By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
April 13, 2016

“Gone fishin, instead of just a wishin.” Those once-obscure lyrics became Harold Easley’s theme song as he ventured weekly to various outdoor spots throughout the world to spotlight fishing and outdoor life. You knew as soon as you heard the harmonica music and the homespun lyrics that you were about to be transported to some faraway place for the next 30 minutes with Harold.

His guest list read like a who’s who of celebrities. Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and others joined Harold for trips that involved everything from fishing for crappie at the newly created Truman Lake to hunting pheasant on the Kansas prairies.

Sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Ford Dealers, Harold Ensley was known far and wide as “The Sportsman’s Friend.” His TV career began in 1953 when Harold officially began fishing in front of the camera. With his faithful sidekick, “Dandy” Don Warnock (former KCMO–TV weekend Weatherman), Ensley’s TV show at one time was syndicated in more than 70 markets throughout the United States and spanned almost five decades, finally going off the air in 2001.

Ensley passed away in August 2005 at his Overland Park, Kan., home. He was 92 years old.