NEWS

Editor's Note: In observance of the Independence Day holiday, we will not be publishing editions on Friday, July 3. Items you would like to appear prior to Monday, July 6 must be submitted before the close of business on Wednesday, July 2. Material received after that date will appear in the following Monday's edition. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday weekend.


Easton Foundation and NFAA Foundation Award $20,000 Archery Scholarships

Easton Sports Development Foundation and the National Field Archery Association Foundation announces Archery Scholarship Recipients for 2009 have been awarded to 20 student athletes in middle school, high school, and college that compete with either compound or recurve bows.


Archery In the Schools Training August 11 and 12

The Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR), in cooperation with Kanawha County Board of Education, will host an Archery in the Schools (AIS) Program instructor training on August 11 and 12 at Kenna Elementary School in Charleston.


NRA National Smallbore And High Power Silhouette Championships to Be Held at NRA Whittington Center

The National Rifle Association has announced that the 2009 National Smallbore and High Power Rifle Silhouette Championships will be held the first week in August at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico. Four separate championships are included: Smallbore Rifle, Smallbore Hunting Rifle, High Power Rifle and the High Power Hunting Rifle Championships.


BowTech Introduces the Best Kept Secret of 2009

Today, BowTech Archery announces their new S.W.A.T. with non aggressive Binary synchronized dual cams for a smooth, consistent draw and a bow speed of 314 to 322 fps. The S.W.A.T. is being offered in a special edition packaging including a flat black finish with vibrant green highlights and a free matching seven-inch Octane stabilizer.


Sabre Defence Industries Sponsors Competitive Shooting

Sabre Defence Industries, LLC, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is proud to be a major sponsor for more than a dozen competitive shooting events, from their own Sabre Defence/Blue Ridge Mountain 3-Gun Match in April to the Ft. Benning 3-Gun Match held in December at Fort Benning, Georgia.


Clearidge Optics Available Consumer Direct

Consumer-direct sporting optics are available from CLEARIDGE Optics' new website. The Michigan-based company, is the first consumer-direct optics brand in the country, selling its superior quality, Japanese-made riflescopes online and by phone order.


Winchester Ammo Launches Two 22LR Loads

Winchester® Ammunition has expanded its rimfire ammunition line for hunters and shooters by launching two new .22 Long Rifle (LR) loads; the new Hyper Speed HP™ .22 LR and the 555 round .22 LR bulk pack.


Steiner Kicks off Rebate Program Today

Beginning today, purchasers of Steiner binoculars can take advantage of a mail-in rebate program that offers rebates from $30 to $100 depending on the model purchased between July 1 and December 31, 2009.


Shooting USA Has New Airtimes, New Shows Starting With Western Three Gun

Tonight on Outdoor Channel, Shooting USA features the new form of Cowboy Action Shooting for competitors who want more challenge in the game. Western Three Gun scores points for accuracy and designs stages of fire that require shooting on the move. It's the next step for cowboys and cowgirls.


Pierce Bullet Seal Announced As Official Sponsor of NRA High Power Championships

The NRA Competitive Shooting Division announces that Pierce Bullet Seal Target Systems (PBSTS) will be returning as this year's Official Sponsor of the NRA National High Power Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio.


FEATURE

Joe Bowman: The Straight Shooter

The last time I talked with Joe Bowman, we were sharing a table at an NRA banquet in Louisville, Kentucky. We were companions by chance, but it was one of those random occurrences that has stayed with me. While we were sitting there, I had a few minutes to ask him about his experiences and a lifetime as an exhibition shooter, cowboy, bootmaker, and shooting coach to Hollywood.

"This country was based on the freedom of men," Joe told me, "those freedoms are still our ideals. That's why I've been a supporter of the NRA for so many years."

At the time, I had no idea how much more Joe had done to support his country. Later, I learned he was a certified World War II hero whose medals included a combat infantryman's badge (4 stars) a bronze star and purple heart.

When the dinner was over, Mr. Bowman stood slowly, shook my hand and told me he'd been "honored to share the evening" with me. The honor was all mine- and I still have the playing card he signed for me after amazing me with a couple of off-the-cuff card tricks.

There won't be any more dinners with Joe, and we're all poorer for the loss.

Joe Bowman "The Straight Shooter" April 12, 1925-June 28, 2009. There was a lot of living in that hyphen.
On May 28, on his way back from End of Trail, Joe Bowman "The Straight Shooter" joined his friends and contemporaries who have already "gone west."

Those of us who knew Joe, either by lucky association, longtime friendship or just having seen one of his exhibitions of fancy shooting, gun twirling and card tricks, knew he was unique.

For years, he represented Ruger firearms. In fact, he took great pride in telling me that he'd put "tens of thousands of rounds" through his Rugers and they'd "never missed a trick" working "as reliably today as they did when they were brand-spanking new."

Smiling, Joe confided, "none of us can say that, can we?"

His loss is being felt at Ruger and across the industry.

"Joe Bowman was a true ambassador for Ruger and the shooting industry," says Ruger's Mike Fifer, "He was a gifted shooter and entertainer, war hero, and a real gentleman."

"Joe," he concluded, "will be sorely missed by all of us."

That is a sentiment being echoed through the shooting industry, and justifiably so.

Joe's passing breaks another living link to a generation of men's men whose word was their bond and love for their country was unquestioned.

Joe could speak fondly of Roy Rogers, Jock Mahoney, John Wayne, Yakima Canutt, and other legends of the silver screen. After all, he taught gun handling to Gene Hackman, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Robert Duvall (among others) and was appointed "Ambassador of Goodwill" by four Texas governors, including George W. Bush.

He performed thousands of shows, including command performances for King Hussein of Jordan and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Throughout it all, Joe Bowman remained a gentleman, exemplifying the quiet strength and courtesy of a man from what is a rapidly disappearing generation of Americans.

Yesterday, as word spread of Joe's death, Sheriff Jim Wilson described Bowman as "a really good guy. And he always looked 20 years younger than he was. In years past, he made boots and gun rigs for the various Hollywood cowboys, and wasn't a bad hand at engraving a gun, either."

Yep, he was all that and a great representative for the sport of shooting - and mankind in general.

We'll miss him.

--Jim Shepherd

Services for Joe Bowman will begin with a viewing on Monday, July 6 from 6:00p.m. - 9:00p.m. at the Forest Park Lawndale, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, Texas. Services will be held there Tuesday, July 7, at 10:00 a.m.

If you'd like to know more about Joe Bowman, you can visit My Outdoor TV and see a video that showcases Joe's shooting at: http://www.myoutdoortv.com/video/video.php?v=ifVk075_zFZCZM_4OkbHcspjADsGM7SB


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