May 8, 2018
It is with great sadness, founder of Zoom Bait Company, William Edward Chambers Sr. passed early Tuesday morning. Chambers, a famous iconic lure designer, was diagnosed with a rare form of Mantle Cell Lymphoma. After undergoing treatment for a short time, complications arose which eventually took its toll.
Mr. Chambers was a fighter his entire life, as he would never settle for anything less than perfect. If a good mousetrap existed, he’d find a way to make a better one. Striving for perfection is how he built Zoom Bait Company. Chambers started Zoom in his backyard as a hobby, which included countless hours after his day job. It began in a one-horse barn with sawdust floors. This became the foundation and backbone of Zoom Bait Company, which was founded in 1977.
Zoom was family owned and operated since day one. As the saying goes, behind every man is a great woman. Faye Chambers stood by his side making countless sacrifices in the early days as the company was just getting started. Often, she was found on the living room floor bagging worms and loading their station wagon, so she could deliver them to UPS.
The company began to grow with the help of close friends and fellow fishermen from the Athens Bassmasters. Eddie Wortham, while still in high school, was the first employee hired by Chambers. Today, Wortham still works at Zoom as General Manager.
Shortly after Chambers started the company, Zoom experienced another growth spurt. Chambers son, William Edward Chambers Jr., while still in school, stepped in and began running routes delivering worms with Wortham, across the southeast.
In 1988, Chambers realized that his hobby had turned into a big business. At this point, Chambers believed it would take the entire family to make this work. Eddie Jr., graduated from UGA and returned to the family business, while younger sister Kym pursued a nursing career. Kym graduated from college and worked as an RN for several years. Eventually, she joined Zoom to fill her mother’s shoes, when Faye decided to retire.
Chambers was a humble man, who never saw himself as famous. He was completely content working seven days a week seeking constant perfection. This was evident in his second hobby, making handmade balsa crankbaits. W.E.C. Custom Lures was his passion. W.E.C. was first born around 1992 and, by the mid 90’s, was in full swing. With the help of close friends, Chambers developed many crankbait models that are highly sought after to this day.
All who knew him will miss Mr. Chambers, but for us here at Zoom, we are honored to have had such a wonderful leader, mentor and friend.
###
In lieu of flowers, the Chambers family is requesting donations be made to support Mantle Cell Lymphoma research.
MD Anderson Cancer Center
c/o Dr. Michael Wang, MD & Professor
1515 Holcombe Blvd
Box 429
Houston, Texas 77030
Learn more here about Dr. Wang’s research.
All of us at Virginia Guide Bait Co. are sad. We have lost a great man of vision. Thank you Ed, for what you and Faye have have done for us and so many. You will never be forgotten.
So sorry for your lose.
So sorry for the loss, Prayers for the family and everyone that works with him. What a GREAT MAN!!!! He treat everyone with great respect.
I have always used zoom products and always will. To me there are no other plastic on the market. Prayers for the entire family. Thank you sir for the vision you had and brought to the market.
A true pioneer and ambassador for the sport of bass fishing!! My deepest condolences to the family and the folks at Zoom. A legend in the sport of bass fishing . RIP Mr. Chambers
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Chambers family. May God give you comfort and strength thru the coming days. I have fished with Zoom baits both plastic and the W.E.C. hardbaits. One of the W.E.C. baits means a lot to me. My fishing buddy & friend, the late Ronnie Tapp went to Mr. Chambers about making a crankbait with a coffin bill. After a lot of prototypes and tests the lure was made and Mr. Chambers named it the “Tapp”. What a tribute to my buddy! Thanks Mr. Chambers for all you have done for bass fishing! May you & Ronnie share countless fishing stories in heaven!
Pitman Creek sends our deepest sympathy to our friends at Zoom Bait Company for the passing of Ed Chambers Sr. Our friendship with Mr. Chambers has brought great joy to our company and we will miss him terribly. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Zoom Bait Company family.
I am so sorry for the passing of a great man, prayers for the Family. I have used zoom baits and will continue enjoying using them.
I HAVE WORKED FOR ZOOM BAIT FOR 24 YEARS NOW AND WE WILL MISS SEEING HIM WALK THRU THE PLANT EVERY MORNING…EVEN THOUGH HE MAY HAVE ONLY SAID “GOOD MORNING” WITH A SMILE HIS PRESENCE WAS STILL THERE…THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORKED MORE CLOSELY WITH HIM WILL TRULY MISS HIM…PRAYING FOR HIS WIFE.SON.DAUGHTER AND GRANDKIDS…MAY U RIP (BIG ED)
Sending my deepest condolences to Ed’s family! I worked for him in the 80’s . I sure will miss him he was a great friend! God Bless Wayne Casper
My thoughts and prayers for Faye, Kym and Eddie. I am very glad I was able to meet and spend time with Ed. Men like him change the world with their vision and industriousness.
Chris Hardin
The inspiration he shared fueled my passion to start my own lure company. Mr. Chambers will surely be missed by many all over the world. Thanks for making one of the best plastics and balsa baits in the industry.
So sorry to hear about this! Thank you for providing us with such a wonderful product for all these years. May God bless and be with your family during this time!
My sincere condolences to Mr Chambers’ family. And my sincere thanks to Mr Chambers and ZOOM Bait Company and in particular to their Fluke bait Albino and Aurora Black colors for countless hours of fishing success on Rainy Lake, Canada. I did not know Mr Chambers but I somehow feel a real sadness in his passing since he and I are of the same generation; I turn 78 this month. May I share a poem by Homer Circle: A Fisherman’s Prayer
God Grant That I May Fish
Until My Dying Day;
And when At Last I Come To Rest;
I’ll Most Humbly Pray;
When In HIS Landing Net
I Lie In Final Sleep;
That In HIS Mercy I’ll Be Judged
Good Enough To Keep!
— Homer Circle
Lures Truly – Reely
Ed Chambers was a true pillar in the fishing community, he was respected by his competitors, admired by his employees, & loved by his family. He was my first employer/boss when I worked for him in the old barn behind his house while attending UGA. My deepest condolences go out to Faye, Eddie, Kym, & the rest of his family including Eddie W. who has stood by his side for many years. RIP my friend….
Last Fall I drew Gerald Swindle on the second day of a BASS Open in Alabama. I’m a long time user and firm believer in Zoom products so I kiddingly asked “G” to speak to Mr. Chambers about a sponsorship (kiddingly because I’m older and not really a tournament fisherman). “G” then proceeded to call Mr. Chambers a “second father” and one of the most influential people in his life in or out of fishing. High praise and it certainly made me feel that my personal loyalty to Mr. Chambers Zoom products was well deserved. Sorry to see another fishing icon leave us.
I was so saddened and shocked to hear of Ed’s passing. When he was in the salon a week ago he looked good . He was a kind hearted man , I will miss him.
I never met Mr. Chambers but he made great baits. I am sure he will be missed. Condolences to his family.
I was really sad to hear about Mr. Chambers passing. My deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.
I will remember our quick little chats in the hallways and his smile.
It was a real pleasure knowing him.
FOR OVER 50 YEARS ED AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS, FISHED TOGETHER AND COMMUNICATED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,
MOSTLY BY PHONE. I WILL MISS THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD OVER THE YEARS AND WILL MISS HIS VOICE THAT ALWAYS HAD
A POSITIVE TONE TO IT. HE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE FINEST GENTLEMAN I HAVE EVER MET. IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE THE PAIN OF
HIS LOSS WILL GO AWAY BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED. IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO BE HIS FRIEND.