Talk of gun control regulations motivated my husband, Raymond, to purchase a pistol for us to learn to use in 1989. We learned quickly and found that others were interested in learning as well. A year later we were competing well and teaching basic pistol classes at a local range. Our interest expanded into various kinds of shooting but finally, what captured our interest and then our hearts, was Olympic or International rifle and pistol. We narrowed our focus, started a youth oriented club and never looked back.

We both began competitive shooting in pistol. I was later introduced to smallbore rifle and decided that was where my passion was focused while my husband shoots some smallbore rifle, his passion remained with pistol. I was competing at the national level when injured in a car accident and am no longer able to compete. We began to bring our rifle team to matches and found that we needed to grow as coaches just as they were growing as competitors in the sport. Prior to the CMP seeking individuals to help develop competitive marksmanship programs in their state, we were already doing that in Illinois. As members of the National Coach Development Staff, we hosted both Rifle and Pistol Coaches Schools, held coaching clinics and conducted the IL Competitive Rifle Camp. To do so with the help of the CMP just made our job easier and more enjoyable. The NRA Coaching Certification Courses gave us the tools to coach and experience has allowed us to grow over the years. Ray is a Level 3 Pistol Coach and I am a Level 3 Rifle Coach. We have attended many national coaches’ conferences to continue our education in our sport.

With what we were already doing, it was a natural progression to volunteer as the CMP Directors for Illinois when that program was initiated. The CMP has been great to work with as they are extremely supportive of our efforts in the field and listen to our ideas and needs while making every effort to implement those that are productive. It is an honor and privilege to serve and to work with great people.

Our goals are still the same: to give competitors the environment and opportunity to participate and excel in competitive marksmanship and to train coaches to understand how to help the competitor set and reach their goals and full potential in the sport.