Tom Mann, fishing expert, TV personality, and jelly worm inventor, died on February 11, 2005, of complications from open heart surgery. Tom owned Tom Mann's Fish World, Eufaula, Alabama.

Mann, 72, joins his beloved fish, Leroy Brown the Largemouth Bass, immortalized in 1981 when Tom held a funeral for him and built a monument behind Fish World. Tom Mann's Fish World, which included a 38,000 gallon aquarium complex, closed in 2003. Tom could often be found hanging out at Fish World or his adjacent budget fishing gear store, and would chat with fisherman and Leroy Brown tourists (like us).

As a professional bass angler, Tom developed innovative lures, and sold them in packaging featuring his face, a first in the industry. His television programs helped to promote Lake Eufaula.

Mann was buried at the Fairview Cemetery Addition in Eufaula.

[02/28/2005]