Remembering Bill Schroeder
When Bill Schroeder of Paducah, Ky., succumbed to cancer Saturday at the age of 85, it marked the passing of another pioneer who was instrumental in helping professional bass fishing take its first baby steps, and who then stood behind it along the way until it reached full stride.
Schroeder (seated front, right in the photo above) is the father of current T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League angler Billy Schroeder Jr., and was a fierce competitor during tournament fishing’s infancy and likely would have risen to star status himself had not his business interests required more of his time and attention. Still, he played an essential, though understated, role in the development of professional fishing and was one of its most loyal supporters. In a real sense, he was a true believer who regarded it as an authentic sport worthy of universal respect, and its participants worthy of esteem.
His promotion of tournament fishing can be gauged in the close friends he made along the way: Ray Scott, Forrest and Nina Wood, the FLW family, and every tackle industry mover and shaker of the last half century. Through the decades, a small army of pros were proud to call Schroeder friend: the “Texas gang” that included Tommy Martin and Larry Nixon, Paducah pros such as Dan Morehead and Terry Bolton, George Cochran, Andy Morgan, Ramie Colson Jr., and dozens of others.
“Bill was a pioneer in the sport, particularly in its formative years, and his passion lives on with his family, who are all avid anglers,” says FLW President of Operations Kathy Fennel. “As passionate as he was about fishing, he was equally passionate about supporting his community through charitable contributions that will benefit western Kentucky for years to come. Bill was an incredible angler, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He will be sorely missed.”
Businessman, entrepreneur, passionate outdoorsman, father and family man, Schroeder did many things well, and his devotion to philanthropic causes won him nationwide accolades. Though governors and senators sought his counsel, he was also a friend to anyone who wet a line or toted a gun into a duck blind, no matter their station in life.
Schroeder owned a waterfowl hunting lodge a few miles down the river from Paducah. Last December, Forrest Wood and several pros visited the lodge for a few days to hunt and share time with Schroeder. It was a bittersweet visit, as by that time his closest associates knew that Schroeder’s cancer was terminal and his life was nearing its end.
“We had a good time talking about the old days and reminiscing about things we’d done together,” recalls Forrest Wood. “We used to go down to Mexico, camp out and fish. We had some fine times. Bill was quite a successful businessman, but he never let himself get too far away from the outdoors. Fishing or business, Bill Schroeder was a great human being.”
Services for Schroeder are scheduled for this afternoon at Heartland Worship Center in Paducah. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT with the funeral following.