FORT POLK, La. — Twelve years ago, when Fort Polk’s Directorate of Public Works set up a contest to name the new pond on Louisiana Avenue across from Warrior Hills Golf Course, suggestions poured in, ranging from “Lost Boys Pond” to “Flick-a-Worm Pond.”
But the one that proved to be most popular among the more than 500 fisherpersons who showed up for the body of water’s grand opening was the now familiar “Catfish Cove” entered by Christopher Holmes.
At the time, Holmes was a typical 7-year-old. The youngster enjoyed fishing with his folks, Staff Sgt. David and Brenda Holmes, and sisters, Sara and Jessica. He also enjoyed watching television and counted among his favorite shows reruns of “Gilligan’s Island.”
“I thought the show was pretty cool, and to me, the pond looked like the cove on Gilligan’s Island,” said Holmes, now a 19-year-old airborne infantry Soldier assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas. “Plus, they were putting a lot of catfish in it, so that’s how I came up with the name.”
Hence, the pond was christened Catfish Cove and Holmes won a $10 Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift certificate for his efforts.
“I think I bought a set of little men that were supposed to be bank robbers,” said Holmes, whose dad happened to be a military policeman. “It was neat.”
Holmes said that today, most of his friends don’t believe he was the one who actually named the favorite fishing haunt of Fort Polk’s kids. “They’ll say, ‘No way,’ but mom will pull out the newspaper article with the story and my picture and they’ll say, ‘Cool, man,’” Holmes said.
Holmes said he and his Family would periodically fish at the cove during his years growing up.
“My dad retired here, then went to work for the Department of the Army police,” Holmes said. “I guess the last time I went fishing there was when I was about 13.”
The name has, to Holmes’ surprise, stood the test of time.
“It’s cool to come back and see that it still has the name I gave it,” Holmes said. “I guess it’s my claim to fame. Wherever I go, or whatever I do, I can always come here and say, ‘I named that pond,’” he said. “That’s cool.”
