2016 Hall of Fame Inductees
Six renowned outdoor enthusiasts have been inducted to the Mississippi Outdoor Hall of Fame. The 2017 inductees represent the third class of Mississippians who will be recognized and celebrated within the Mississippi Outdoor Hall of Fame exhibit, part of the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Museum, officially opened June 2, 2017 in Leland, Mississippi.
“We’re honored to have this outstanding group of Mississippi outdoorsmen in the Hall of Fame,” said Billy Johnson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Foundation. “They have all contributed a lot to the heritage of the great outdoors in our state and have been willing mentors to younger generations coming up trying to learn how to hunt and fish.”
Ronnie Foy, from Canton, is a master woodsman, hunter, and fisherman who has dedicated his life to the great outdoors. As a legendary guide and game manager, Foy helped develop many of the most successful game management practices that are used in our state today.
Toxey Haas, from West Point, is best known as the founder of Mossy Oak® Brand Camo. After 30 years and over 25 patterns camouflage patterns, Mossy Oak is a leading brand in the outdoors industry. The company has become an outdoors lifestyle brand that aims to get people outdoors whether hunting, planting or preserving.
John Harrison, from Calhoun City, is one of the best fisherman in the country. People from all over the U.S. come to Mississippi to fish with this well-known crappie fishing guide, who has been featured on many nationally televised fishing shows.
As a young boy, Will Primos couldn’t wait until he was old enough to tag along on Primos family duck hunts. In 1963, an 11-year old Will crafted his first duck call, and the rest is history. From that first effort evolved what is now heralded as the most accurate, most reliable call on the market, the legendary Primos Hunting Call. Primos is from Madison.
Wayne Self, from Cruger, served the people of Mississippi over 29 years as a devoted wildlife conservation officer. One of the best all around outdoorsman the state of Mississippi ever produced and a long time hunting guide, he guided the likes of Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia and baseball great Chipper Jones.
Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland from Natchez, has been in the hunting and outdoor industry for over 30 years. He took over his Dad’s outdoor column in the Natchez Democrat in 1978. He sold his first full-length outdoor magazine article to Mississippi Game and Fish publications in 1981 and shot and produced the first hunting video for Primos Game Calls “The Truth About Spring Turkey Hunting” in 1984. Cuz joined the Mossy Oak team in 1987 and worked with Toxey Haas to found Mossy Oak’s Media/Productions department. While at Mossy Oak he has overseen the production of over 40 DVD titles and nearly 1600 episodes of nationally broadcast television that has aired on TNN, ESPN, ESPN2, Outdoor Channel and Pursuit Network.