|
Washington
D.C. - Much to-do was made about the visit of Judy Wong and Alton Jones to the White House, and all of it was deserved. But anyone who thinks that their day ended there is sadly mistaken. They had another 10 hours on the clock during their visit to DC.
Their first task was to meet President Bush. They did not come empty handed. Jones presented Bush with a Kistler Rod, and Wong presented a signature American Rodsmiths rod along with her own artwork and a variety of Gary Yamamoto plastics.
Thanks to Aaron Hobbs of the Congressional Sportsmens Foundation
(CSF) and the office of Senator John
Cornyn, the anglers and their families were treated to a mid-day tour of the Capitol. The Jones family, which included not only Alton and wife Jimmye Sue, but his parents and three children as well, had seen many of DC's sights before, but they were held in rapt attention as their tour guide explained some of the lesser known facts of the Capitol's history.
Jones then proceeded to tape a public service announcement detailing all of the work that the CSF does on anglers' behalves. |
|
|
After a brief late afternoon break, the group convened again at Old Ebbitt Grill, one of DC's most noted restaurants, not necessarily for the cuisine, but because its dark-paneled walls have seen more than their share of major political deal brokering. No such efforts were undertaken at this dinner, though Bassmaster Editor James Hall and Bassmaster.com writer Sam Eifling were sure to take plenty of photos and get key quotes from the anglers.
"It was truly an amazing day," Jones said. "To spend 45 minutes with the most powerful politician in the world was truly awesome and humbling."
Wong agreed: "It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that I'll remember forever."
|
