Joe Drennan
Sports EditorThe year was 1981 and Mark Tipler was a senior in high school. Tipler had dreams of continuing his football career past high school, but something happened and his life was changed.
Tipler and his younger brother Doug were taking advantage of senior ditch day and working in their garage when they noticed smoke billowing from the house. Tipler and his brother searched the house to make sure their sister was out. Little did they know, she was out shopping, but they both escaped the house unharmed.
After the fire Tiplerís brother worked in the house to repair the fire damage. Doug Tipler was working in the basement removing the melted carpet padding and glue using mineral spirits and a scraper.
Mark met up with his brother at the house because they were supposed to go out together later in the day.
ìThe spirits worked great,î Tipler said, ìso my brother went back to the store to get more of the stuff.î
With more mineral spirits, Doug continued working in the basement. At one point he hit a crack in the cement floor, resulting in a spark that hit and landed on the carpeting. The spark ignited the carpet padding. With flammable mineral spirits covering the floor, the fumes in the air quickly ignited, trapping Tipler in the basement.
Tiplerís brother was near the door and was able to exit the house safely, but Tiplerís path to the door was blocked by fire. Tiplerís only way out of the basement was through a window.
ìI had two options, run through the fire or back into a bedroom and climb through a window,î Tipler said.
Tipler backed into the bedroom and went to climb out the basement window but there was no furniture in the bedroom for him to stand on to reach the window. By the time Tipler was pulled to safety he had been burned on 80-percent of his body.
Tipler was taken to the Regions Hospital burn unit where Dr. Lynn Solem cared for him and performed several skin grafts to replace the burnt skin and other operations to repair tendon damage.
Knowing his football days were most likely over, Tipler focused his attention on another passion of his, fishing.
Tipler started Tips Guide Service while he attended Dunwoody Institute where he received a degree in civil technology and land surveying. After receiving his degree, Tipler decided he would try fishing competitively as a professional in tournaments.
Once on the professional scene, Tipler saw other anglers holding celebrity fishing tournaments to raise money for different charities.
ìI saw other guys doing tournaments to benefit groups and I thought I should do something to benefit Regions Hospital and give back for what they did for me,î Tipler said.
Last year Tipler was able to do just that when he held the First Annual Celebrity Bass Tournament on July 9 on Forest Lake. The tournament raised $5,000 for the Regions Hospital burn unit.
The Second Annual Mark Tipler Celebrity Bass Tournament is scheduled for July 13 on Forest Lake. Randy Moss is scheduled to participate in this yearís tournament and some Minnesota Twins players may be included as they will be off due to the All-Star break.
ìI havenít gotten the final word from some guys yet,î Tipler said.
Other celebrity guests may include Karyn Bye from the U.S. womenís hockey team and former Minnesota North Star Neil Broten.
At this yearís silent auction there will be a signed Marion Gaborik jersey, signed Daunte Caulpepper jersey and a signed Chris Hovan jersey.
Part of the fishing tournament is to get out on the lake and catch some fish, but the important part is to raise money for the Regions Hospital burn unit and for children in the burn unit to have a good time. Like last year, children who are at the Regions Hospital burn unit will be able to go out and fish with the different professional anglers.
ìThatís the main purpose,î Tipler said. ìTo get those kids out there and get them away from their shyness that they have probably because of their burns and making them feel special for that day. To put a smile on their faces is what itís all about.î
Schedule of events
The Second Annual Mark Tipler Celebrity Bass Tournament will kick off Tuesday morning with breakfast at the Upperdeck Grill and Bar at 7 a.m. Boats will blast off from Lakeside Park at 8 a.m. and anglers will fish until 2 p.m.
From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. family fun and food will be available at Lakeside Park while the anglers are out fishing. During that time people will have the chance to bid on different pieces from the silent auction. At 2 p.m. the anglers will return to Lakeside Park to weigh their fish and receive prizes.
Kids who have been effected by fire will be taken out from 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. with anglers to do some fishing of their own and forget about their burns. At 4:30 p.m. the kids will return to weigh their fish and receive prizes.
The Tournament will then end with a banquet, drinks and music at Upperdeck Grill and Bar from 5-10 p.m.
For more information about the tournament visit www.fishingthewildside.com.
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