Jim Reyes Passes - events update

[Bill Hutcheson]

It is with a heavy heart that I must report to all that Jim Reyes, long time USAC teams director, passed in his sleep last night. This of course has taken all who know Jim by shock.

First and foremost, my deepest condolences to JIm's wife, Sherry. I spoke with Sherry this morning and things are going to be a bit rough for some time. Sherry and Jim had been married for over 40 years which is quite a feat nowadays. Rest in Peace Jim, we are going to miss you.

As Sherry informs me of information related to services, I will of course pass that along to everyone.

While this news is only a couple of hours old, here is where we stand with regards to JIm's up and coming events.

First and foremost, the Piru Nights event slated for 7-23-11 will go on as scheduled. I will personally drive up to Casitas and run this event. It would be great to see a large turnout for this event in Jims honor as Sherry will likely be at this tournament.

I am currently working on getting in contact with staff members to make sure that we can run the remaining events in the following trails as scheduled:

Piru Nights
8-6-11
8-20-11

Castias Nights
8-13-11
9-10-11

If you are intersted in helping me out to ensure that we can run these final events or if you are potentially interested as coming on board as a director for these trails, please give me a call at (760) 304-4411 or e-mail me at hutch@basswest.com. We all owe it to Jim to finish out these night events that he loved so much.

Bill Hutcheson
USAC

[Todd Dunlap]

my deepest condolences to Jim's Family.R.I.P,Jim!You will be missed.

[DanO]

So Sorry to hear Hutch,

Jim was a great guy and truly cared about his customers and the sport.

DanO

[Topwater Terry]

Very sad news. Jim was the heart and soul of AC in So Cal for many years. He always remembered me by name and was ready with a handshake whenever I would run into him. Tough loss for the So Cal bassing community to say the least...

[WON BASSIN]

From all of my staff and crew at Won Bass...

We send our deepest regrets to hear that Jim has passed. It was just a week ago that he and I were working out the dates at the South Jamboree. Hard to believe when I heard the news. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during their time of loss.

[DougH]

WOW

This is horrible! I am totally bummed out with this. Jimmy was one of the truely humble people on this planet, who was always ready to give you a little zinger just to keep ya honest.
Jimmy was the fishermans TD, who always put us ahead of everything else. He wouldn't run on and on about the same old crap at the meeting, he would basically take a minute to state the general rules and then say "GO" !

How could he possibly have been married to his wife for 40 years? She is only 40 years old!
God Bless her!

This is just such a sad day now..

RIP Jimmy, and I hope you catch some bigguns up there...

[Brian Linehan]

Life is precious gents. Enjoy it and make it meaningful!

[Vern]

As I posred earlier Jim was a true gentelman. He was the heart of So Cal fishing. He was always there to help and was always positive. Jim will be missed by all not onlly the fishermen. Lets all keep Sherry and the family in our prayers. Vern & Sara

[19X]

RIP Jimmy... My condolences to his wife and family...
I Talked to Larry E today who had spoken to Jim's wife about doing something for Jimmy. How about a barbeque or something at Casitas before the August 13th Tourney. Just a thought.. Anybody want to chime in feel free...

[elfish16]

RIP Jimmy... My condolences to his wife and family...
I Talked to Larry E today who had spoken to Jim's wife about doing something for Jimmy. How about a barbeque or something at Casitas before the August 13th Tourney. Just a thought.. Anybody want to chime in feel free...

Poolboy, I love the idea and its something I think is great. A nice momento to a great man and Tournament Director.

My dad, Larry, and I were even thinking about a potluck and bring the food there and we can all just celebrate his life over dinner and then get out there and do what Jimmy wants us to do...catch those Casitas green fishies!

[Bobby T]

IT IS WITH GREAT SORROW I AM WRITING THIS...
Jim was not only a great guy but he was an asset to our sport. He genuinely cared for his anglers,and wanted the best for them... He treated us with respect and always strove to be fair to everyone. On a personal note Jim believed in me and helped me in so many ways.. I truly enjoined working with him and I'm so proud to have called him my friend...
Bob Tull

[adman]

I think a little memorial get together before the tournament is a great idea. Count me in.

[Kevin]

May he rest in peace. Great guy!

