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Bill Huntley

Bill Huntley

Inducted: 2015


Bill Huntley (1933-2022) Bill and his wife Pat started Bumble Bee Bait Company in 1967. They were making spinner baits and jigs at night at the kitchen table. Bill had several sales reps helping to sell his lures even though their primary business was to sell parts and accessories to the marine industry.

Bill realized there were a lot of items that he could use in this boat that simply were not available. He began to manufacture some parts that were much needed and welcomed in the marine industry which in turn gave him great success in selling those items. After Bumble Bee Bait Company was sold in 1983, Bill remained in the marine industry. He became a partner of T-H Marine Supplies, basically a small machine shop with one product to sell…a power trim switch for outboards that mounted on the throttle/gear shift handle. The second product T-H Marine introduced was a foot operated trolling motor control switch. Today the company is one of the largest manufacturers of accessories for the boating industry in the United States.

Bill passed in November of 2022.