem to flaunt his persona like so many would-be outdoor stars of today seem to do. Nope, instead, Virgil…often accompanied by his Grandson, Greg Ward, would invite you along in the boat as if you were his special guest for the day.
As a young angler and sportsman I never felt intimidated by Virgil. Today so many TV show hosts think they need to dazzle you by sharing their vast knowledge of the outdoors. No, Virgil seemed to be content just being out on a lake and fishing. If I wanted to see the big lunker fish I would tune in to Roland (Martin) and his show…but Virgil just made it feel like being outdoors and enjoying nature was one of the most important things in life to be doing.
And so my Sunday afternoons would go…laying in front of the TV vicariously enjoying the outdoors through this legend and his experiences. Oddly enough, it would be years later when I fully realized the true effect Virgil would have on my life.
Of course, I was not alone in that feeling. Had it not been for Al and Ron Lindner being touched by this inspiration of a man, perhaps the Lindners would never have gotten into television. Yes, Virgil Ward in his quiet, unassuming demeanor touched the lives of so many people around him. Even though I never had the pleasure of actually meeting him I have to believe his persona was as genuine and rare as they come.
Yes, even now when I am fishing up north on a Minnesota lake viewing the glorious sights and sounds of nature in between bites…if you listen close enough you just might catch me humming that Championship Fishing tune.
In 2004, at the age of 93 years, we lost Virgil in body, but not in spirit.
Makes me wonder if there a modern day Virgil Ward out there to inspire today’s would-be sportsmen? I sincerely hope so…but I’m not overly optimistic there can ever be another “Virgil Ward.”
May 25, 1911 to September 13, 2004
2008 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.Tags: Virgil+Ward, Championship+Fishing
Add this link to... Bury
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