Biography
Forrest L. Wood was born in Flippin, Arkansas in 1968. He was a cattle farmer and construction worker but was also known as a top fishing guide on Bull Shoals Lake, the White River, Buffalo River, and Crooked Creek. He founded Wood Manufacturing Company in 1968 to make Ranger Boats. He named his boats in honor of the Army Rangers and the Texas Rangers.
Wood started out small – building boats in the back of a filling station. He sold only 6 boats in his first year but the next year sold 600. His boat factory was destroyed by fire in 1971 but re-opened after only 40 days.
Wood is widely known as the developer of the modern bass boat. His innovations led to the rise of multi-billion-dollar industry in sport fishing. He served on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Because of his legend in the sport fishing industry, the Walmart FLW Tour for sport fishing is named for him. He is a member of the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame, Arkansas Walk of Fame, and the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.
Wood started out small – building boats in the back of a filling station. He sold only 6 boats in his first year but the next year sold 600. His boat factory was destroyed by fire in 1971 but re-opened after only 40 days.
Wood is widely known as the developer of the modern bass boat. His innovations led to the rise of multi-billion-dollar industry in sport fishing. He served on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Because of his legend in the sport fishing industry, the Walmart FLW Tour for sport fishing is named for him. He is a member of the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame, Arkansas Walk of Fame, and the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.
Resources
Videos
|
|
|
|