Kona fisherman led industry

George Stevens Parker, a fishing boat captain and a pioneer in the Kona charter fishing boat industry, died April 4 at his home in Kona. He was 96.

Born in San Diego, he moved to Hawaii in 1935.

In 1945, he was credited with inventing a new lure, like the type still used, made of a piece of chrome tubing, red rubber strips and vinyl upholstery material. In 1954 he was the first person to land a Pacific blue marlin weighing more than 1,000 pounds following International Game Fishing Association rules. His fish weighed 1,002 pounds.

He received a Coast Guard Silver Medal of Honor for the single-handed rescue of two men from a disabled sailboat in heavy surf at Kiholo Bay in 1965, his family said.

Parker was a leader in the creation of the Honokohau Small Board Harbor, and fished in the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament from 1960 until his retirement 11 years ago at age 85. In 2005, he was inducted into the International Gamefish Association Hall of Fame.

Parker is survived by brother Phillip; sons Marlin, Randy, Mark and Steve; daughters Gale Allen and Jillynn Parker; and six grandchildren.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. May 3 on the lawn of the Kona Inn. Burial at sea at 10 a.m. May 4.