Left the Range - Ted Zysk

[dhagerty40x]

It is with deep regret to inform that Long time Silhouette shooter Ted Zysk passed away. all we know is he died from a heart attack at the age of 61. exact date is unknown.

I have known Ted for over 20 years and he is one of my best friends. I will miss him a Lot.

Daniel Hagerty
IHMSA 42084

[260 Striker]

Met Ted at one of the Internationals in OH years ago. He was one of the early silhouette shooters. This is very sad and a great loss to his immediate family and to our silhouette family.

[IHMSA15151]

Sad news indeed. I can't remember how long ago I started shooting with Ted as it was many years back at the Fresno and Sacramento Club. He was a great guy and good friend who would help you anyway possible to become a better shooter. One of the best natural marksman I've have had the pleasure of watching shoot long range handguns. He was one of the best and he will be missed. Our thoughts and prayer are with his family.
RIP Ted

[ole95]

I was able to meet and spend just a few min. with Ted @ the WCC But when he was on the Line I was all eyes truly a great shot and
pioneer of the sport
prayer go out to friends and family

[19 Turkeys]

As I understand it, Ted was headed to Fresno for the annual Half Scale match. He was sleeping in his truck in Kansas and died of an apparent heart attack in his sleep. Jim Harris has put together an obituary for the IHMSA News which is below. Ted was a true friend, and the WCC will be totally different next year without him. One of my favorite stories about Ted was that he wanted to promote the Standing events at the 1997 Internationals. he bought a bottle of Wild Turkey for each of the Standing events and classes and you would win the bottle if you paid an extra $5.00 that went to IHMSA. I won the Small Bore Standing Class B event with some ridiculous low score in a shoot-off (how crazy is that?) and won the bottle and a Wild Turkey trophy. The bottle is long gone, but the trophy is still treasured! Steve W.

Sad news to report: Long time Handgun Silhouette icon and iconoclast, Ted Zysk, passed away on route to the 2013 Fresno, CA, Annual ½ Size Match (first weekend of October). Ted had a long history in IHMSA and NRA Handgun (and NRA Cowboy Lever Action) Silhouette shooting, and was instrumental in introducing ½ Scale to official IHMSA sanctioning (previously only offered in the NRA program). Ted went so far as to commission at his own expense the first round of ½ Scale Records pins, which he distributed free of charge to those shooting perfect scores in ½ Scale open sight and scoped. His dedication helped in the later adoption of 1/5 Scale to the IHMSA program. He formed the competition juggernaut “Team Zysk” based on shooting/spotting with his two gifted offspring, daughter Crystal and son TJ (which I was fortunate to be included in, along with George Adams), as well as his founding the broader “Dragonslayers” confederation of competitors. Ted was the Demon Prince of the IHMSA Bad Monkeys. He was a multi-multi NRA National and IHMSA International Handgun Silhouette Champion, successfully working for the past decade or so with shooting partner JR Ray. Ted Zysk was a true sportsman in every sense of the word, but especially in fostering a climate of camaraderie in competition. He (and his trademark cynical guffaw) will be missed. A real original has left the building, folks.



GZ

[35isit]

Ted was a great person. He was one of the first to congratulate me on my first perfect score ever. He will be sorely missed by the silhouette community.
Prayers for the family.

[high standard 40]

This is truly sad news. Ted's contributions to the shooting sports are legendary. We are diminished by his passing.

[40xmike]

Truly a sad day once I heard this news. Ted was an amazing shooter, but more importantly an amazing man and friend to many people.
We will miss him immensely.

-Mike
IHMSA 56263

[braud357]

---- one of the best pistol marksmen I have ever had the pleasure to watch. I am glad that I had the opportunity to share the range with him on several occasions. My sincere condolences to his family and friends - we have indeed lost one of the best !!!

[MetalCutter]

Too young, too soon! I didn't know Ted well but had the pleasure of meeting him at several Internationals and enjoying his company. Not to mention getting beat by him on a regular occasion. God's speed my friend!

John Dunn
Texas