In October of 1975 — while Roland Martin was competing in a bass fishing tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma — his wife was MaryAnn went into labor.
As soon as he was off the water, Roland rushed to the hospital. His wife gave birth to a baby boy.
Not long after that, Roland was on the phone with his friend Ray Scott, founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.).
Ray asked what they were going to name the newborn. Roland said they hadn’t chosen a name yet.
So Ray said, “If you name him after me I’ll give him a B.A.S.S. Lifetime Membership.” Dad liked that idea and ran in to tell my mom. He was all excited about the Life Membership.
My mom’s reaction was, “No way. I’m not going to name him Ray. I don’t really like that name, and he doesn’t look like a Ray.”
So, Dad thought about that and said, “How about Scott?” Mom said, “Well I might be able to work with that.”
Scott Martin thinks he “might be the only person to get a B.A.S.S. Lifetime Membership at birth.”
Source: Sexton, Jim. “How Scott Martin was named after Ray Scott.” Bassmaster 25 May 2022.