The Emergency Medical Service Benefit Fund, Inc., held a benefit bass tournament at Lakeview Marina on May 7th, which proved to be a beautiful day, for the Alan Schlein family of Montgomery County. Schlein was only 29 when he passed away, leaving behind a wife and young son. He served as a paramedic in Montgomery and Harris counties. He worked for the Montgomery County Hospital District EMS at the time of his death. The EMS Benefit Fund, Inc., was organized shortly after Schlein’s untimely death “to raise funds to support EMS personnel in times of need or catastrophe,” according to Bobby McMinn, President of the organization. The corporation began with this benefit at Lakeview Marina and will continue with other benefits as they are needed. The tournament was a success with 32 teams competing. All the funds raised were split in half, with half going to the Schlein family and half split among the winners, according to Stanley Mims, Secretary of the EMS Benefit Fund, Inc. The entry fee per team was $60.00 with a $10.00 optional “Big Bass” entry fee. The “Big Bass” category had a 100% payback. First place was taken by Joey Pizzini and Tom Dean with a total weight of 13.63 lbs. The first place team won 70% of the half of the earnings ear-marked for contestants, or $660.00. In second place was Keith Yarbrough and Eric Chandler of Crosby with a single bass weighing 7.4 lbs. The second place team members shared $160.00 or 20% of the day’s winnings. Yarbrough, who actually caught the 7.4-lb. bass, was the big winner of the day because he also walked away with the optional “Big Bass” prize totaling $310.00. Third place went to a couple that weighed in at 7.28 lbs. Third place won 10% of the winnings or $80.00. Following the bass tournament, an auction was held at the marina. McMinn wishes to thank the cooperation of numerous businesses of Montgomery County in providing over $7000.00 of auction goods and services. Bar-B-Cue was also provided at the tournament by “numerous grocery stores,” says McMinn. A total of $800.00 was received at the tournament for the Alan Schlein family.
