Honoring Bill Dance in Lynchburg, Tennessee

Bill Dance makes his way to the stage to accept the Bill Dance Bridge Dedication. Photo by Matt Morrison.

October 1, 2025, was an absolute dream come true for me. Growing up, some of my fondest memories were made wading in the creeks with my granddad. We’d spend hours catching crawdads, chasing minnows, and eventually fishing. I loved it then, and I love it now. Fishing is more than a hobby for me; it’s a way of life. I take my boys fishing, I teach them the lessons I learned, and I find peace every time I’m near the water.

If I trace that love back to its roots, it leads me to two people: my granddad, who took me down to Powers Bridge on the Little Duck River countless times, and Bill Dance. Bill Dance was, and still is, one of my idols. He taught me so much more than I can put into words—how to tie rigs, how to fish lures at different depths, how to work the water with skill and patience. The same lessons I share with my boys today are the ones I first learned from him. I’ve always said Bill Dance was like Bob Ross. Just as Bob Ross made everyone believe they could paint, Bill Dance made everyone believe they could fish. Of course, you still have to practice and feel that pop in your wrist when working a lure, but that’s what makes the sport so rewarding.

When the chance came to honor Bill Dance by naming the bridge over Mulberry Creek in my hometown of Lynchburg, Tennessee, I couldn’t let it pass me by. Life is busy, and my family and friends know I don’t take on extra projects lightly, but this was different. I carved out the time and poured myself into writing the most thoughtful, researched proclamation I could put together. The Metro Moore County Council passed it along to the state, and thanks to Senator Shane Reeves and Representative Pat Marsh, the proclamation was carried through both chambers. It became official: the bridge would be named the Bill Dance Bridge.

There are only a handful of moments in life that rise above all others. For me, the very top will always be marrying my wife and the birth of my children, but standing in Lynchburg to help dedicate the Bill Dance Bridge is right behind them. To honor the man who helped shape my childhood passions, who influenced my love for the sport of fishing, and who gave me lessons I now pass down to my kids—there is no greater privilege. It’s one of the greatest honors of my life, and one I will carry with me forever.

Almost a year later, we were gathered in Lynchburg, Tennessee, on the lawn of the Tennessee Whiskey Trailhead, a place I’m honored to manage as Executive Director of the South Central Tennessee Tourism Association. It was truly a privilege to stand there and honor the man who shaped so much of my childhood. Fishing has been one of the most positive influences in my life—for my mental health, my sense of peace, and the way it connects me to my kids. All of that started with watching Bill.

The day was made even more special by those in attendance: Senator Shane Reeves, Representative Pat Marsh, Tennessee's Commissioner of Tourism Mark Ezell, TDTD's Dennis Tumlin, who champions the Bill Dance Signature Lake Series, and Marsha Hale, president of the Moore County Chamber and Jack Daniel Distillery staple, who first asked me to write the proclamation and with whom I proudly serve as vice president of the chamber. And of course, Bill and Bill’s amazing family, especially Pamela, who worked closely with us as this day came together.

There are so many others to thank; I am sure I will miss some. But to name a few, our staff at SCTTA and the Tennessee Whiskey Trailhead, the team at Jack Daniel's, and the Lynchburg Moore County Chamber's board of directors, who all worked all day to pull this off!

Now, anyone crossing Mulberry Creek will see the Bill Dance Bridge sign, as well as an Experience Tennessee Icons and History Makers marker on the banks of the creek where Bill himself first fell in love with fishing. To have played even a small part in honoring someone who has given so much joy to so many is something I will never forget.

Thank you, Bill Dance, for being an ambassador of fishing, a kind soul, and a man who has inspired generations. Your impact stretches far beyond the water, and I am grateful for every lesson, every laugh, and every moment you have shared with fans like me. What an amazing day, what an amazing honor, and what an amazing man.