49th Annual Awards Banquet Review

On Saturday, February 29, members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held their 49^th Annual Awards Banquet.  Members and their families were treated to a meal of smoked brisket and chicken, soft drinks and side dishes prepared by the members.  Members were recognized for their achievements during the 2019 hunting and fishing contests.

The club lost one its long time members last year, Eugene Hensley.  A plaque was presented in memory of Eugene recognizing his service to the club.  Eugene’s son, Billy Hensley, accepted the plaque.

The first awards to be presented were for the 2019 spring turkey season contest.  The length of the turkey’s beard determined winners. Winning first place was Billy Hensley.  Coming in a close second, by a mere 1/16^th of an inch, was Billy Latham.  Both received a plaque and a check for their share of the entry fees.

The Top Ten Anglers of the Year were recognized next.  Each angler received an embroidered patch. The Top Ten Anglers for 2019 were (from number 10 to number 1) Eugene Hensley, Terry Thurman, Forrest Cave, Chuck Beck, Kaleb Hensley, Mike Burrage, Billy Hensley, Billy Latham, Ellis Silvey and Bass Angler of the Year, Judd Thomas.  Judd received a plaque and a check for $100.00.  Judd was also presented with a custom “Bass Angler of the Year” shirt printed by club president, Billy Latham.

The Big Bass of the Year award was presented to Mike Burrage.  Mike caught a bass weighing 10.53 pounds at Sardis Lake during the September Top Ten Tournament.   Mike also won the award for the Heaviest Stringer of the Year.  He had a stringer weight of 22.52 pounds that was also caught during the Top Ten Tournament in September.  A plaque was presented to Mike for both.

The “100 Pound Club” award goes to members that are able to catch at least one hundred pounds of bass during the club bass tournaments in a season.  Only three members were able to catch over one hundred pounds.  They were Billy Latham with 108.51 pounds, Ellis Silvey with 154.04 pounds and Judd Thomas with 157.83 pounds.  Each received a plaque.

In the club’s deer archery season contest, Ellis Silvey won first place honors with Billy Hensley winning the award for second place.  Winners are determined by measuring the buck’s antlers using the Boone and Crockett scoring system.  Both received a plaque and a check for their share of the entry fee money.

Colby Chandler took first place honors in the deer primitive firearms contest.  Billy Latham finished in second place.  Both received a plaque and a share of the entry fee money.

For the rifle season contest, junior member Kaleb Mason won first place.  Billy Hensley finished in second place.  Both received a plaque and a share of the entry fee money.  Kaleb was also surprised by receiving a mount of his deer head that his grandpa, Ellis Silvey, had done for him.

The Grand Slam Award is given to members who are able to harvest a deer in all three season; archery, primitive and rifle seasons.  This year only one member was able to achieve this goal.  That member was Colby Chandler.

Each year the club recognizes a sponsor that consistently supports the club and the Big Bass Rodeo.  The sponsor is presented a plaque.  The “Sponsor of the Year” award was presented to Affordable Body Works in Antlers, OK.

The club’s most prestigious award is the Sportsman of the Year Award.  The winner of this award is determined by a point system based on participation and achievement.  This year a tie occurred for the award. Both Billy Hensley and Billy Latham were presented with the Sportsman of the Year award.  Each received a plaque and a check for $100.00.

Billy Latham was presented a plaque for his service as the 2019 president of the club.

The ladies door prize, a $100.00 prepaid MasterCard, was won by Chelsie Thomas.  The men’s door prize, an Lew’s Speed Spool baitcast reel, was won by Kaleb Hensley.  As always, every child that attended was awarded a door prize consisting of games, sports balls, fishing equipment and more.

The club’s first bass tournament of 2020 will be at McGee Creek Lake on Saturday, March 7.  Launch site for the tournament will be Buster Hights boat landing.  Fishing times for the tournament will be from 8:00-4:00.  You can also keep up with club activities on Facebook.