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History of the Bald Eagles Rifle ClubThe Bald Eagles Rifle
Club was started as a support organization for the USA Veterans Rifle Team. It
was established as a NRA affiliated club with the goal of providing a vehicle to
enter legal club teams in NRA competitions. Jack Van Ness was the
founder and first president of the club with Bob Gamboa as Vice-president.
Al Coots was the Secretary and Treasurer and Bob DePasque was the other
board member. The name of the club was recommended by Alan Dapp and agreed to by
the other members. A decision was made to take action
on an NRA Highpower Committee resolution to conduct a 7-day highpower prone
rifle championship to be held at the NRA Whittington Center during the first
week of September each year. This and other factors led to the decision to
incorporate the club in the state of New Mexico. Incorporation was completed
April 9, 2002. During the incorporation process the Board of Directors was
selected with Jack Van Ness as President, Al Coots, Secretary and board members
Bob Gamboa, Lonnie Kuhns, Jim Rice and Middleton Tompkins. All of the board
members were members of the USA Veterans Rifle Team that represented the USA in
the 2001 World Veterans Team championships. It was during this trip
that plans were made for the First Annual Spirit of America matches.
These were held in September of 2002 at the NRA Whittington Center near
Raton, NM. The club also took on
the formidable task of erecting a clubhouse at the NRA Whittington Center. Under
the leadership of Jack Van Ness and the extremely generous contributions of club
members, and with the staff of the NRA Whittington Center providing the labor to
erect the building, the task was accomplished. The building is nearing
completion and has already been put to use at the most recent highly successful
Second Annual Spirit of America Fullbore Rifle matches held in 2003. The club currently has 111
members, including two from Canada and one from England. This past year Arthur
Clarke of the Great Britain was granted Honorary Bald Eagles Rifle Club
membership. Membership is open to those
interested in promoting Fullbore rifle shooting including F Class shooting, and
who are aged 60 or over. Associate
membership is open to those aged 55 or over. Club teams won the “Open Club” Herrick and Roumanian Trophy in the Palma Rifle Class at the 2003 National Long Range Rifle Championships held at Camp Perry, Ohio. Additionally, the club has fielded USA Veterans Rifle Teams to Perth, Australia in 2001 and to Bisley, England in 2003. |
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