Renowned shooter honored

Guns Magazine, Sept, 2008

Retired Army Lt. Col. Lones W. Wigger Jr., 70, of USA Shooting of Colorado Springs, Colo., will become a member of the US Olympic Hall of Fame. He is the first Olympic shooter ever selected.

Wigger was selected to four US Olympic Teams and won three Olympic Medals. During his shooting career, Wigger won 111 medals (65 Gold, 38 Silver and eight Bronze) and set 29 world records in international competition -more than any other shooter in the world. He is a member of the USA Shooting Hall of Fame, the US Army Marksmanship Unit Hall of Fame and was also honored in 1996 by the US Olympic Committee as a "Golden Olympian" He is a two-tour Vietnam Veteran and spent 25 years on active duty.

As a member of the US Army Marksmanship Unit, Wigger competed at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico and the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where he won a combined two Gold Medals and one Silver Medal. He also qualified for the 1980 Olympic Team.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Wigger also competed on five Pan-American Games teams, where he won five Silver and 13 Gold medals. At the 1982, 1978, 1974 and 1970 World Championships, Wigger won 12 medals--two Gold, six Silver and four Bronze.

He started shooting with his father in Montana. At Montana State College, he was a 4-time All-American and enrolled in Army ROTC. Wigger joined the Army in 1960 and after his basic course was assigned to the Army Marksmanship Unit. He shot for the USAMU International Rifle Team until 1967. After a tour in Vietnam, he returned to the Marksmanship Unit and shot until 1970. Wigger again deployed to Vietnam and served as the officer in charge of the 23rd Infantry Division Sniper School. He then returned to the USAMU in 1972, stayed until his retirement in 1987 and then served as the director of the US Shooting Team until 1992. He now is a member of the USA Shooting Staff as a coach and representative and works as a match director.

For more information on USA Shooting visit www.USAShooting.com.

--Courtesy Paula Randall, USAMU, and USA Shooting