Leroy Brown (beloved fish) Home of Ray Scott Pintlala, Alabama (Montgomery County) Submitted by Doug Purcell Inscription reads: MOST BASS ARE JUST FISH, BUT LEROY BROWN WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL

Photo courtesy of Jaxon Monument Company

SCOTT ON-LINE
Ray Scott Outdoors, Inc.

By Ray Scott
Founder, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.)

 The Baddest Bass in Town

I made a nostalgic trip to Eufaula, Alabama recently to visit with Tom Mann’s widow, Ann, and other family members, and to visit the sites of some glorious BASS tournaments on beautiful Lake Eufaula. I also wanted to pay my respects at a most unique monument that was part of Tom Mann’s remarkable legacy and legend – the Tombstone of Leroy Brown.

Yes, it is the final resting place of a bass – Leroy Brown in fact, the baddest bass in town. Buried in 1981, Leroy’s monument sits in a quiet spot behind Tom Mann’s former Fish World, site of a mammoth aquarium that Leroy called home.

Named for the character in Jim Croce’s blockbuster hit of the 70’s, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” Leroy the bass fell for a strawberry Jelly Worm fished by Tom Mann in 1973.

Tom told me the fish was just different from the other bass. He had, according to Tom, “intelligent eyes” that appeared to perch near the top of its head. The two bonded in some mysterious way and Tom took him home to his 38,000 gallon aquarium where Leroy soon took command. For nearly eight years he ruled the waterworld at Tom’s Fish World, an attraction for tourists and anglers alike in the old southern river port city.

Tom claimed Leroy Brown was a quick study. Despite various lures dropped into the test tank over the years, Leroy didn’t fall for another fake. Mann claimed he would turn and hit any lure with his tail. Also, Leroy was known to protect the female bass, bumping the ladies away from a lure as a warning to take lockjaw. He was especially aggressive in protecting a bed of freshly laid eggs.

Leroy finally died of old age. The famous fish was placed in a velvet-lined coffin (a Plano tacklebox) and sprinkled with Mann’s Jelly Worms. A memorial service was held and more than 700 fans attended including fishing luminaries such as Forrest Wood, Hank Parker, Roland Martin, Orlando Wilson and many more.

The Eufaula High School band played Croce’s song. Telegrams from the likes of Hank Williams Jr., Porter Wagoner and Jerry Reed expressed their regrets at the passing of a special bass. I gave the eulogy with a lump in my throat even though all was in mock solemnity. There were tears in many eyes. Leroy represented a shared passion for those present. So many good times in so many places.

But during the night, some individual or individuals stole the body of Leroy Brown and the coffin. Tom Mann offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the grave robbers and finding Leroy’s remains. Weeks later, a telephone call from the Tulsa OK international airport reported, “We have a box here and it smells pretty bad. Could be your Leroy Brown.”

The culprits were never unveiled or the mysterious disappearance of Leroy Brown solved. But the remains were buried and Tom erected the tombstone and statue at considerable cost to make the final resting place for Leroy Brown.

Looking back, in spite of the fun and the tongue in the cheek, we all loved and respected Leroy. He was everything I admired in the bass. He was tough, smart and independent. A worthy opponent sought out by worthy fishermen.