I found by accident an article from the November-December 1985 edition of Rifle Magazine written by Skip Gordon giving an update of what had happened earlier in May of 1985 regarding the Benchrest Hall of Fame. (When I figure out how to paste a .jpg file, I will put it on the Board.)
Some interesting things from that article:
- The Hall of Fame was created by Rifle Magazine in May 1972. During 1972, Rifle Magazine was the "official journal of the NBRSA".
- Rifle Magazine mentioned that the NBRSA was running organized competitions in "Bench Rest Class" (now Unlimited and/or Heavy Bench) since 1955 and in the Sporter and Varmint classes since 1961.
- The 1985 article also mentioned something that occurred in 1970, which was referred to as an "unfortunate schism". The article stated that what was originally the Eastern Region of the NBRSA "seceded" from the organization and reorganized as the International Benchrest Shooters. The author stated in this article in 1985, that "there was a period of ill-will between the east and the west following the break-up; it is today (in 1985) almost totally a thing of the past".
-Further stated in the 1985 article, was that both organizations prospered since the "schism" and the IBS and NBRSA Nationals became, in most people's minds, equivalent in terms of participation and level of competition. And because of this, the IBS was planning to establish its own Hall of Fame at that time.
In 1980, the administration for the Benchrest Hall of Fame was transferred from Rifle Magazine to the NBRSA; and then in 1984 the NBRSA Directors determined to further transfer the administration to an outside agency. At that time, Al Angerman (The recognized Historian of the sport at that time) worked with an outside marketing and communications firm to verify the records and confirm the members who were eligible under both the IBS and NBRSA Nationals' results to date. The name of the organization was changed to the United States Benchrest Hall of Fame.
- Up to May 1985, there were eleven shooting members and six honorary members in the Hall of Fame. At the 1985 Firearms Industry Super Shoot, another seven members were inducted as result of adding the IBS members.
Today there are 45 members of the United States Benchrest Hall of Fame, with the 46th to be inducted at the 2013 Super Shoot. (I'll check with Rex Reneau to verify the number of the honorary members today.)
I love looking back at the history of our sport and seeing how some of the concepts that we have today have evolved over the years. I sure wish that I would have competed in Benchrest during the hey day of the early years. I also have a xerox copy of the original 1972 article which I would like to post (quality is not as good). Perhaps someone could give me some pointers on how to get them on the Board.
Some interesting things from that article:
- The Hall of Fame was created by Rifle Magazine in May 1972. During 1972, Rifle Magazine was the "official journal of the NBRSA".
- Rifle Magazine mentioned that the NBRSA was running organized competitions in "Bench Rest Class" (now Unlimited and/or Heavy Bench) since 1955 and in the Sporter and Varmint classes since 1961.
- The 1985 article also mentioned something that occurred in 1970, which was referred to as an "unfortunate schism". The article stated that what was originally the Eastern Region of the NBRSA "seceded" from the organization and reorganized as the International Benchrest Shooters. The author stated in this article in 1985, that "there was a period of ill-will between the east and the west following the break-up; it is today (in 1985) almost totally a thing of the past".
-Further stated in the 1985 article, was that both organizations prospered since the "schism" and the IBS and NBRSA Nationals became, in most people's minds, equivalent in terms of participation and level of competition. And because of this, the IBS was planning to establish its own Hall of Fame at that time.
In 1980, the administration for the Benchrest Hall of Fame was transferred from Rifle Magazine to the NBRSA; and then in 1984 the NBRSA Directors determined to further transfer the administration to an outside agency. At that time, Al Angerman (The recognized Historian of the sport at that time) worked with an outside marketing and communications firm to verify the records and confirm the members who were eligible under both the IBS and NBRSA Nationals' results to date. The name of the organization was changed to the United States Benchrest Hall of Fame.
- Up to May 1985, there were eleven shooting members and six honorary members in the Hall of Fame. At the 1985 Firearms Industry Super Shoot, another seven members were inducted as result of adding the IBS members.
Today there are 45 members of the United States Benchrest Hall of Fame, with the 46th to be inducted at the 2013 Super Shoot. (I'll check with Rex Reneau to verify the number of the honorary members today.)
I love looking back at the history of our sport and seeing how some of the concepts that we have today have evolved over the years. I sure wish that I would have competed in Benchrest during the hey day of the early years. I also have a xerox copy of the original 1972 article which I would like to post (quality is not as good). Perhaps someone could give me some pointers on how to get them on the Board.
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He's perty good at this stuff, almost nerd status