The photo, taken by Leland Gerber, shows Kimmel Marshall (left) and an unidentified sportsman promoting the 1955 trout derby.

• CLICK HERE for details on this year's derby.

Sunday is the 75th anniversary Bluffton Sportsmen's Club trout derby. Eugene Benroth once said that the derby, which he played a huge part of promoting, was started during World War II as a way to bring the community together during a trying time.

It must have worked because it's still going on each year. Over the years the derby became a Bluffton instutition. Little has changed since 1944.
• The derby is still on the first Sunday of May
   of course, this year it moved to June due to flooding).
• The derby is still at the Buckeye
• Trout is the featured fish
• There's a number 1 tagged trout, that since the mid-1950s is named to recognize a Bluffton institution or person
• There  are lots of prizes for tagged fish caught
  (another Eugene Benroth marketing attraction)

In case you wonder about all those tagged number ones, Here's a list - not quite complete – and we are still working on the missing years. There's certainly someone you know on this famous Bluffton list. As soon as we complete the list, we will share it with Icon viewers.

2019
Bluffton Sportmen's Club's 75th anniversary
Big 75

2018
Ronald "Guppy" Montgomery
Guppy

2017
Sam Diller
Sudden Sam

2016
Bluffton Slaw Cutter
Ole Cutter

2015
Andy Herrmann
Big Andy

2014
Southgate Lanes
The King Pin

2013
Bluffton Peerless Ohio Glove Factory
Big Glove

2012
Tom Augsburger
Ole Augie

2011
Bluffton's 150th anniversary
Grand Shannon

1997 to 2010
We are missing these years

1996
Edgar Cook
Big Ed

1987 to 1995
We are missing these years

1986
Jim Herrmann
Old Cob

1985
Charles Swank
Charlie

1984
Ken Moser
Little Mos

1983
Ralph Augsburger
Big Ox

1982
Milt Edwards
Mighty Milt

1981
Forrest Steinman
Forrest

1980
Bluffton Stone Co. 75th anniversary
Golden Crusher

1979
Triplett Corp. 75th anniversary
Jubilee

1978
Bluffton Volunteer Fire Dept.
Old Smokey

1977
Coach A. C. Burcky
Coach A.C.

1976
Bicentennial
Old Glory

1975
Arden Baker
Big Arb

1974
John Gilbert
Big Gilly

1973
Fred Tschantz
Fast Freddy

1972
Oscar Wenger
Ol Oscar

1971
John Amstutz
Big John

1970
Gene Benroth
Big Benny

1969
25th Trout Derby Anniversary
Quick Silver

1968
Lester Neuenschwander
Big Les

1967
Jess Manges
Big Jess

1966
Denver Augsburger
Old Demps

1965
Gerald Swank
Old Tuffy

1964
Commemorate oil fever
Oily Irvin

1963
Big Buck

1962
Big Buck

1961
Bluffton's centennial
Old Grand Dad

1956 to 1960
No special name 

1955
Bluffton Stone Co. 50th anniversary
Big Stoney

1954
Triplett Corp. 50th anniversary
Big Goldie

1953
Pete the Pickerel

1952
no names given for previous years