Villis P. “Bo” Dowden

Sport: Fishing

Induction Year: 2021

He won bass fishing’s most prestigious event, the Bassmaster Classic, on the St. Lawrence River (N.Y.) in 1980, highlighting 14 appearances in that event. 

The Natchitoches native and Northwestern State graduate, who has been a Sabine Parish businessman for over three decades, had career winnings of $235,261.79 through Bassmaster events, not including earnings from various other trails. In the late 1980s, Dowden was one of the top six earners among all anglers.

His 1980 Bassmaster Classic victory was a “wire-to-wire” triumph over three days and received network television coverage from ABC-TV’s 20/20 news magazine in a segment hosted by Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters, providing a big boost for the sport and expanding the fan base considerably. Topped by a 6-pound, 6-ounce bass he called “Queen Bee” caught on the final day, Dowden’s 54-pound, 10-ounce haul provided a 10-pound, 9-ounce winning margin that is the fourth-largest in Bassmasters Classic history 41 years later. The weight was second-best in the 10-year history of the event and ranked sixth in its first 30 years (13th now in 51 years).

His 1980 Bass Masters Classic win was worth $41,000 and was the first career win by the Northwestern State alumnus. It highlighted an impressive stretch in the sport’s focal event – Dowden was second in the 1976 Classic and third in 1977 and 1982. Overall, he finished second in four tournaments, third five times and was in the top 10 of 25 tournaments. He was in the money in 57 percent of the tournaments he entered, including 99 of 241 on the BASS tour. His best years on the pro circuit were in 1977 when he was second, third and fifth in pro events, and in 1981 when he had two thirds and a second.

In 2004, ESPN Outdoors and BASS named him among the 35 greatest anglers of all-time. Born 7-6-1941 in Natchitoches.