Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln Counties Area News of Churches and Related Christian Events VOL. I NO. 9 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1992 pol REPUBLIC NEWSPAPERS Guy Eaker fishes with President Bush By DEBRA HELTON Almost everyone is fa- miliar with George Bush's interest in bass fishing by now, noting that when his busy schedule allows, the sport clearly enjoys a prior- ity position on his agenda. Bush took Saturday from campaigning for an afternoon of fishing at the invitation of long time friend Ray Scott, founder and president of Bass Masters Classic, which hosted an Eagles of Angling tournament for a church benefit. The tourna- ment was held on Scott's private lake in Pintlala, Ala., near Montgomery. Guy and Pat Eaker were aware that the President would probably attend if his schedule would allow, as he did last year when the church's first fundraising tournament took place. Eaker won last year's tournament with partner Charlie Ingram of Columbia, Tenn., and so had had the opportunity to meet Bush, although he had not fished with him. But in a series of events Friday, Eaker learned that this time the President would be fishing in the boat with him and his partner. In a flurry of activity that began upon the Eakers' arrival in Pintlala, arrangements were made and the boat prepared for their dignified guest. (Even the carpeting in the boat was removed as it was searched by secret service- time (Left to right) Guy Eaker, Ray Scott, Pat Eaker, President Bush and his son, George Bush Jr. enjoy the day's activities. men.) When Bush was de- tained in Pensacola, Fla. Saturday morning, George Bush Jr. fished with Eaker until Bush arrived, allow- ing the President time to visit with the fishermen's wives until the teams broke for lunch. "What impressed me .most about him when he arrived at the lake was how friendly he was to all of us," Pat recounts. "Ray Scott was walking with him around the lake and he of- fered to introduce him to the wives," she said. It was Bush's reaction to their meeting that so as- tounded Pat: Bush hugged each of them. "He's so down to earth and so nice," she said. "He stayed there visiting with us waiting for them to stop for lunch when he could be- gin fishing." When the teams re- turned, Bush replaced his son in Eaker's boat and lent his full attention to the task at hand -- they were, after all, participating in a fishing tournament. Although the number of se- cret service boats around them most certainly affect- ed the numbers of fish, the - team stayed busy and as the President lifted a thrashing bass into the boat, a loose hook became embedded in his thumb. With time of the essence, Bush rejected the opportunity for his own doc- tor (in another boat only about 20 feet away) to re- move the hook and instead asked Eaker to help. Some aspects of fishing are far from entertaining. The removal of the hook re- quired pressing the point on through the flesh, clip- ping the barb and pulling . the remaining metal back through the thumb. Bush was apparently unaffected by the incident, returning immediately to his fishing and going on to catch several more bass. At the tournament's end, Eaker's team, Bush's catches included, finished in 6th place with 24 pounds of bass. (All fish were re- See Bush, Page 2