I'm scratching on this one, but it seems to me I recall Gary Loomis started Loomis Composites Ind./Inc. way back. Then he left the company and sold the LCI name with it. While LCI took a 'budget' rod tack from that point, Gary started up the presently Shimano owned G. Loomis Rod Co. Of course that company went the other direction to become the top notch rods. I still have one old LCI rod of 8'6" length at 12-25 lb. line rating. It has the black hard foam handles. It was one of the better earlier ones and has caught a lot of chinooks - and still is a good backup rod.

RT