Wilcox County and the Black Belt are mourning the loss of outdoor guru and host of Gettin’ Outdoors with BDL James “Big Daddy” Lawler, who passed away quietly in the early morning hours of Feb. 13.
Growing up in Wilcox County in the Grampian Hills of the Black Belt region, Big Daddy developed a love and respect for the outdoors at an early age.
Many of his jobs over the years were dealing with the outdoors, including owning a bait shop and working for his brother Jimmy at Lawler Timber. But his true passion was promoting the outdoor resources of Alabama’s Black Belt.
His desire to spread the word about the Black Belt led him to start a radio show. First in Demopolis at WINL. He eventually moved Gettin’ Outdoors with Big Daddy Lawler to WJDB in Thomasville. In 2015, he moved the show to WALX in Selma and started the Gettin’ Outdoors Radio Network.
Through the Gettin’ Outdoors Radio Network Big Daddy was able to promote the outdoors to the Black Belt and beyond. He also discovered the reach of the internet. The radio show steamed on the internet and attracted listeners from as far away as Michigan, New York and California.
By December 2018, Big Daddy had decided the radio show had run its course. He last radio show was December 29, 2018. After a few weeks off, He came back with the Gettin’ Outdoors with BDL Podcast. He also started his Friday morning Facebook Live show and the Wednesday evening Hunting and Fishing report with Joe Allen Dunn, Kevin Sims and Shane Jones.
One reason Gettin Outdoors radio and podcast has been so successful is the list of guests from every corner of the outdoors world that Big Daddy could call and get on his shows. He had big outdoor royalty like Turkey Man Eddie Salter, The Turtle Man, Kay Donaldson Director of the Alabama Bass Trail and so many more.
Big Daddy had the movers and shakers of the outdoors world like Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director Chuck Sykes, Gaston Custom Calls’ David Gaston, AWF President Tim Gothard and Jere Peak of the NWTF.
Another reason the show has been so popular is that Big Daddy is an endearing person. He never met a stranger. He was all inclusive and wanted to spread the word about the joys of outdoor activity to everyone. He especially like to stress the family aspect of hunting and fishing.
Over the years, there have been a large number of lives that Big Daddy has touched and changed. Many people whom he mentored and by doing so opened the outdoors to so many who not only enjoy it themselves but who have moved on to work in the outdoor industry and continue to spread Big Daddy’s message of the wonders of the Black Belt outdoors.
According to the Lawler family, there will be a small private memorial ceremony on a date yet to be determined.
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