The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) prestigious Homer Circle Fishing Communicator Award was presented to outdoor writer and conservation supporter Robert Montgomery.
The POMA/ASA Homer Circle Fishing Communicator Award recognizes a journalist who exemplifies the spirit, dedication to fishing, extraordinary talent, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of sportfishing communicators as displayed by Homer Circle during his storied career.
The award was presented during the New Product Showcase, the flagship feature of the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST. ICAST is produced by ASA, the sportfishing industry’s trade association. POMA is a member organization representing outdoor media.
A graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, Montgomery is a teacher by natural disposition. He started in the business by writing magazine articles while working as a high school English and journalism teacher. He continued teaching, to a much larger audience, when he became Bassmaster magazine’s first and, so far, only conservation writer in 1985.
“To receive an award named for Homer Circle, a legendary outdoor journalist, whom I grew up reading and, yes, even idolizing, is humbling, to say the least,” said Montgomery. “In this industry, no man is more respected and beloved than the man whom many of us affectionately call, Uncle Homer. It’s an honor to have my name linked with his.”
Montgomery further said, “For a kid who grew up devouring stories about fishing and spending all my money from my part-time job on fishing lures, this honor is a dream come true.”
While Montgomery crafts how-to and where-to fishing articles for many publications, his passion always has been in being an advocate for the resource and in encouraging participation. He believes that if more people fished, the world would be a much better place.
“POMA is proud to stand in partnership with ASA in presenting the 2010 POMA/ASA Homer Circle Fishing Communicator Award,” said Chris Chaffin, president, Chaffin Communications, and POMA’s board of directors Chairman. “This award recognizes the important role outdoor communicators play in educating and informing the public about fishing, boating and conservation. We applaud the talent and professionalism of such an outstanding journalist in that arena. Robert has a clear and insightful contemporary voice and is well deserving of this recognition.”
“Robert has been a strong advocate for conserving our nation’s fisheries and for ensuring that all anglers, novice and avid alike, become more knowledgeable about the issues facing recreational fishing,” added ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “This is a well-deserved honor.”
Today, Montgomery writes mostly for BASS Times and Bassmaster, as well as Stratos , an in-flight publication. He is also the author of “Better Bass Fishing,” published by Countryman Press.
POMA accepts nominations year round for the Homer Circle Fishing Communicator Award. Nominees are not required to be affiliated with a communicator’s organization. The award is presented as deemed appropriate, not necessarily annually, during ICAST.
Professional Outdoor Media Association is a group of individual communicators and corporate partners who believe in, defend, support, and promote the heritage of hunting, fishing, shooting and other traditional outdoor sports through writing, photography, and other means. By doing so, members hope to educate the general public about these sports and encourage more participation in them. The organization serves the membership by helping members grow professionally, improve their skills, better their working environments, and enhance their businesses.
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice speaking out when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also represents the interests of America’s 60 million anglers who generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one million people.By: Mary Jane Williamson, Dir Communications
