If I'm not mistaken, today, November 7th, would mark the 25th anniversary of Elgin's Gates passing. Dollie found him slumped over his desk. Love him or hate him...he was the driving force of IHMSA and put IHMSA on the map.
As the head of IHMSA he advanced handgun shooting a longs ways from where it had been.
As a bit of "Blast from the Past"....Elgin was not the first President of IHMSA. Can anyone name the person who was?
Alvin
Al Life 1707
Match Director for Tri-State Gun Club and Board member
President of the Iowa Handgun Metallic Silhouette Club
Joined IHMSA 1978
Life Member IHMSA, NRA, USPSA
Past Editor of IHMSA News
Past Region Five Director
Past Sec/Tres for IHMSA
I agree. Love or hate him, he was the life blood of IHMSA.I consider my self lucky to have known Mr and Mrs Gates.
As a past region 4 Director i was invited to his home in Idaho at the 1986 Internationals.Mr Gates showed us some of his African safari
home movies, and Mrs Gates served Ice cream.Something i won`t ever forget. Thanks you very much Mr Gates!
the other president was John Adams.
Last edited by JACKIE40X40 on Thu Nov 07, 2013 11:44 am, edited 2 times in total.
I have always felt that the reason for IHMSA's skyrocketing growth was the fact that there were two organizations, IHMSA & The Silhouette. Elgin was President of IHMSA but owned The Silhouette. the Silhouette (read Elgin) sold handguns cheap! Thus, the attraction, buy guns cheap & shoot a fun game. After Elgin's death IHMSA was a stand alone and lost that ability.
Now, who was the person that single handedly saved IHMSA after Elgin's death by driving out to iHMSA HQ, picking up all the records and bringing them to a new location and starting up a new HQ? Hint: He does post here & is a very quiet and unassuming person.
Steve W.
Past Match Director, JCSA - Grants Pass, OR
Past JCSA Board Member
IHMSA Life Member
Past Editor IHMSA News
Past Manager of IHMSA HQ West
NRA Patron
Due to recent cutbacks the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.
Had a lot of good talks with Elgin over the years. Also got to visit with John Adams this year at the LASC Extravaganza.
Mugs
Shoot only cast Boolits
Member since 1979 #5940
Former Match Director Anchor Rams
Former Match Director Phoenix Silhouette
Former Alaska State Director
NRA Life
IHMSA Life
Cast Bullet 80x80 1983