Death of a great shooter
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Death of a great shooter
Ernie Vnde Zande died Sept. 29 of cancer. He wa a well known international shooter and a friend. We will mist him. Don in Orergon
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Hap Rocketto
- Posts: 187
- Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 10:30 am
- Location: Rhode Island
Re: Death of a great shooter
From the Military Marksmanship Association
Ernest J. Vande Zande was born April 23, 1948 in McCook, NE. He passed away on September 29, 2018 after a protracted battle with pancreatic cancer. He is preceded in death by his Mother Lenore Vande Zande, Grandmother Luella Wyatt, and Aunt Ada Wyatt.
In 1999 he established an endowment fund carrying his Mother’s name (Wyatt Vande Zande Foundation) at the YMCA of Clark County Vancouver, WA a private non-profit foundation which provides funding to organizations with educational programs for battered women. He served as Foundation President without compensation until 2018 at which time he could no longer perform those duties due to his illness.
He attended Murray State University in Murray, KY and competed in the sport of rifle where he earned four year All American honors, and four National Championships. He graduated in 1971 with a degree in Business Administration. Post graduation he was inducted into the Murray State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
In August 1971 he was commissioned as an Army officer. During his military career he served at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL, US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) at Ft Benning, GA, Company and Compound Commander at Camp To Bong Son, Korea. After 23 years of active and reserve service he retired obtaining the rank of Major.
Qualified for and represented the United States in the World Shooting Championships, Championships of the Americas, Pan American Games, World Air Gun Championships, and CISM Championships (commonly referred to as the military Olympics). He won thirteen medals in international competitions for the United States. In 1975 he was awarded United States Distinguished International Shooter Badge for his performance at the Pan American Games – Mexico City, Mexico. Many consider his crowning shooting achievement to be his performance at the Americas Shooting Competition in Rio De Janeiro where he fired a World Record in the 50M English Match event with a perfect score of 600. Won 46 national championships while setting over 200 national records. In 1988 he was inducted into the USAMU Hall of Fame,
He was employed as the Director of NRA National Junior Olympic Shooting Program and shooting operations at US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO 1982-1988. Responsibilities included the design and construction oversight of the US Olympic Shooting Center building which continues to produce Olympic champions.
Elected as the Athlete Advisory Council Representative for Shooting to the United States Olympic Committee serving 1988-1996.
Elected as a member of the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors 1988-1996. Appointed to the United States Shooting Team Foundation Board of Directors in 1990. Served on the NRA International Competitions Committee 1988-1994. In 1990 filed complaint to the United States Olympic Committee against the National Governing Body for shooting which ultimately led to the formation of a new and independent National Governing Body (USA Shooting) for the sport of Olympic Shooting in the United States. Member of the Board of Directors of USA Shooting, 1994-1996.
Ernest J. Vande Zande was born April 23, 1948 in McCook, NE. He passed away on September 29, 2018 after a protracted battle with pancreatic cancer. He is preceded in death by his Mother Lenore Vande Zande, Grandmother Luella Wyatt, and Aunt Ada Wyatt.
In 1999 he established an endowment fund carrying his Mother’s name (Wyatt Vande Zande Foundation) at the YMCA of Clark County Vancouver, WA a private non-profit foundation which provides funding to organizations with educational programs for battered women. He served as Foundation President without compensation until 2018 at which time he could no longer perform those duties due to his illness.
He attended Murray State University in Murray, KY and competed in the sport of rifle where he earned four year All American honors, and four National Championships. He graduated in 1971 with a degree in Business Administration. Post graduation he was inducted into the Murray State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
In August 1971 he was commissioned as an Army officer. During his military career he served at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL, US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) at Ft Benning, GA, Company and Compound Commander at Camp To Bong Son, Korea. After 23 years of active and reserve service he retired obtaining the rank of Major.
Qualified for and represented the United States in the World Shooting Championships, Championships of the Americas, Pan American Games, World Air Gun Championships, and CISM Championships (commonly referred to as the military Olympics). He won thirteen medals in international competitions for the United States. In 1975 he was awarded United States Distinguished International Shooter Badge for his performance at the Pan American Games – Mexico City, Mexico. Many consider his crowning shooting achievement to be his performance at the Americas Shooting Competition in Rio De Janeiro where he fired a World Record in the 50M English Match event with a perfect score of 600. Won 46 national championships while setting over 200 national records. In 1988 he was inducted into the USAMU Hall of Fame,
He was employed as the Director of NRA National Junior Olympic Shooting Program and shooting operations at US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO 1982-1988. Responsibilities included the design and construction oversight of the US Olympic Shooting Center building which continues to produce Olympic champions.
Elected as the Athlete Advisory Council Representative for Shooting to the United States Olympic Committee serving 1988-1996.
Elected as a member of the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors 1988-1996. Appointed to the United States Shooting Team Foundation Board of Directors in 1990. Served on the NRA International Competitions Committee 1988-1994. In 1990 filed complaint to the United States Olympic Committee against the National Governing Body for shooting which ultimately led to the formation of a new and independent National Governing Body (USA Shooting) for the sport of Olympic Shooting in the United States. Member of the Board of Directors of USA Shooting, 1994-1996.
Re: Death of a great shooter
Oh man ..... such a loss.
Ernie was a great advocate for youth shooting and helped many a kid, and their personal coaches over the years as well.
A great man and always a gentleman.
A "Toast!" to you Ernie!!
Ernie was a great advocate for youth shooting and helped many a kid, and their personal coaches over the years as well.
A great man and always a gentleman.
A "Toast!" to you Ernie!!
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casadehusker
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 2:12 pm
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
Re: Death of a great shooter
Difficult day for sure.
For those of us from the Phoenix Metro area we will certainly feel the lose. Ernie was always around to do what he could to help at out matches, coaching, picking up targets, scoring targets and just some friendly conversation.
After a afternoon of coaching, Ernie and I hit it off and started to meet monthly for lunch to talk about things other than shooting, until I relocated to the Springs.
I will miss those conversations and him.
For those of us from the Phoenix Metro area we will certainly feel the lose. Ernie was always around to do what he could to help at out matches, coaching, picking up targets, scoring targets and just some friendly conversation.
After a afternoon of coaching, Ernie and I hit it off and started to meet monthly for lunch to talk about things other than shooting, until I relocated to the Springs.
I will miss those conversations and him.