Brian Sowers Legacy…
“It didn’t matter where you placed, Brian always made you feel like you were the best angler that ever was.” - everyone
In gathering stories on Brian Sowers and how he impacted the lives he touched through crappie fishing; this statement was a common phrase amongst the anglers.
Brian had a personal love for crappie fishing as a sport. He knew where everyone had been and how they placed, even if it wasn’t on his stage.
He always took time to connect on a level that made everyone matter. He gave attention to detail about people, and he never forgot those things about them.
Brian never met anyone he didn’t care for and was an easy person to be friends with. Everyone enjoyed being around him. He was never negative, ever, and always found a way to make everything good, no matter the circumstance.
Socially Brian didn’t’ have any clicks. He took the time to hang out with everyone. Whether it was to sit and eat at a table, hang out in the parking lot, or go fishing, he spent a lot of time with a lot of different people.
Family time was very important to Brian. Mike Valentine, who traveled the trail 10 years with Brian says, “he talked about his grandson often, and that he would see something while out traveling and say, “Oh he’d love that”!
Also, any time his phone rang, and it was his wife, he’d stop everything and answer. She was his number one.”
Over the years Brian donated much of his time to many events, helping organizations in any way he could, fundraising or otherwise.
He was highly involved in the Missouri State Fair emceeing events and spent a lot of time every year with the fair helping in any way he could.
Mike adds, “Brian was a very giving guy all around. I’d tell him it’s okay to say no sometimes, but he was always in to do whatever he could to help anywhere he was able.”
Brian’s love for the outdoors was incredible, not just for crappie fishing, he loved all things outside.
He bass fished prior to crappie fishing and had been around the tournament game for a while. Then crappie grew on him, and the rest is history!
Brian also had an active role in agriculture, as ag had always been a part of his life. He partnered with Renewable Fuels Association as an advocate for clean water.
Brian took many trips to Washington DC and wrote his own speeches. He would testify in hearings and fly up to lobby and speak on behalf of the association. Cleaner air and water, and what we are leaving the next generation, were very important to him.
He had a radio show called “In the outdoors with Brian”. He used this platform to share his passion about cleaner emissions and water and preserving the land for future generations.
When it came to the rising generation, he was very passionate about encouraging the youth to be involved in the outdoors, telling the parents to take their kids outside and make memories. He would ALWAYS stress how important it is to get kids outside.”
We in the crappie fishing world can still hear Brian’s heart and his key phrase “give a kid a tackle box, not an X box!”
Brian, we are going to do just that!
Brian’s legacy lives strong and we are excited to honor him in this legacy tournament, scholarship dinner event, and kids fishing tournament.
If you didn't have the opportunity to know Brian, you will feel much of who he was in this weekend of events. For the anglers who knew him, we look forward to you sharing everything he meant to you and how he impacted your life.
Let's get it on!
Hosted by Crappie Anglers of Texas, Marion County Commissioners Court, and Crappie Masters
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Presented by Lake O the Pines Chamber of Commerce and Patterson Pest Patrol
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Made possible by these great sponsors! Thank You!!!
Platinum Sponsors: Jimmy Granger Outdoors, HH Rods and Reels, Edgar Rods, and Power Brakes.
Gold Sponsors: WindRider, Off Shore Tackle Co., Crappie NOW, Circle C Trailers, Kevin Rogers Fishing, Power Crappie LLC: Home of Todd Huckabee Rods, Outlaw Crappie Poles, LeTourneau University, PBR, J.E. Adams Enterprises, LLC, KYKX Radio, Pompey Creek Ranch, BoneHead Tackle, That Window Guy, Port A Jon, Louisiana Power Sports, and XTRATUF.
Silver Sponsors: National Crappie League, Plants of Texas, CLM Custom Homes, Clay Gann Crappie Guide Service, Brookshire's Grocery Company, Lowes Home Improvement, Froebe & Son Crappie Co., Lt. Dan's Crappie Co., Slab Syndicate Crappie Jigs, Kris Wittu in Honor of John Wittu, BeatDown Outdoors, Reelin' Them In Guide Service, Shut-Up-And-Fish.com, Jerry Hancock Fishing, River Bottom Boys Guide Service, X Series Fishing, REMAX Integrity Lindale, B'n'M Fishing, Operation Freedom Outdoors, 903 Fishing, Team Reeve/Ovarian Cancer Awareness, Darrin Morris Band, Tuley's Karaoke & DJ, Armed Texans, Combs Pressure Washing, Jimmy Wallace Construction, From House to Home Properties, Kelly Anderson Realtor, ACC Crappie Stix, Oak River Media, KETK Fox 51, Brad Wiegmann Photography, Bullfrog Marina, Big Mike Jones Redneck Adventures, MAD Crappie Jigs, Legacy Tackle, Lakeside Lure and Tackle, Something's Fishy, ATX Lure Company, Kai's Custom Jigs, Corbett's Catfish and MORE, PMI Tyler, Air Boss Motion Decoys, Trail Ridge Cattle Co., Lonestar Crappie Jigs, Fast Eddies' Hot Rods, Catfish Chad Guide Service, Vicious Fishing, Lake O the Pines RV Resort, Red River Leather, Jig N' Jerk Guide Service, Odd Ball Branding, Walmart, 5D Cattle Company and Steak House, KSLA News 12, Charlie Brewer's Slider Co., Crappie Magnet, Donnie Johnson's Crappie Guide Service, Black Speck Fishing, and Grounds Construction LLC, JeeJees Party on Wheels
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