Heyward “Red” Hutson

The Bus Driver Lure

Hutson History

Rison Heyward Hutson was born on May 14,1883 in Blacksville, S.C. Red and a cousin moved to the Tampa area in 1900 looking for work at a suggestion from a relative. Sometime in 1920 Red was living in Orlando Florida and was working as a bus driver. It’s not known the name of the first bus lines but eventually became the Greyhound lines and it’s also know Red followed the company from Orlando to Daytona and then finally to Jacksonville in the1930’s. Sometime in 1918 Red Hutson started making his pier baits and would give them away on his bus routes and hence the name, The Bus Driver.

A card was found from with a surprise type lure pictured that has the following information on it. This is believed to have been after his move to the Jacksonville area.

THE BUS DRIVER’S PAL
‘YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPIT ON IT’
Made by R.H. Hutson
Phone 9-5877, Jacksonville
931 Phillips St. Florida
THAT FISHING FOOL FROM ALLIGATOR CREEK

Information on this Wonderful Florida Maker can be found in Vol VI of the Florida Lure Makers and in the F.A.T.C. Newsletter Volume 23, Number 2.

Much of the information on this page was obtained by utilizing the information provided by Doug Brace, Bill Stuart, and Russell Riddle in “Florida Lure Makers and Their Lures” (Currently out of print). The information we have provided is only a portion of the story.  If interested in purchasing this book, please reach out to other collectors in our forum to inquire about availability.

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