[jbarron]

I was absolutely taken aback when I heard this morning. We were just having a conversation last week. He was a good man with a kind heart. I never heard him have a cross word for anyone.
Our condolences to the Reyes family
John & Marla Barron

[SmittyBaits]

Terrible news, Jim always had a positive attitude and stayed away from spreading the latest junk or talking trash. He will definitely be missed, say "Hey" to Ron.

[TomL]

Wow - I am just reading this now. Words can't express the sorrow I am feeling right now.

This is the worst news I have heard in a long time. Jim Reyes was one of the best people in our sport. Jim was literally the first person that I met in tournament fishing and he fielded my dozens of phone calls with questions and answered every one of them, no matter how ridiculous they were (and some were pretty ridicuolous looking back on it). Jim was a great friend of mine and even though I didn't get to speak with him as much as I would have liked I was always happy to see him when I could. Jim worked super hard for the anglers and did everything in his power to run a great event and nurse newbies like myself into the sport.

My heart goes out to his family! Jim you'll be missed buddy and thanks for all you did for me and fellow angler's like myself... tournament fishing was better because you were part of it.

[HAMBONE]

Very sad news. A good man , a good friend. You are are gonna be missed buddy.

[MrGambit]

Wow Jim is going to be missed, a few years ago he was the first guy I called when i wanted to start bass fishing this spot has lost a good one for sure, sending prayers to the family and may god rest his soul amen.

[mark poulson]

When I saw him at the DFG Jamboree two weeks ago, I never dreamed it would be our last meeting.
I'll always remember the handshake and warm greetings he had for me.
It was typical of Jim.
My thoughts and best wishes to his family.

[John Barron]

Hutch:
Give me a call. I'm working on trying to clear my schedule enough to run one of Jim's events if you would like me to. August is really busy for me with a trip to Oregon and to the Gulf Coast as well as our TOC but I will try.
jb

[sTony]

Deeply saddened to hear of Jim's passing. He was a great guy who cared so much for the fish and his anglers. Guys like this don't get replaced.

Jim, I'll miss you my friend.

sTony

[Jim V.]

Jim was one of the good ones. Condolences & prayers to his family.

[mike at robo]

I have known Jimmy since the days of the Ventura county Bassmasters , the early early early days . My Jimmy story is about him and I fishing a all night tournament at casitas . 6 pm to 6 am . At about 5 am when the sun was coming up we were just trying to stay awake and not miss weigh in . No matter how hard we tried we just couldn't seem to wake up so I though if I just keep throwing a topwater lure that should do it . It was like a hypnotist waving a watch in front of my eyes . So after a nice 57 minute nap we had 3 minutes to make weigh in . We did and had a good laugh for years to come . Since then I have fished tournaments , sold him his first and second bass boat and rejoiced in the birth of his grandchildren . He was and is a good man with a good heart and a great family . Thanks for the memories James you will be missed .........

[MIKE @CCMarine]

Sad day for the whole fishing world RIP My friend.

Mike Van Wagner

[Noluk]

This is truely tragic news. Jim was one of the finest people I have ever met. He had a dignity and grace that can only come from living a righteous life. Jim helped Margaret and I when we tried the tournament director gig and became a friend who brightened my day anytime I saw him. His honesty and kindness will be missed by all who knew him. Prayers from our family to his and deepest condolonces for his family. Words cannot express how saddened by this news. Take care my friend and catch a few of those heavenly bass.

George Fedor

[Homer]

Just heard the news about Jim and like the rest of you, I am shocked and saddened. Jim was the person that took time out of his schedule to help me learn the nuances of being a tournament director. He would stop by in the afternoon during the weigh ins and always offer to lend a helping hand. Jim was such a popular tournament director because he always put the fishermen first and treated them as friends not just team numbers. My sincere condolences go out to the Reyes family.

Mike Iljin

[Otay Michael]

Condolences to the family and to all of you that knew him well.

Can anyone post a picture or two of him, I'm not sure I had the pleasure of meeting him?

[Cmarkfish]

I got home from the US OPEN and had a few of the guys from the Club called me to let me know about Jim. I had met Jim when I joined the Ventura County Bass Club back in 1995. He was great about helping me out in my early years and later on he like to hear what I was up too in the bass fishing world. I loved fishing his night events when I could.He will be missed very much by everyone. Rest In Peace and God Bless Your Family.
Mark T. Torrez Sr.
The Chief