A local boat manufacturer will become part of a company owned by Bass Pro Shops. In a letter to Midway-based Legend Marine employees, Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris and White River Marine Group President Les Crawford announced the company acquired the Midway location this month.
The White River Marine Group has been in the industry since 1978 when they introduced the first professionally-rigged and nationally-marketed boat, motor and trailer package. A press release from the company states their brand “Tracker” is the top-selling fishing boat in the United States. The White River Marine Group owns several other brands including Flippin-based Ranger Boats which they purchased from Fishing Holdings in 2014.
The company states the Legend Marine factory will continue to operate in Midway, and its workforce will continue to manufacture Legend boats at the location. Rusty Kelley agreed to continue overseeing its operations and management. Kelley joins White River Marine Group’s leadership team as a former team member of the company.
Crawford was named the president of White River Marine Group over a month ago, and he is a former Twin Lakes Area resident. According to the Ozark County Times, he was born and spent his earliest years in Mountain Home, and he graduated from Gainesville High School in 1966.
Neither Bass Pro Shops nor Kelley returned inquiries last week from KTLO, Classic Hits and the Boot News.
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