We Get Letters

To: Board of Directors                                                                              June 13, 2011

The Archery Hall of Fame

Thanks to Diane Miller, I just received my Spring/Summer issue of the Archery Icon.

The purpose of this memo is to express my pleasure with the progress for The Archery Hall of Fame & Museum at Springfield, Missouri. A copy is being mailed to each Board member.

My name is Howard N. Wilson and the only surviving member of the Wilson Boys that included Norman, Jack and Bob. I was born and raised in Springfield 87 years ago this very date - now retired and reside in Sarasota. Florida.

Archery was a passion as well as a business for we four boys and combined we won a number of State, Regional and National championships. I personally was a multiple winner of the Springfield, Missouri Ozark Archery Club as a Junior and then later as the Men's Champion. I also won a number of State titles including target and field championships as a Junior and in the Men's division. Combined with Norman, Jack and Bob and representing the Ozark Archery Club, we won the National Archery Association Team Championship three years and Jack and I placed first and second in the Men's Division.  I may be the only person to have won a National Archery Association Dallin Medal as a Junior and Men's participant. They are proudly displayed on the wall in my den. Our entire family was involved in archery including our wives - Bob's wife, Chris Wilson was a Women's State Champion - and my sister, June, was a Junior Girl's Champion. The Ozark Archery Club had a sizable membership with a fine archery range at Phelps Grove Park and hosted a number of tournaments during the 40's and 50'S.

Spending so much time in competition, I think it was inevitable that we evolved into a full time archery manufacturing business with a line of Black Widow Bows. That business continues today under new ownership in Nixa, Missouri who have taken it to greater successes with continued improvements in technology.

We've also been honored by the Missouri State Archery Association with the creation ol a Perpetual Wilson Boys Championship Trophy that is being awarded each year to the winners of the Men's, Women's and Junior Championship divisions.  I , along with Chris Wilson, Bob Wilson's widow, was invited to present the first trophies at the 2005 Missouri State Championship held in Columbia, Missouri. Jim Noble, a Missouri State Archery Association officer has been kind enough send me names and photos of successive year's winners.

In addition, The University of Missouri Museum of Anthropology requested that we contribute some memorabilia in the form of archery equipment and trophies we had won for their collection and display. They do have an impressive and interesting collection of archery artifacts from around the world that emanated from the Grayson Collection for a beginning. Anyone with an interest in archery would be richly rewarded with a visit to their facility. In addition to the display area, they have a warehouse of items that one can get permission to view. I worked with Mary French, Associate Curator for the donations we made at that time.

Some of the above I related in more detail in an article I wrote for the US Archery News as requested by their Editor, Arlyne Rhode. Other references and records may be found in publications such as History of the National Archery Association, Volumes One and Two, and Archery Champions written by Robert Rhode.

I was fortunate to enjoy relationships with manufacturing notables such as Earl Hoyt, Fred Bear, Ben Pearson, Doug Easton and others - - plus competition with a number of champion archers including Pat Chambers, Howard Hill, Larry Hughes, Russ Reynolds and many others.  I treasured those relationships. When in High School, I was given the opportunity to perform with Russ Hoogerhyde during his demonstration of archery lour ol the country at High Schools and Colleges. My performance was brief but enjoyable.

I present the above summary to reflect why I am so proud of the Archery Hall of hame & Museum progress at Springfield, Missouri - - my home town!   Archery was a central part of my life and contributed a lot toward my learning about life in earlier years. Although in splendid health, at 87 years of age I no longer compete but have had the opportunity to introduce the sport to my grandchildren. I've lived a truly blessed life.

Congratulations to all for your accomplishments that I know has taken much time and effort to develop. Will look forward to visiting your creation my next visit to Springfield.

Howard N. Wilson

8903 Misty Creek Drive                                                     

Phone: 941-504-6654