Foundation Outdoor dedicates education centre to long-time instructor and friend

One of the world’s leading fishing rod and tackle crafting component suppliers has dedicated its education centre to a master rod builder and instructor following his death on Christmas Day last year following a brief illness.

The Florida-based Foundation Outdoor Group, owner of brands that include Mud Hole Custom Tackle, American Tackle, MHX and Custom Rod Builder (CRB), has named the facility after Curt Baker, long-time instructor and friend of the business, at a ceremony attended by officials, family and friends earlier this month.

“Not only was Curt a master rod builder and veteran rod building instructor for Mud Hole’s rod building classes, he was a friend,” said Brook Oliva, Foundation Outdoor Group’s President and COO. “Dedicating our education centre to Curt was the least we could do to memorialise our admiration and friendship and his tremendous contributions to the rod building community. Curt was a personal friend for over 20 years and I will miss him dearly.”

The Curt Baker Memorial Education Center is a state-of-the-art, 5000sqft seminar space built specifically for rod building instruction and is also used to host banquets and various fishing and community organisations in need of appropriate events.

“Curt was a dear friend and a pillar of the rod building community,” said Mud Hole and rod building legend Bob McKamey. “It was truly an honour for me to make this dedication on behalf of the company and Foundation Outdoor Group. Having Curt’s wife, Bonnie, and his family members in attendance truly made this a very personal and special day.”

Alongside the renaming of the facility, there is a permanent display honouring Curt Baker, that includes some of his personal custom rods, candid photographs and a memorial plaque.