For 20 years fishing enthusiasts, friends and family members of Kevin J. Murray have been doing what Kevin loved - fishing- and in the process raising thousands of dollars to benefit students at Wayne Community Schools.
Kevin died in October 2004 while walleye fishing at Lewis and Clark Lake near Crofton.
His family held a fishing tournament in 2005 in his memory to honor him and establish scholarships for Wayne High School, where he was a 1978 graduate.
"What started as a fishing tournament in my husband, Kevin's, memory with friends and family, has grown immensely over the years to include people who did not even know my husband or myself," Kevin's wife Sherry said.
"Through word of mouth about our fun event of fishing, then our raffle banquet of wonderful prizes, people from all over come to join. We have been teamed up with the Nebraska walleye association for some years now as they do a very professional weigh in whom many love to watch, and they have added many fishing teams from all over Nebraska and more and attendees to our banquet," Sherry said.
With the money raised from past tournaments, the Murrays have donated $25,000 to the field lights a few years ago, tread mill, rubber matting, and many things in the technology classes plus scholarships over the years.
Local fishermen Dennis Murray, Ken Prokop, Glen Nichols, Mike and Colton Vovos, and Vel Temme have fished in all or nearly all of them over the past 19 years.
"We will once again be having a KIDS Fishing is FUN free clinic following the weigh in to introduce kids to the sport of fishing," Sherry added.
The total raised in donations in the last 19 years is $195,000.
"The Wayne Community Schools Foundation is forever grateful to the Sherry Murray family for the donations the past 20 years that have been generated by the Kevin J. Murray Memorial Fishing Tournament," said Wayne Community Schools Foundation Director Rusty Parker.
He noted that "the donations are for scholarships in memory of Kevin Murray, a 1978 graduate of Wayne High School. Over the past 20 years there have been 54 scholarships and Leaderships Awards given out to WHS graduates pursuing careers in the Building Construction area."
This past year two scholarships were awarded in the amount of $2,500 each and a Leadership Award in the amount of $500.
Donations have also been used to support the CTE Program, purchase weights and install lights at Kern Track.
"It is amazing that this tournament has been going on for 20 years, which is a very long time for this type of a fundraising event. This longevity is a result of the hard work, dedication, and organization of the Sherry Murray family. There is something for everyone to enjoy at this event. Since it is a part of the Nebraska Walleye Association Tournament Schedule the event draws the competitive fisherpersons. If you are a novice like myself, it provides an opportunity to be out on the water enjoying the outdoors and support a good cause. Also, if you don't want to be part of the Fishing Tournament you can support this event by participating in the raffle that evening," Parker said.
He specifically noted that "the quantity and quality of the raffle items is amazing. The loss of Kevin Murray at such a young age doing what he loved in a fishing accident and the Murray Family creating this tournament has resulted in donations of $195,000 over the past 19 years to the Wayne Community Schools Foundation. Kevin's life and his family's dedication to his memory continues to make a difference in the lives of Wayne High School graduates. "
This year's tournament will be held Saturday, Aug. 23- 24 at Lewis & Clark Lake.
The schedule is as follows:
Friday, Aug. 23 - Early check in at CJ's from 5 to 7 p.m.; Rules meeting at CJ, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 24:
Check in at Weigand Marina, 6 to 7 a.m.; Boat launch, 7 to 8 a.m.; Weigh in a Weigand Marina, 3 to 4 p.m.; Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m.; Presentation of prizes awarded for fishing tournament and raffle winners, 7:30 p.m.
