ihmsa forums

Hello, it is with a sad heart that I'm making the announcement that Norm Rife of Bend, Prineville and Tillamook Oregon has left the range at the age of 95.
Norm was my inspiration for IHMSA. At my first match I watched Norm hit over 50% of the Big Bore rams with a 4" S&W 44 mag, standing. I was seriously impressed and hooked. Norm was from the same school as Major Golden. A man ought to shoot with a wheelgun and do it from his hind legs.

I remember Norm practicing on a 1/2 scale ram with his 500 S&W and his cast bullets. That is an impressive shot standing, even more so when he would hit 2 or 3 in a row.

Norm, You will be missed and I am grateful that I got to meet and learn from you.
Rest easy my friend.

Joe

I have never meet Mr Rife but may he rest in peace!! Prayers to the family!! Allen

Sad to hear that another IHMSA pioneer is no longer with us.

Condolences to the families.

Condolences to all he left behind. As we pass through life, it becomes apparent that those who we met and learned from when we were young in the sport had a more profound influence on us than they were ever aware of. Rest in peace. For some, we should take an opportunity to thank those who influenced us at our early levels.

Over the years, I have written several articles about my IHMSA journey and milestones. In nearly all of them I mentioned Norm Rife as my inspiration. I also made sure to tell Norm every so often how much he meant to me. Nothing left unsaid.
In some of those articles I also mentioned other profound influences. People like Dave Whitman (first person to shoot a BB 40 Revolver) Lon Pennington, Ken Neill, Ted Zysk and I'm sure a few others.

Nearly everyone I have ever met in this sport has been a positive experience.

Thanks to everyone for being part of the best shooting sport ever.
Thank you all for the kind words.

Joe