Page 97 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2024

Richard Parker of Beaumont, Mississippi, an avid bass angler and retired U.S. Army warrant officer, wanted to give back something to youths, veterans and others who serve the public.
In 2015, he founded Bass Tactix Outdoors as a youth and adult bass fishing trail sanctioned by Major League Fishing, the Bass Federation and the Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail. Bass Tactix provides a competitive venue for young people from kindergarten through high school, including home-schooled youngsters,
to compete for cash, prizes and scholarships during fishing tournaments held in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee.
“When I was growing up, we didn’t have things like this for youth anglers,” Parker recalls. “In most other youth sports, adults observe from the sidelines. However, Bass Tactix brings a coach, often a parent or other family member, and a team of young people into the competition. Only in Bass Tactix are coaches allowed to compete against other coaches during the tournament. Bass Tactix qualifies youth anglers
for the TBF and MLF Big 5 Series, National and World Finals, and our own G. G. King National Invitational
Championship.”
During the 2024 season, Bass Tactix
gave away more than $4.8 million
in cash, prizes and scholarship opportunities to about a thousand people. Approximately 520 youngsters between the ages of 5 and 18 years old participated. More than 180 adults, including about 125 veterans, also participated, but it’s not just about fish.
“Bass Tactix is a Christian-based, non-profit youth and adult fishing tournament trail,” Parker explains. “We are also a youth and veterans outdoor ministry. We hold youth and veteran events throughout the year. In the Community Biblical Outreaches, all are welcome to come hear the Word of God with some of the best Biblical speakers in the county.”
Periodically, Bass Tactix teams with other groups, such as the Kiln chapter of Kidz Outdoors Network, to host events for disabled children. Bass Tactix provides boats and high school anglers to take people fishing at a private 80- acre lake.
“We feed them breakfast,” Parker says. “After breakfast, we put them in the boats with our anglers. We allow one
of the parents of the disabled children to get on the boat as well. They fish for about three hours. We feed them lunch,
weigh their fish and give out awards and fishing tackle. We provide the boats and the means of fishing for the kids, but
we are just part of that program with others.”
As a veteran himself, Parker also hosts various events for veterans and first responders throughout the year. This could include fishing, cookouts and other activities. Vets never pay anything for any of these activities.
“We invite all veterans into the Bass Tactix program,” Parker states. “We host events to honor our military veterans and first responders with
no charge to our veterans. We hold veteran family days where veterans and first responders can gather to enjoy
a nice day of fishing, family fun and entertainment. We’re giving back to the veterans and public service people for what they do for us.”
Bass Tactix receives no tax money. All funding comes from donations or sponsors. For more information or to make a donation, call Parker at 601.307.8492. Online visit www. basstacticsmshs.com or look it up on Facebook and other social media.
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