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Since
1956, Army competitive shooters, gunsmiths, and support personnel
assigned to the US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) have been have been
responsible for winning hundreds of individual and team National
Championship titles, more than 40 World Championships, and 20
Olympic medals. Such accomplishments are why the US Army Marksmanship
Unit is called the "Home of Champions."
Unfortunately,
when an individual left the unit through military assignment or
retirement, they soon lost contact with those who shared their
competitive marksmanship interest.
The
idea of an Army Marksmanship Unit association was not new. Many
former members of AMU had voiced this wish to anyone who
would lend an ear.
It
was not until Colonel Lory M. "Mac" Johnson (former USAMU
Commander and past
Association President) gave his full support to establishing such an association
that the idea was realized.
Much
of the liaison
between the Infantry Center at Fort Benning and the fledgling
association was coordinated
by the USAMU Deputy, Mr. Robert W. Aylward.
The
Association's initial
meeting
was March 8, 1994.
Approval
was
granted by the Commanding General
of the U.S. Army Infantry Center for the Association to operate as a
private organization
on Fort Benning. Georgia.
At
the Association's first Annual
Meeting
held in
January 1995,
the membership unanimously
elected William B. "Bill" Blankenship, Jr., as our
President, Sidney R. Hinds, Jr., Vice President, Leonard R.
"Bob" Robinson, Recording Secretary, and Gordon D.
"Jack" Horner, Treasurer. Roman Wojciechowski volunteered
as the Membership Chairman. Carter Berry came
on board as the Public Affairs Chairman. Joseph
Watson later assumed the duties of Vice President with the passing
of Sid Hinds.
At
the January 1997 Annual Meeting,
Willis L. Powell took over the helm as President while
Carter
Berry became the Vice President and continued
to handle the responsibilities of the Public Affairs Chairman.
"Bob"
Robinson, Recording Secretary, "Jack" Horner, Treasurer,
and Roman Wojciechowski, Membership Chairman continued their service
to the Association. Ken Hamill stepped forward to become our Historian.
In
1999 "Mac"
Johnson and Alger B. "Al" Mullins became the President and
Vice President respectively. Ray Burton assumed the duties of
Recording Secretary. Without any arm twisting, the rest of the
Executive Board ("Jack"
Horner, Treasurer, Carter
Berry, Public Affairs Chairman and MMA Times Editor, Roman
Wojciechowski, Membership Chairman, and Ken Hamill, Historian) remained
steadfast to their duties. In June 1999, Laurence K. "Red"
Mosely was appointed Recording Secretary and became the Association's
Internet Webmaster in December 1999.
The
new millennium saw a number of change to the Executive Board. At the
January 2000 Annual Meeting "Jack" Horner and Roman
Wojciechowski
bid adieu after each one of them gave six years of dedicated service
to the Association. "Mac" Johnson was re-elected President
while Phillip F. "Phil" Cannella, Jr., was installed as
Vice President, "Red" Mosely as Recording Secretary, and
Sam Hunter as Treasurer. Carter Berry and Ken Hamill were reappointed
by the President to retain their Chairperson positions while
Richard D. Reidue volunteered for and was appointed as the
Association's new Membership Chairperson.
At
the October 2000 General Membership held during the 44th Reunion,
the membership unanimously elected the slate of officers presented
and they were installed at the January 2001 Annual Meeting.
"Phil" Callenlla moved up to be our new president and
Richard N. "Rick" Hawkins was instated as Vice President.
Carter Berry, Ken Hamill, and Richard D. Reidue were reappointed by
the President to retain their Chairmanship positions.
The
association was incorporated under the laws of the Sate of Georgia
on October 19, 2001, as a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation.
The
January 2003 Annual Meeting saw several changes in the association's
leadership. "Phil" Callenlla resigned at the end of his
term as President for personal reasons, "Rick" Hawkins
resigned because of the conflict of interest of him being the USAMU
Service Rifle Coach, and Ken Hamill resigned his Historian Chair for
personal reasons. Two members stepped forward and were nominated for
the office of President and Vice President: Archibald "Arch"
V. Arnold III
was elected President and Bruce Merideth was elected as Vice
President. "Red"
Mosely, Recording Secretary, and Sam Hunter, Treasurer, were
reelected. Carter Berry and Richard D. Reidue were reappointed by the
President to retain their Chairperson positions. The Historian's
chair was not filled at the meeting.
On
March 23, 2004, the Internal Revenue Service recognized the
association as a tax exempt Veteran's Organization under IRC section 501(c)(19).
Click
here to see the composition of our current Executive
Board.
The
Association has since broadened its original membership category
recognizing that many Army competitive shooters could not be assigned
to USAMU yet contributed to the success of Army marksmanship
dominance over the past four and a half decades. We recognized too
that many civilian employees of the various marksmanship
organizations and civilian supporters of Army marksmanship
also contributed to our achievements. And we can not forget the
competitors from
the other services
we became better because of their tough competition. We invite all of
these groups to join our Association and
share our
common interests. |
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