Background
Raised in Lynchburg, Tennessee, Dance planned to become a doctor, like his father William Dance and grandfather before him, but changed his mind after happening upon a grisly motorcycle accident in the early 1960s.
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Bill Dance
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He then turned his focus to competing in bass tournaments. A fishing lure manufacturer that sponsored him suggested he should start a television show to promote the product. The program originally began on an American Broadcasting Company affiliate in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968.
Dance"s signature look includes sunglasses and a Tennessee Volunteers baseball cap.
He received his first cap from their coach, Doug Dickey, in the late 1960s. He is also well known on YouTube for his blooper outtakes from his television show.
With fellow fishermen Roland Martin and Jimmy Houston, he formed the company Th3 Legends to sell signature products.
Achievements
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Member, International Game Fish Association"s Hall of Fame 1970, 1974, 1977: Bachelor of Arts.S.S. Angler of the Year 23 National Bass Fishing titles and 7 Bachelor of Arts.S.S. titles. Caught first bass in Bachelor of Arts.S.S. history 1978: Congressional National Water Safety Award 1986: National Freshwater Hall of Fame.
