Ralph Gilnack, Jr.
June 19, 1933-February 14, 2014
The Connecticut shooting community lost another of its storied elder
statesman with the passing of Ralph Gilnack, Jr., on February 14,
2015.
Ralph graduated from Naugatuck High School, where he began competitive
shooting as a member of the school's rifle team, in 1951.
At graduation, with Korean War in full fury, he enlisted in the US Air
Force rising to the rank of staff sergeant while serving as a member
of the 773 Aircraft and Control and Warning Squadron based at
Montauk Air Force Station,
Montauk Point, Suffolk County, New York. Ralph was involved with
both general surveillance radar and ground control intercept radar
work providing for the air defense of the United States.
Gilnack
was a co-founder of the Middlebury Rifle Club, which he ran for over
32 years, teaching instructional small-bore to teenagers.
Headquartered in the basement of St. George Episcopal Church,
perhaps the only rifle club in the United States to be so housed,
Ralph provided quality instruction in firearms safety and the fine
art of smallbore rifle shooting to generations of local teenagers,
including his own children.
Ralph was a dedicated high power rifleman often seen on the line at Blue
Trail as a competitor in various state tournaments and the
Connecticut Big Bore League, at Bell City shooting Yankee League
Matches, around New England, and at Camp Perry as a member of the
Connecticut State Civilian Team. A High Master in High Power Ralph
prided himself on two aspects of speed; he was the fastest rapid
fire bolt gunner in New England and could make the round trip from
Connecticut to Camp Perry and back faster than any other Connecticut
rifleman. The second feat not surprising considering his love of
sports cars, particularly MGs.
Ralph leaves his wife and his children Ralph F Gilnack III and his wife
Debby, Barbara Fecteau and her husband Paul, Mary-Jane Erickson and
her husband Shane, Jim Gilnack and his wife Jaime; Grandchildren Dan
and Amanda Gilnack, Michael and Kevin Fecteau, and Jennifer and
Tyler Erickson as well as his Step children Mark Johnson and his
wife Penney and Erica Johnson.
We are diminshed.
84th Anniversary
Gallery Match Program
March 13 - 14 - 15 - 21 , 2015
(February 18 , 2015 – Prep Schools Only)
Sponsored by the Connecticut State
Rifle & Revolver Association (“CSRRA”)
We l c o m e ! Last year, we celebrated the 83rd Anniversary of this
prestigious
match. This year we celebrate the 84th Anniversary! We continue to
attract dedicate
athletes to the program. Awards are based on the Lewis Class system.
Merit Medals will be awarded to all competitors firing in the
Sub-Junior and Junior portions of the match at the range regardless
of their fired score immediately after firing the match—Gold for
Juniors & Silver for Sub-Juniors. Competitors firing in the Senior
category will have the opportunity to be ranked in the “Senior’s Top
100” and an appropriate momento will be awarded provided there are
100 entries. Remember that a Sub-Junior can shoot in the Junior and
Senior matches as well (chance for more awards and a Junior Merit
Medal!) and the Junior can shoot in the Senior
match (chance for more awards and be named to the Senior’s Top 100).
So, let’s ring in the 84th Anniversary of this Match and adopt some
“Gallery Match” fever--send your entry in today, bring a friend—this
match is open to everyone (from “first-time” shooters to
“over-the-hill” shooters), and be a participant in the 84th Gallery
Match. Without your attendance, the 84th Anniversary will not be a
success.
Ma t c h D i r e c t o r s : CSRRA Smallbore Director Stephen Povroznik at spovroznik@aol.com, 203-583-0612 (cell) or 203-877-3387 (home), and CSRRA Junior Director Debbie Lyman nra.cmp@gmail.com, 203-494-1266 (cell). Alan Wilcoxson – Honorary Match Director
Match Location: Blue Trail Range, 316 North Branford Rd, Wallingford, CT, 06492, 203-269-3280, ext “0”
All-State Teams Honored!
Feel free to send us your results, stories, and pictures for the web site! Contribute to your Association and give your athletes some recognition! We look forward to hearing from all of you!
Please feel free to let us know how we are doing by contacting us via the Contact page. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments.
Looking for a place to shoot? Check out our list of CSRRA affiliated Clubs on our Membership Page. The list is a work in progress and more information will be added soon.
