Got Archery Heritage?

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By Jerry Long, July 20, 2010

Some of us tend to think we’ve been involved in archery for a while. Not necessarily so when it comes to West Allis Bowmen.

Hollis Allen began work on his compound bow in 1961. He was granted the patent in 1969, the year I was born. Can you imagine being involved in archery for decades before that and still being involved today? Can you imagine witnessing the changes in archery technology over that time? And what about the change in archery’s sporting culture?

The local archery club I belong to, West Allis Bowmen, has been at its current location since 1962. Oddly enough, it isn’t located in West Allis, WI. Rather, we are in Franksville where our founders located a decent chunk of land for a decent price. Our history indicates WAB actually started in 1948 with Burt Straw as the first president. Our 10^th president from 1969, again, the year I was born, is in his mid-70s, shoots a Hoyt Powerhawk and inspired me to try a different type of fall-away rest. At least one current member was involved in the club before 1962.

WAB has approximately 63 acres, a club house with 20 yard indoor range, kitchen, work room, basement storage, bar with pool table, an outdoor field archery range, practice butts out to 60 yards with broadhead pit, two 3D courses, broadhead course, storage barn and campground. Additionally, WAB membership includes a Super Slam hunter as well as national and regional title holding target archers.

To honor this immense heritage and to give thanks for what we have WAB recently hosted a Founders’ Day Banquet inviting all former members we could contact back for a free lunch, literally. Certificates of service were awarded, club logoed pens were given as tokens of appreciation, club histories were distributed as well as presented to the attendees and an excellent slide show of years gone by was shared. Here are some representative photos from both the past and our banquet.

The photos in our collection show a different demographic than today’s; many more women.

Fred Bear during a local visit.

Michelle Ragsdale at a local shoot.

In the days before McKenzie’s, Reinharts and Delta’s. These targets were all handmade and many have survived throughout the generations for today’s use at West Allis Bowmen’s Labor Day Safari Shoot.