Gil Hamm
Gil Hamm, a 62-year-old building contractor from St Paul, Minnesota, founded Muskies, Inc. December 9, 1966. Gil and thirteen others, Gary Bennyhoff, Richard D. Hammond, Robert Farinacci, Maurice Hurley, Gerald Palmer, James Peterson, Wally Wilbert, Richard Chapman, Rodric Guindon, Charles Huver, Arnold Lindall, Harold Meir, and Eric Rehnwall made up the original members.
The first Board of Directors meeting of Muskies, Inc. was held February 28, 1967, at Gil Hamm's office in St. Paul, Mn. Articles of incorporation had been filed and subsequently the I.R.S. granted Muskies, Inc. a non-profit exemption.
One of the Board members, Darrell Trumbauer owned a bait shop and a commercial minnow hatchery at Battle Lake, Minnesota. This facility was to become a Muskies, Inc. rearing pond for muskies and a stocking program that over the years exceeded a $1,000,000.00 in value to the Minnesota DNR. The efforts of Muskies, Inc. to raise muskies in these ponds continued until 1980 when the ponds were drained primarily due to increasing costs of operation and water quality. Over the years as many as six chapters of Muskies, Inc. have established rearing ponds. Their members have spent considerable efforts to raise muskies for stocking around the states.
In 1978 Muskies, Inc. went on a campaign to establish chapters around the area. Fourteen new chapters emerged from the effort. The Board of Directors took Muskies, Inc. to a new level and became an International Organization.
On November 8th, 1984, Gil Hamm passed away after a series of heart attacks
Today Muskies, Inc. boasts 48 Chapters In 14 States and a membership exceeding 7,500.
What Gil Hamm Said about himself... and MUSKIES, INC.
"We didn't build a knife-and-fork club. We built a working club that does something good for the muskies."
"If I had never started this damn club, I would have done more muskie fishing."
"I finally decided to stay out of the DNR because I was an irritant. When I didn't get what I wanted, I hollered."
"I began to fish at every opportunity. In fact, I fell out of bed twice trying to land big muskies."
"If I had realized how difficult or impossible this would be, Muskies, Inc. would have died a-borning. But it seems that anyone with a dream is not very practical and will try most anything."
"So many Muskies, Inc. members have given so much of their time and energy that it would be impossible to mention them all."
"As a single club, we'll never be able to do it all. But I think Muskies, Inc. will be around as long as a daredevil lure catches fish".
"With Muskies, Inc., I've a strong hunch we're anticipating new, massive private interest in the preservation and extension of our outdoor heritage. We didn't make this: the Creator left it to us in trust. We've got to make man the restorer rather than the great predator."
"Growing like we have has increased or effectiveness. They're talking muskies and Muskies, Inc. all over the country".