John Wendell "Jack" Anderson II, a gentleman who was a significant contributor to the evolution of the IGFA International Fishing Hall of Fame and its museum and who served three decades as a trustee, has died.

A resident of Palm Beach, Fla. USA, since 1981, Anderson passed away on July 17 in Hamilton, Bermuda at the age of 84.

The former industrialist, world traveler, avid sports fisherman and golf enthusiast, was born September 16, 1923 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

With his passion for ethical sport fishing and scientific marine inquiry, Anderson served for 30 years on the IGFA Board of Trustees, and as its Vice Chairman for 20 years. He played a pivotal role in the fundraising and design decisions to make the 60-year dream of a permanent home for the IGFA Intl. Fishing Hall of Fame and museum a reality.

As he ran the Bundy Corporation, his family's steel tubing company for 45 years building it into a multinational force, Anderson traveled to -- and fished -- all parts of the globe. He was on the forefront as angling flourished after World War II. Jack became a regular in the Bahamas in 1947, where he often went bonefishing in the morning for the bait he would use to entice blue marlin in the afternoon.

In 1978 and 1983, off Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Anderson made two remarkable catches: a 1,318 lb black marlin landed in 57 minutes and a 1,307 lb fish taken in 47 minutes. Anderson is one of only two anglers to accomplish such a feat.

Anderson has caught Atlantic blue marlin and bluefin tuna over 800 lb, Pacific blue marlin over 900lb, and has made 10-to-1 catches of black marlin, blue marlin, striped marlin and Pacific sailfish, something that few anglers achieve with even a single species.

With his knowledgeable, scientific approach to big-game angling and fascination with marine life and the world's oceans, Anderson worked with ichthyologists, oceanographers, technicians and other qualified personnel, including his fishing captain Bill Fagen, over a several month fishing expedition collecting specimens in exotic locales.

Anderson's family requests that memorial tributes be made to the International Game Fish Association, 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004. (For more on Jack Anderson's life please see the IGFA web site www.igfa.org - home page: "Latest News")