CULLMAN, Ala. – Weston Montgomery was a young, vivacious teenager who had his life cut short earlier this year. It was a loss felt by his whole community; they often remember him as a kind young man who loved his friends and family, the only thing more important than fishing. Montgomery’s mother Misty Thomas is harnessing her grief and turning her late son’s memory and love of the sport into an open-registration fishing tournament, the Weston Clay Montgomery Memorial Tournament.
Montgomery was a bright West Point High School student when he was enrolled in the Cullman Area Technology Academy (CATA) Machine Shop program. He was “one of the best, according to his teachers,” said Thomas.
“Everything happened so fast with his death we didn’t have time to think about the memorial fund. After talking to his teachers we decided to start a nonprofit memorial fund to provide funds to students in need that are in the (CATA) Machine Shop program. This can be used for tools and other equipment needed,” she said. “If you knew Weston, you would know he loved fishing. If he wasn’t working on something he would find a way to go fishing. Almost every picture I have is of him fishing.”
Thomas longed for an avenue to honor her son in more than one way – remembering him for who he was and the love he brought to so many, as well as ensuring that his legacy and kindness live on in the lives of others through his memorial fund. To Thomas, a fishing tournament was the logical choice, as if Montgomery had picked it himself. As a member of the West Point High School Fishing Team, Montgomery had a few scholarship prize tournament wins under his own belt.
The Weston Clay Montgomery Memorial Fishing Tournament will be held on Jan. 1, 2024, at Smith Lake Dam beginning from safe daylight until 3 p.m. Each boat will pay a $150 entrance fee; a total of five winners will be recognized and win a combined $6000. Get more information and register at http://tinyurl.com/WMontgomery.
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