Mercury: 75 Years
About the author
Bernie Schultz
Bernie Schultz is an eight-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, illustrator, writer and antique tackle collector. Follow his career on the Bassmaster Elite Series and get advice from this longtime pro here on Pro-spective.
This year marks the 75th anniversary for Mercury Marine. In recognition of that milestone, I dedicate this column to the company that has backed me since the beginning of my career.
As long as I can remember, Mercury has been a dominant player in watersports. Their engines have set hundreds of speed records, as well as propelled countless anglers to victory on every major fishing circuit, both in fresh and saltwater. And much of this success is due to the relentless drive of one unique individual — Carl Kiekhaefer, the founder of Mercury Marine.
Because of Kiekhaefer’s never-ending desire to be the best, Mercury established a long list of industry firsts — including the first enclosed lower-unit housing, impeller-driven cooling system, thru-hub exhaust system and countless other innovations.
Through the dedication and drive of Kiekhaefer and his loyal employees, Mercury Marine became the most celebrated outboard manufacturer in history.
