Len Borgström, grandson of Abu Garcia founder Carl August Borgström,
Len Borgström, grandson of Abu Garcia founder Carl August Borgström, famed fishing reel pioneer and former company president, died July 15. “Len Borgström was an amazing ambassador of fishing and a wonderful gentleman. He loved the Abu brand and was constantly giving me suggestions on how we could make better products and provide improved customer service,” said Harlan Kent, CEO of Pure Fishing, the parent company of Abu Garcia. “He loathed ‘suits’ working in the fishing indu...stry and thought it was for avid anglers only. He was well loved by the Abu Garcia family and his colorful stories of fishing on the Mörrum River will be remembered by all of us.” In 1978, Borgström oversaw the merger between ABU Fishing Tackle and its U.S.-based importer, The Garcia Corporation, when the company became formally known as Abu Garcia. “One reason for our success is that both I and my father (Göte Borgström) were very keen fishermen,” said Borgström, an ultra-avid angler, to Bassmaster in 2018. “We did not let anything out on the market unless we had tested it ourselves for at least one year. Every reel was tested by us personally before it was put on the market.” In 2021, Abu Garcia will celebrate its 100th anniversary, celebrating Borgström’s leadership and vision while honoring his legacy in the fishing industry, which includes the launch of the revolutionary Abu Ambassadeur 5000 and a host of other sport-defining innovations. 展开
