Les Bingaman (Daily Press file photo)

The following piece was published in the Daily Press on June 7, 1955.

Les Bingaman, giant middle guard of the Detroit Lions, may not have caught the biggest fish in this area yesterday but it’s a good bet that he was the biggest fisherman.

Bingaman is shown above with the largest of the walleyes caught by his party off Masonville. Bingaman was a guest of Jack Miller at Miller’s Half-Way House in Rapid River. Others in the party were Frank Pearson of Chicago, John Greene of Gladstone and Miller and Harry Buchman of Rapid River.

The big Detroit Lions star, who announced his retirement late last season, stands 6-4 and tips the scales at 335 pounds in playing shape.

Bingaman is regarded as one of football’s all-time line greats. He came out of Illinois as a member of the Rose Bowl champions of 1947 to join the Lions. He was named All-Pro for five straight years — 1950 through 1954 — and was co-captain of the Detroit team in 1950 and 1953.

This is the third straight year that Bingaman, employed by the Goebel Brewing Co. in off-seasons, has come to the Rapid River area for walleye fishing.

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