Randi and Darold Gleason met during their teenage years and made the transition from the friend zone to butterflies with magic dust. For better or worse, the only cleaning off of dust that Darold did was sweeping Randi off her feet – here’s their story:

HPFC: Can you share the story of how you and your husband first crossed paths?

Randi Gleason: We first saw each other when I was 12 and he was 14 at a high school basketball game. Like typical pre-teens, a friend (Courtney) invited me to the game and was pointing out who was who on the team. He asked a friend and found out who I was. We didn’t official meet until that following fall when I transferred to that school to attend high school.

HPFC: What were your initial impressions or your husband when you first met him?

Randi Gleason: To hear Darold tell the story is a LOT FUNNIER but basically we became friends. And Darold said he accomplished his greatest feat by overcoming the ‘”friend zone” after years of his attempts.

HPFC: What did you know about fishing when you first met?

Randi Gleason: We both grew up in the country so catfishing or bass fishing in ponds in the cow pasture was the extent of our fishing. It wasn’t until college when Darold was exposed to Toledo Bend that he got bit by the tournament bass fishing bug. It definitely fulfilled his competitiveness once high school ball ended. So we started small, together, with an awesome local bass club, then BFLs, and as he grew, we moved into higher stakes circuits.

HPFC: Did you know anything about professional bass fishing before you met?

Randi Gleason: Before we met, nothing. In college, my only exposure was the tournaments he watched on TV.

HPFC: Was there a specific moment or event that made you realize your feelings were more than just friendship?

Randi Gleason: I don’t know what magic dust he sprinkled, but one day at the “canteen” (concession stand) he asked me again if I would ever date him and the butterflies began and still flutter today 25+ years later.

HPFC: How long have you been married?

Randi Gleason: We will celebrate our 20th anniversary this Fall.

HPFC: What was his pre-fishing profession?

Randi Gleason: His journey went from high school, then college, then a business teacher. Then a business teacher and t-shirt screening business owner as a side job to pay for his fishing tournaments. Then a t-shirt screening business owner and guide business owner to then a pro level tournament fisherman and guide business owner, lol.

HPFC: How did the two of you come to terms with him going out and living his dream?

Randi Gleason: I think the two greatest obstacles are time and money in this industry. When the dream of pro fishing emerged we were in our late 20s and straight hustling. We were both working 6-7 days a week building our businesses. D was traveling two hours a day for his guide trips. We were aware of the cost and time away from his guide business that it would require if that dream ever came to fruition so we felt the best thing we could do was start saving just in case.

Some probably thought we were nuts for how we worked during that decade and who knows if we were; but, because of our life circumstances, we knew that procrastination was not a luxury that we had because of my health battle with cystic fibrosis. Basically we knew the cost away from his guide business and for travel and entry fees were going to be high, so we chased the dream with responsible financial guard rails in place. And if the dream ever came about, we would hopefully be able to say YES. This part of the business is something we are passionate about when young people say they want to be a pro fisherman. You can’t start preparing when you make it. We believe it takes years of financial preparation along with the skill and mental preparation.

The first year that Darold left his teaching career to pursue his guide business, we prepared the six months prior by minimizing our expenses and saving an emergency cushion to help us have stability during that year just in case his business didn’t takeoff as we expected. Thankfully, that first year was a success, but this is pretty much how we’ve handled every milestone since. When he wanted to pursue the Opens, he used extra funds generated from additional guide trips and screening t-shirts at night, along with minimizing his costs on the road. To save on expenses he bunked up with another angler in some sketchy economy hotels and KFC was the luxury meal of the week. It feels like many want to skip this step of financial preparation today. That decade of working, saving, pursuing created such a deep fortitude of determination and personal growth for both of us.

Now if I’m being transparent I’d admit we weren’t much fun and our social life was tremendously lame during that decade. Thankfully many of our friends are also self-employed and were hustling in their own lanes too, so we all had a mutual respect for one another and just prayed we all made it to our individual dreams. As crazy as those years were, we owe a lot of credit to that decade for some valuable life lessons, great business relationships formed, and some healthy mindsets and habits we still benefit from today. So many of our breakthrough moments in life can be traced back to that 10-year span of time, including many of Darold’s top brand partners who we still have the honor of promoting and representing today.

HPFC: What doubts might you have had with him going on tour and how did you overcome them?

Randi Gleason: I didn’t really have too many doubts. I just had to come to terms that some things aren’t in our realm of control and I just have to release it and trust the Lord’s plan for our life. No matter if it’s unfair on unjust, Your faith must grow that God’s plan is always the best one. It can be a bit muddy out there, but the key is how to live in that world but not let the mud get into your heart and spirit.

HPFC: How do you manage the frequent separation and limited time together due to his on the road schedule?

Randi Gleason: We had about a decade of him fishing the Opens with several weeks apart a year. We knew that if he ever entered another circuit that required him to be gone longer, that we would wait until we could travel together. In 2020, that became a reality.

HPFC: Are there any activities or special events that you and your husband enjoy doing when you are together after he has been gone all season?

Randi Gleason: We just love being home. We don’t really want to go anywhere. You’ll find D at the golf course most afternoons after a guide trip. He’s got a group of great buddies on our home course that play games to scratch that competitive itch during the week. I usually immerse myself in projects and take on more clients during my stints at home. It’s prime time for me to do the “in person” things for both my Mary Kay and digital marketing businesses.

HPFC: Do you have any pet peeves?

Randi Gleason: Definitely bagging fish. I loathe it! Often D will ask me to help hold the bag while he bags his fish. I’ve had fish jump out and it’s so stressful to me because I know how hard he worked to get them there and my clumsy butt should not be trusted to help with that job.

HPFC: What do you think your husband’s pet peeves are of you?

Randi Gleason: Oh gosh…. I say “what” and make him repeat himself.. all day long. And editing videos without ear buds in is another one that he especially “loves.” That’s the top two if I were a betting girl.

HPFC: What are your retirement plans?

Randi Gleason: Wow, to think that is a possibility truly makes me smile. I never thought about retirement years until the last few years with the release of a miracle drug for CF patients. We foresee lots of golf, RV travel to destinations of our choice (not just where the tournament is), spending more time with friends, and sunset views all across the USA. As for when, I cannot imagine not working. We love what we do and my businesses are location-independent so to think of not working with my clients or staying busy just isn’t fathomable to me at this point.

HPFC: What is something off the wall that no one knows about the two of you.

Randi Gleason: Not in public, but in our home…. We talk in the voices we think our dogs would have if they could talk shhhhhh that really makes us sound like weirdos when I actually type it.