Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
'Cotton' Cordell
Fishing
| | Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024
1. 'Cotton' Cordell Marker
Established his fish tackle manufacturing business in his home in 1952 producing for companies such as Pflueger, Creek Chub and Heddon Produced legendary baits Gay Blade, Red Fin and Hot Spot Helped sponsor first Bill Dance Fishing Show and aided the namesake G. Loomis Rods In Bass Fishing National, Freshwater and Arkansas Outdoors Halls of Fame
Hot Springs, Arkansas Inducted 2015
Erected by Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.
Location. 34° 30.637′ N, 93° 3.233′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is at the intersection of Central Avenue (State Highway 7) and Spring Street, on the right when traveling north on Central Avenue. The marker is embedded in the sidewalk on the west side of the Hot Springs City Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 629 Central Avenue, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Alton Baldwin (here, next to this marker); Dale Evans (here, next to this marker); Henry Bernard Glover (here, next to this marker); Don Munro
this page online
Also see . . . The Fascinating History of 'Cotton' Cordell, the Legendary Fishing Tackle Designer.
Excerpt: Carl Richey Cordell Jr. was born in Benton, Arkansas, just a short drive from Hot Springs, on December 9, 1928. He was nicknamed Cotton because of his wispy, light-colored hair. In 1945 his life changed when the family moved to a fishing resort the senior Cordell had bought on Lake Catherine near Hot Springs. Cotton became a popular fishing guide on the lake, but he wasnt making much money. In the late 1940s, Cotton began creating his own lead-head jigs, which were poured in a handmade plastic mold in the kitchen and finished in the living room. The hooks were trotline hooks. Those Banana Head Jigs, as they came to be called, were Cottons first lure creations. His second invention incorporated those same jigs with the addition(Submitted on January 21, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)of a large diaper pin and spinner. A diaper pin was molded into each jigs lead head, then the sharp end was bent around to hold the spinner. Thus was born the Ouachita Spinner, one of the first spinnerbaits ever manufactured.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 20242. 'Cotton' Cordell MarkerLooking west across Central Avenue from the Hot Springs City Visitor Center; it is the 2nd from the left of four markers in this photo.In 1952, he established Cotton Cordell, Inc. The first lure he marketed was the Weedless Banana Head Jig, which sold two on a card in 1952 and 1953. From 1968 to 1980, Cordell Bait Company was the worlds largest lure maker. In 1980, Cotton sold his company to EBSCO, which now owns PRADCO Outdoor Brands in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the largest fishing-lure manufacturing company in the world. Just before the sale, Cordell was producing 22,000 lures each day and employed more than 200 people in Hot Springs and overseas. Cottons lifetime work was recognized in 1988 when he was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. In 1997, he was inducted into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame, followed in 2002 by induction into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 171 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 21, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
