Deserving reconnection for Jim Grandt, a true craftsman
It's not about what a person does for a living. It's also not about how someone smiles for the camera.
The main factor contributing to a solid character profile is connected to how a man and or a woman is perceived in the eyes of contemporaries.
Jim Grandt wore a beautiful suit when he was called to the White House. The U.S. Secret Service dismantled the finely crafted wooden box he carried with him into the West Wing. They obviously were looking for something that could be harmful to President George H.W. Bush.
Of course, nothing was discovered so Grandt and his wife, Jacquelyn, were ushered in to shake hands with President Bush and present him with a custom rod that Grandt had fashioned for our commander in chief, who is an ardent angler.
That's just one small, but nevertheless highly important line among Grandt's many accomplishments.
This weekend the Illinois Outdoors Hall of Fame welcomes Jim Grandt to its ranks.
Dozens of nominee's names were put in the hopper, and Grandt's happened to be the one lucky individual the Illinois Conservation Foundation named to the Hall of Fame.
Jim has served as president of Grandt Industries, an Illinois-based outdoors equipment manufacturing, engineering and marketing firm, for 34 years. The company is best known for its American-made custom fishing rods and golf clubs.
Grandt is also a supporter of countless conservation causes, including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Trout Unlimited, Salmon Unlimited, the Illinois Conservation Foundation, and Safari Club International, with an emphasis on programs for promoting youth involvement in conservation and the outdoors.
Grandt also provides equipment giveaways for youth and sponsors food drives in the community. On Grandt's dedication to youth conservation education, one nominator wrote: "He realized early on that the future of our great outdoors lies in the hands of our youth, and that education and hands on experience is what seals the deal with our upcoming generations."
Well deserved, Mr. Grandt.
• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.