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Dear Friends,
As we pass through
life we all share
stories with each
other, often while
hearing the stories
we may not know why
and accept them for
entertainment value
only.
I have known Bob and
Margaret Hice for
just a few years.
Many people have
known both much
longer than I, based
on my short
relationship with
Bob I will share
what I know about
the inventor of the
Treelounge. He and
his wife Margaret
are well known
throughout the
hunting community.
His climbing stands
are sought after by
novice as well as
experienced hunters.
The first prototype
Treelounge stand was
built from wood in
1980. He and
Margaret traveled to
county fairs to sell
stands out of the
back of their pickup
truck. Margaret
would thrill
audiences as she
would hang sideways
and upside down to
demonstrate the
stability of Bob's
invention. She
became the company
spokesperson and
model. For nearly 20
years Bob and
Margaret traveled
all over the country
introducing people
to the Treelounge.
The schedule was
hectic and often
times very tiring.
They started the
company with little.
Bob scripted movies
and tales for
Margaret and her
hunting adventures,
fans still call
Treelounge asking
for signed copies of
the videos.
Overtime, they built
the most
recognizable
climbing tree stand
company in the
world. They were a
testament to hard
work, dedication and
belief that an idea
will lead you to
your dream.
The stand was
comfortable enough
for a person to
relax in the woods
all day. Together
they built a $35
million/yr business
from humble
beginnings.
His stories about
the outdoors have
always been
entertaining. Every
time I would visit
Margaret and Bob he
would share another
story with me.
Sometimes he would
tell on himself,
often he could not
help but tell a good
Margaret story.
When he found a new
hunting or fishing
passion he pursued
it with vigor.
Several years ago
when I first met he
and Margaret, they
had retired from the
business and grouper
fishing had now
sparked his
interest. At first
he was catching
grouper like
everybody else, he
did well. He like,
everybody else would
loose the really big
ones when they swam
in a hole.
Invariably the line
would break, leaving
a frustrated
fisherman on the
other end. That
frustrated him to no
end. He would tell
me, "I am going to
invent me a way to
pull 'em out of that
hole. They will not
whip me."
The next time I
visited with Bob, he
explained his new
rig. "I have
developed a winch
that will pull 'em
out of that hole" He
continued to improve
his system until it
was a science. It
was a pleasure to
watch the excitement
in his face as he
explained his new
technique. He would
watch the line
intently for any
movement indicating
a bite. When he was
sure he set the hook
and when that rascal
ran in a hole, Bob
had his rig setup
where he could push
a button and presto.
And when Bob finally
caught that big 'un,
he let him go.
That's the way I
remember it.
Once, while out of
town, I met a man
who told me his Bob
Hice story. There
was a time when
hunters spent most
of their day
stalking through the
woods. In south
Georgia that meant
fighting thick brush
and most often a
deer hunter would
come home with
nothing for his hard
work. He met Bob in
the small town of
Bainbridge GA. He
was explaining how
he was about to give
up hunting since it
was so difficult.
Bob started to show
him a new way. You
need one of these
stands here. Bob
took him in the
woods and pointed
out a trail and
showed him how to
use the stand. Bob
explained to him he
could hunt all day
and return home from
the woods without
being exhausted. The
fellow used the
stand the next
morning and slayed a
nice sized buck and
many more since.
Over the years Bob
introduced many
people to a new way
to hunt, from a tree
rather than the
ground. I have met
many an outdoorsman
who would hunt with
nothing other than a
Treelounge, this
army of faithful
followers was
Treelounge's
unintentional sales
force.
May 5th 2006 Bob
passed away from
complications
related to
Parkinson's Disease.
Bob was a true
outdoorsman who
rarely turned his
back on a new
adventure. Bob is
enjoying the great
outdoors in God's
special hunting and
fishing grounds,
snatching groupers
out of holes or,
bowfishing for gar,
or hanging out in
one of God's big ole
trees in a
Treelounge stand
waiting for a big
buck.
Now as I reflect on
the stories, I
realize Bob passed a
piece of his life to
me with each story.
These are the
memories I will
always carry as the
Bob I know. When I
make it to heaven, I
am pretty sure I'll
know where to find
Bob. Men like Bob
reinforce age old
qualities like, hard
work, integrity,
ingenuity, tenacity,
and morals to name a
few, traits not
common in today's
society.
Margaret, thank you
for the
introduction.
Anybody would be
honored to be your
friend, I am. Thank
you for being the
wonderful person you
are. I look forward
to many more years
as your friend.
God Bless,
James
Lakeman
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