CMA Fishing Course

' Out it the Open With Toms by Tubby Toms
Muncie Evening Press - Apr 29, 1949

Bait and fly-casting now are an official part of the recreational curriculum of Culver Military Academy, ranking along with such varsity sports as tennes, soft ball, track and crew work.

It was indicated today by Major F. W. Wallatis, chairman of the famous academy's athletic department that the specialized angling sports also will be included in the schhol's itramural athletic program

The decision to reach out and take in the new pastime was as emphatic as it was sudden.

Some time ago Major Walatis was discussing the school's athletic program with David C. Braden, retired Indianapolis business man, whose two main prides are his fishing prowess and the fact that he was the first enrolled cadet by the academy when it was founded in 1894.

Major Walatis, it appeared had little sales resistance to offer to the idea, being very much a fisherman himself. So it was decided, for a start, to invite two proficient casting experts and offer a performance for such cadets as migh be interested.

Last Monday the test was made to deterime if enough interest existed to justify adoption of the new recreational subject.

Up to Culver I drove with Mr. Braden and two of the country's best-known fly and bait casters, Harry and Charles Sutphin the sensational father and son combination. Charles, as many know, holds medals galore from his earlier triumphs in the art of precision casting. But all those earlier victories fade into insignigificance against the record of having schooled a son who is today recognized as the greatest caster in America. Frankly, we who had a part in the experiment would have been highly pleased with a turnout of say a hundred of the cadets. Well, in view of what happedned, you could have knocked us off with a feather, as they say.

Out of the 650 cadets nowenrolled at the academy, more than 400 gave up their after-hour lunch hour ro witness the exhibition. The turnout of townspeople swelled the audience to right close to 500. And when the younger Sutphin speared the center of a comparatively small target at 80 feet the cadets burst loose in roars of applause. They quickly caight the object of the games and were simply amazed when told that the lure cast by the elder Sutphin, the teache, traveled at approcimately the same velocity as Bab Feller's fireball.

More than 100 of the boys lingered after the exhifition to inquire as to just what sort of tackle to procure for the new recreational feature.

With no doubts left in hismind Major Walatis announced adoption og the bait and fly-casting course and laid plans for a casting tournament to be held inadvance of the summer vacation.
,br> He will be assisted in teaching the fundamentals byMajor Lester Lampert, of the R.O.T.C.detail. ANd that in brief is how Culver Military Academy has turned to fishing as a course of study

Awfully sorry, but that sentence immediately preceding is am un-truth

Nearly 60 years ago Henry Harrison Culver, a St. Louis manufature, was advised by his physician to take a long rest. Lake Maxinkuckee was recommended as an ideal spot and fishing was recommended as part of the cure. At that Mr. Culver was not too much impressedfor things were just little pro,otive back them. Along came the day whe the convalescing manufacture hooke and landed a 5-ound bas.. It completely changed his viewpoint his imagination began to work. In the ecatasy of his surroundings his mind fashione the physical and cultural architecture of Culver Academy - - thanks to a 5-pound bass.

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