Kim Ward took over the pioneering aluminum boat manufacturing facility started by his father and his uncle at the close of World War II and led it to national prominence, first as Duracraft Boats then as War Eagle Boats. Ward paced the company through changes and trends in recreational fishing needs and those of water-connected hunting, often developing effective new features in the shallow water boats. Ward led the Modern Aluminum Derby (MAD) in 1972 to help expose Arkansas water and fishing resources through participating media to a nationwide audience.
