shooter spotlight
Here we will spotlight stories of locals who are contributing to shooting sports in South Dakota. These folks often go unnoticed, and yet they play an important part of the integrity of hunting, sport shooting, or other related activities here in the Dakota's.
If you have a story to share, or if you know of someone who is worthy of recognition, please contact Dan Anderson by phoning him at 605-428-5488 or emailing him at dan@sdshootingsports.org.
In the spotlight:
- Lori Goldade- Friends of NRA
- Jim Schooler- SDSSA Achievment
- Les Tiltrum & Wanda Maud
- Don Wiechmann- National Record
In Memorium:
Volunteer Spotlight-Lori Goldade South Dakota
Lori Goldade has served as committee secretary of the North East chapter Friends of NRA Committee in Aberdeen, SD the last four years. during that time, she has contributed countless service hours to the committee's fundraising efforts by keeping meticulous sponsor records and merchandise inventory.
In addition to being a vital member of the committe's success, Goldade also volunteers with youth at local shooting sprots organizations. She and her husband, Arnie, who is the North East Chapter Friends of NRA chairman, are active volunteers with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks HuntSAFE Program. HuntSAFE teaches responsible firearm handling and prepares youths for their hunter certifications. Goldade also organized a summer trapshooting league for middle school girls, which just completed its second successful season. Supplies come partly from NRA foundation grants. The trapshooting league has helped the girls improve their aim and confidence.
Goldade believes that recruiting junior and women shooters is vital to the future of the shooting sports. She actively recruits women to join shooting leagues and has proudly watched the sport grow in Aberdeen. NRA Field Representative Bruce Plate commented, "She is one of the most organized people I know and is excellent at keeping a database of the committee's merchandise and sponsorships. She's also taken an initiative to promote shooting sports among the youth across the region. She and her husband are great role models for volunteerism and hunter safety.
NRA Traditions Magazine Fall 2005: 23
SDSSA Certificate of Achievement to Jim Schooler
SDSSA presented long time member, Jim Schooler with an award in recognition of his dedication and support of the shooting sports in South Dakota. Scott Larson, with the Lewis and Clark Rifle and Pistol and SDSSA, presented the award to Mr. Schooler in 2004.
(Scott Larson left, Jim Schooler right)
Jim,
Thank you for your dedication and service to South Dakota Shooting.
~SDSSA
The plaque reads:
"Jim Schooler - In appreciation of a lifetime of contributions to the shooting sports in South Dakota."
South Dakota Teens Grab 2nd Place and $1500 in Scholarships from NRA Holds Rifle Competition at National High School Rodeo Championship
NRA conducted the second annual National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) Light Rifle Championship during the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette, Wyoming, July 18-24, 2005, resulting in $5,500 in scholarships awarded to the top shooting teams. This is NRA's second year as a national sponsor of NHSRA.
Almost 100 individuals competed in the match from throughout the US as well as Australia and Canada, with rifles donated by the Henry Repeating Arms company. The Gillette Gun Club also helped to make this event possible by providing the use of their range as well as volunteers and range officers. "Light Rifle" refers to typical sporting rifles in .22 caliber, not precision target firearms.
Over 100,000 people attended this year's rodeo, which has been held annually since 1949, when it started in Halletsville, Texas. Currently, the NHSRA boasts approximately 10,500 members from 40 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia.
According to Matt Szramoski, Youth Programs Manager with the Education and Training Dividsion of NRA, "Our partnership with the NHSRA demonstrates NRA's commitment of reaching out to non-traditional audiences and teaching them the enjoyment of the shooting sports."
Local man sets New National Shooting Record
Don Wiechmann of Wagner has broken the National Rifle Association Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Mid-range record. The previous record was set last year, by Don Wiechmann, at the 1st US Infantry of Ft Randall yearly shooting contest held at the Robert Wiechmann shooting range. The course of fire consists of one 200 yard offhand ten shot event, one 200 yard event of sitting or kneeling cross-stick, ten shot event, and one ten shot 200 yard event of prone cross sticks. All firing is done with antique or replica Black Powder Cartridge Rifles single shot rifles of the late 1800s era. Iron sights only, no scopes, allowed. Don shoots a Shiloh Sharps reproduction rifle.
Competitors from Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wyoming, California, and South Dakota participated. The competition was held August 7, 2005. Don’s winning score of 286 5x of a possible score of 300 beat his old record by 5 points over the previous record. Award plaques and medals were given out to the top competitors in each event. Recognition of Don’s new record by the State and National NRA organizations will be forthcoming.
The SD NRA Mid-range Championship was held on August 7, the day following the 1st US Infantry of Ft Randall’s yearly “Trapdoor Shoot”, also held at the club’s range on the Robert Wiechmann’s property, on August 6th.
The 1st US Infantry of Ft Randall is an Indian War period re-enactment group that participates in local parades, Memorial Day observances, Historical Festivals, flag raising ceremonies, and historical demonstrations. The group owns two replica 1841 Mountain Howitzers that are fired as part of the demonstrations. The group holds monthly rifle shoots at the range, year around, weather permitting. Membership in the group is open to anyone who has an interest in historic reenactment or old Black Powder Cartridge Rifle shooting. Contact Jim Leines 605-384-3797 or Don Hubbard 605-384-5743 for more information.
As seen on the Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Website or here.
In Memory of Brent Wilbur
--- May 17, 1949 to March 15, 2006
South Dakota hunters, shooters and sportsmen have experienced a great loss with the death of Pierre resident Brent Wilbur. Brent took his passion for the shooting sports all the way to the Capitol where he lobbied to protect our firearms and Second Amendment rights. In the years preceding the NRA or the SD Shooting Sports lobbying presence at the capital, it was a common sight to see Brent proudly wearing his "Gun Lobby" badge at the legislature. When the need arose to defend or expand our firearms or hunting rights, it was Brent who assumed the task as an individual lobbyist. Someone who did it out of love for the sport and without an organization behind him. He defended our gun rights not only during legislative session, but throughout the rest of the year.
He was a member of the National Rifle Assoc., Pheasants Forever, and participated in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a safari hunter who took a Cape Buffalo in Africa, and a record elk from Mongolia. He was an enthusiastic pheasant hunter and every year he planted thousands of trees for pheasant habitat. He regularly took many of his friends hunting and made sure they all went home with their limit. He hunted with VP Dick Cheney and was witness to the fact that Secret Service agents have a hard time keeping a Suburban upright on SD gravel roads. He hunted elk on occasion and pheasant many times, with Governor Mike Rounds both before and after Mike became Governor. He was also an excellent wild game chef.
Brent was an avid trap shooter and gun collector. He was an expert on numerous makes and models and was particularly knowledgeable about historic guns such as those used by Teddy Roosevelt. His idea of a fun conversation was to debate the best characteristics of various firearms for different types of game, including muzzle velocity ; trajectory ; knock down ; and ease of reloading under pressure.
Hunting and the fellowship it provided among good friends, and lobbying to preserve those freedoms for prosperity, helped define who Brent Wilbur was.
God bless you Brent, you will be missed by many as your legacy lives on.
Written by Mark Barnett
