Mossy Oak's Toxey Haas and Ronnie Strickland in Class
The Mississippi Outdoor Hall of Fame selected six outdoor enthusiasts to be inducted as its third class of members.
The 2017 inductees are Ronnie Foy, Toxey Haas, John Harrison, Will Primos, Wayne Self, and Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland.
“We’re honored to have this outstanding group of Mississippi outdoorsmen in the Hall of Fame,” Billy Johnson, executive director of the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Foundation, said in a statement. “They have all contributed a lot to the heritage of the great outdoors in our state and have been willing mentors to younger generations coming up trying to learn how to hunt and fish.”
A celebration is planned at the Mississippi Outdoor Hall of Fame exhibit, part of the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Museum, opening June 2 in Leland.
The inductees:
Ronnie Foy
Ronnie Foy, from Canton, is a master woodsman, hunter, and fisherman who has dedicated his life to the outdoors. As a guide and game manager, Foy helped develop many of the most successful game management practices that are used in the state today.
Toxey Haas
Toxey Haas, from West Point, is known as the founder of Mossy Oak® Brand Camo. After 30 years and more than 25 patterns camouflage patterns, Mossy Oak is a leading brand in the outdoors industry.
John Harrison
John Harrison, from Calhoun City, is one of the best fisherman in the country. People from all over the United States come to Mississippi to fish with this well-known crappie fishing guide, who has been featured on many nationally televised fishing shows.
Will Primos
Will Primos, from Madison, couldn’t wait until he was old enough to tag along on Primos family duck hunts. In 1963, an 11-year old Will crafted his first duck call, and the rest is history. From that first effort evolved what is now heralded as the most accurate, most reliable call on the market, the Primos Hunting Call.
Wayne Self
Wayne Self, from Cruger, served the people of Mississippi more than 29 years as a wildlife conservation officer. One of the best all around outdoorsman Mississippi produced, he guided the likes of Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia and baseball great Chipper Jones.
Ronnie 'Cuz' Strickland
Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland, from Natchez, has been in the hunting and outdoor industry for more than 30 years. He took over his dad’s outdoor column in the Natchez Democrat in 1978. He sold his first full-length outdoor magazine article to Mississippi Game and Fish publications in 1981 and shot and produced the first hunting video for Primos Game Calls “The Truth About Spring Turkey Hunting” in 1984. Cuz joined Mossy Oak in 1987 and worked with Toxey Haas to found Mossy Oak’s Media/Productions department. He has overseen the production of more than 40 DVD titles and nearly 1,600 episodes of nationally broadcast television that has aired on TNN, ESPN, ESPN2, Outdoor Channel and Pursuit Channel.
