Strange But True... The Tale of Leroy Brown

Last Updated 1/29/2024 • Posted in Eufaula, AL South, Art

In the South, it is not uncommon to hear a fish tale... You know stories that seem so absurd that they can’t be true. Well, in Eufaula, a sleepy little lake town located 85miles outside of Montgomery, the tall tales are strange but true. First, Eufaula is known as the Bass Capital of the World. The name was given to Eufaula by a creative tourism director and has stuck ever since. Not only does the lake serve as an amazing place to fish, fishing tournaments are held every weekend including national championships it is also home to Leroy Brown.

A lot of people visiting the town may just see a fish statue in the middle of downtown, but Leroy Brown was once more than the statue placed in his memory.

On a sunny day in 1973 weighing less than 2 pounds but putting up a fight, Tom Mann, famous for fishing lures and his Fishing World Freshwater Fish Aquarium, caught Leroy and named him after the famous Jim Croce song “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” It suited him well because he was a king and he knew it. When Mann moved him into the 18 gallon tank he instantly took charge. He was also a smart fish and learned how to jump through a hoop above the tank.

Leroy sadly died August 20, 1980, but not before he was the most famous fish in the world. Over 800 people attended Leroy's funeral, mourners dropped strawberry jelly worms in the casket. And, the Eufaula High School Marching Band performed the Jim Croce song in his memory. It rained on the day of Leroy’s memorial so he was temporarily placed in Tom Mann’s freezer.

That night someone came in and stole Leroy and the casket. Three weeks later Leroy was found in Tulsa, Oklahoma by a baggage handler, but he was too far gone so he was thrown away. Although Leroy was gone his memory never was. Tom Mann spent $4,000 to have a life-sized statue of Leroy made, which ultimately was placed on main street.