By JOHN M. WISE, SR.
Special to the Journal

The Luverne Rotary Club hosted the 23rd annual Lawson Richards Fishing Rodeo for sixth-grade honor students in Crenshaw County.

The rodeo was named after Richards, a longtime representative of the Zebco Company. Zebco, Hick’s Inc. and Rotary teamed up to bring the event to Crenshaw County.

The fishing rodeo was started on May 20, 1982, and has continued each year.

The Luverne Rotary Club purchases catfish and Hicks and Zebco cover lunch and supplies.

The honor students are outfitted with rods, reels, line, floats, stringers and catfish bait.

Rotarians assist all of the students in casting and unhooking the catfish.

Some of these students have never been fishing, so this is an exciting time for them. Other students come experienced and ready to fish.

Luverne Rotary Club was started in 1949 and has continued the legacy of “Service above self” through promoting business ethics, supporting handicapped children, supplying toys for Christmas, library projects Interact (Rotary for high school students), eradication of polio, worldwide and many other local projects.

Rotary International has over 1.2 million members belonging to 34,282 clubs throughout the world.

Those interested in doing something for the community may contact a Rotary member or join the organization for a meeting.

Luverne Rotary Club meets Mondays at the Chicken Shack at noon.