GILBERTSVILLE, Ky., Star Bass fishing great bass fisherman, 34-year-old David Walker of Cannon, Kentucky, will soon be seen at the breakfast table of millions of Americans when he joins the ranks of America’s other top sports celebrities as the newest attraction on the cover of the Wheaties cereal box. David Walker, the winner of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour points title, will be the second fishing champion in as many years to be featured on the cereal box whose name has become synonymous with “Breakfast of Champions.”
Walker earned the distinction after being crowned the Land O’ Lakes Angler-of-the-Year Points Champion at the conclusion of the second day of competition during the $1 million Forrest Wood Open, the sixth event of the $3.97 million, 1999 Wal-Mart FLW Tour, that was held in on Lake St. Clair June 23-26, 1999, near Detroit. The tour is the most lucrative fishing series in history.
In the cereal’s 74-year history, Walker is only the second angler to be featured on the Wheaties box, an honor shared by sports icons, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and other champion athletes. Camdenton, Missouri’s Denny Brauer was the first angler featured in the box’s history last year.
“Obviously, I am delighted about the honor and recognition I am receiving, said Walker, the most consistent angler in Wal-Mart FLW Tour history.” Being on the Wheaties box is the highlight of my fishing career.
Walker began fishing when he was old enough to hold a fishing pole. His father was an early influence in his fishing career and remains a devoted fan to this day. Walker was born in 1965 in Detroit, Michigan. His earliest exposure to fishing came when his father took him fishing on Lake St. Clair. Walker returned to the lake for the recent $1 million Forrest Wood Open, where he placed seventh and earned $25,000. The finish also marked the tenth time that he had advanced to the finals in an FLW Tour event, more than any angler in the tour’s history.
David Walker has always dreamed of fishing full-time for a living. In October of 1998, he made that dream a reality by quitting his full-time job as a punch press operator in a machine shop and committing himself to the traveling life of a professional bass angler. He started fishing competitively in 1985, and since that time has been a top performer on many of the nation’s top bass fishing circuits, most notably, the Red Man Tournament Trail, where he qualified for the prestigious Red Man All-American Championship in 1998. He was the top angler in the Red Man Mountain Division in 1994 and 1998, and is currently in second place in the Angler-of-the-Year standings in the EverStart Series’ Eastern Division.
Irwin L. Jacobs, Chairman of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour said, “This is another major milestone in the evolution of fishing.” Featuring the Wal-Mart FLW Tour’s points champion on the cover of the Wheaties box, a spot reserved only for those who have achieved legendary status in a particular sport, is an acknowledgment that fishing is taking its rightful place alongside other professional sports relative to prominence and awareness in our society.
The Land O’ Lakes Angler-of-the-Year points race was initiated for participants in the professional division of the seven-venue Wal-Mart FLW Tour, currently in its fourth season. Anglers received points based upon their position in the standings at the end of the first round of competition at each Wal-Mart FLW Tour qualifying event, including the Forrest-Wood Open. The angler amassing the highest accumulated point total after six events won the points title. In addition to appearing on the Wheaties box, Walker will receive an Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boat for winning the Land O’ Lakes Angler-of-the-Year points title.
“Wheaties is arguably the first and still foremost brand image in sports marketing,” said Jim Murphy, Wheaties marketing manager. “The brand captures the championship spirit better than any other brand in America. That’s why we are pleased to add David Walker to the list of great sports heros who have appeared on our package.”
The 1999 Wal-Mart FLW Tour will culminate with the $450,000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship, presented by CITGO, September 22-25, 1999 on Ft. Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Oklahoma. First place will be $250,000 – the largest first place cash prize in angling history.
Sponsors of the tour include: Sponsors of the 1999 Wal-Mart FLW Tour include: Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Land O’ Lakes, CITGO Petroleum Products, Chevy Trucks, Uniroyal Tires, Fujifilm, EverStart Batteries, Eveready Flashlights, Black and Decker, Coleman Company, Ranger Boats, Mitchell Rods and Reels, Spiderwire, Evinrude Outboard Motors, Evinrude Electric Trolling Motors, Eagle Electronics, Timex Expedition, Wrangler, Chex Mix, Hamburger Helper, US Bank-VISA, and Wheaties.