By Joe Sills
There are times when we find an individual that not only served his country in a time of dire need but almost single handed developed a company that has promoted our beloved, local, outdoor industry all over the entire country. Tommy Akin is such an individual. Like many of us experienced sportsmen, he began his love of the outdoors while hunting with his Dad. He downed his fist duck with a .410 shotgun at age six in the Obion River Bottoms near his Greenfield, Tennessee home.
He would get on his bike and make a circuit of the local farm ponds and river sloughs catching and learning of the native species. In fact, even after hosting many of the world’s greatest hunters and fishermen, he still enjoys fishing some of those same waters using an ultra-light spinning reel instead of a cane pole and traveling those same roads in his truck instead of a bike.
He attended UT Martin and graduated UT Knoxville with a business degree in 1967. After four years of service in the U.S. Army, where he was in an artillery company as a forward observer, and Field Officer, he returned home and applied for the very first Northwest Tennessee Tourism Commission Director position. He was awarded the position and served there for 11 years. While there, he entertained many of the Nation’s most famous outdoor writers and TV personalities. Names like Bill Dance, Rayo Breckenridge, and Nick Sisley are just a few of the many whom he introduced to the wonders of places like Reelfoot and Kentucky lakes.
In 1988, he formed Akin Productions where he acted as host to dozens of TV filmmakers and writers. For 22 years, Tommy befriended the best in the business. He developed relationships with many of the giants of the lure- and boat-building industries. This aspect of his career began with his introduction of Fish Formula of Bruceton, Tennessee to the world by his promoting it through the national media. He then became associated with Strike King Lures, Pro Craft, War Eagle, and Triton boats.
He is especially proud of his relationships with so many of the owners and professional fishermen that he has guided and helped promote. He fished numerous bass tournaments on Kentucky Lake with the late Paul Steele and won two of the early benefit tournaments held in Paul’s honor. His best weight was over 31 pounds, five fish, a weight anyone would be proud of!
As are many of us, he is concerned that the younger generations will not have the love and respect of our outdoor sports due to their addiction to electronics. Screens and gaming have taken over their lives and their parents simply have not taken the time to spend with them outside. A saving grace is the number of youth organizations, in both fishing and hunting, that have sprung up in the last two decades.
As to the future of our game and fish, Tommy said he has seen the cycles of good and bad seasons, but the carp invasion is an indeterminable factor to calculate. Unless some effective management plan is instituted, the future of those waters where these invasive species exist is vey bleak. We salute our April Mid-South Legend: Tommy Akin.
