The Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Association (ISRPA) is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026! As part of that celebration, we will be posting an archive of all issues of the Indiana Shooting Sports News (ISSN) magazine beginning with the first issue in 1987.
The Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Association (ISRPA) was founded in 1966 as a merger between two other firearms organizations: Indiana State Rifle Association (formed in 1946) and Indiana State Pistol Association (formed in 1949).
Founding of ISRPA
In the 1991 issue of ISSN, an article was published with details of how the Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Association was formed by this merger. The article is re-printed below:
Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Association, 1966-1991, 25 Years
by John E. Obst
During 1991, the ISRPA will celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary; its birthday and first annual meeting was the second Sunday in November, 1966. As a part of the theme of anniversary activities, promotions and events, Wayne Reid asked if I would share with you my recollection of the origin and start-up of ISRPA
Genesis
Originally, there were two separate organizations: Indiana State Rifle Association and the Indiana State Pistol Association. Both were formed after WW II with similar purposes and goals: “To encourage and assist in the organization of shooting clubs and to promote competition under the regulations of the NRA and the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice” (DCM).
The rifle group formed October 8, 1946 almost three years before a pistol group was formed on May 23, 1949. Why the two didn’t join ranks in 1949 can only be speculated today. The public or political representation of shooter’s interests was not listed as a part of the purposes and goals. However, it is clear that political influence was paramount when you consider that two of the founding Rifle Association directors were Indiana Adjutant General John D. Friday and Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, Justice James A. Emmert. In fact the resident agent and resident office was General Friday and the National Guard Headquarters, respectively.
The Pistol Association was formed in May 1949 by an august team of founders that included Richard Stickley, Mayor, South Bend and Larry Williams, who ran Richmond matches for more than a quarter of a century. And so, for 17 years both Associations operated independent programs–literally two of everything. Matches, state teams, junior programs, state championships were the norm. Activities generally consisted of bullseye pistol, high-power rifle, smallbore rifle, and junior programs. Shooting activities of any sort other than bullseye, regardless of weapon, was not encouraged nor welcome.
Omens for Change
Then in the mid-60’s, political winds of change began to blow that resulted in the Gun Control Act of 1968 and caused both Associations to look hard beyond their limited functional activities of just bullseye-style competitions. Much of the political effort that represented the interests of shooting-sports in the 50’s had waned and only shooting programs remained. Growth was stagnant and both Associations had expenses greater than income in 1965. Example: the Pistol Association had income of $145, expenses of $478.
Mechanism for Merger
At the time, 1965-1966, I was: shooting both pistol and high-power rifle, a director of the Pistol Association, Secretary of the Rifle Association, and in retrospect probably nuts. Regardless, being in the fabric of both organizations, I was able to see that both had identical problems and were faced with similar issues of the times. Following many discussions and planning meetings, resolution were introduced and approved at the 1965 annual meetings to form a joint action-team to effect a merger.
A lot of time, commitment, and work, during 1966, went into the action team’s results. At the risk of forgetting someone, the work of these people and many more made it all happen: Fred Lane, State Police Lieutenant; Jack Kerins, Manager, McMillan Sports Store; Charlie Sanders, NRA Director (aka Indiana’s Elmer Kieth); Herb Crabtree; Larry Williams; Byron Scott, Indianapolis News; Bill Haas; Norris Garvey; Tom Graham; Jim Hamilton; Archie Garner; Chuck Wilhelm; Jim Russell, Star Reloading. Even then, retired Chief Justice James Emmert served as an advisor. Of course many of these great shooters now are dead, but what they did became the foundation and gave life to the fledgling Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Association.
New Life
Pictured (top to bottom) at the Annual Meeting are Jerry Wehner (R) presenting certificates to: Wayne Reid for Indoor Free Pistol Bronze Medal, Rich Potter for Indoor Center Fire Silver Medal, Ken Odom for his contributions as Captain of the State Pistol Team.
At the November 1966 meeting to elect officers, I was elected the first President; Chuck Wilhelm, Executive VP; Bill Haas, Secretary. My records and memory are not good as to who were VP’s of the respective activities, but I believe it was Jack Kerins, Pistol; Jim Hamilton, High-Power Rifle; Jack Horner, Juniors; and smallbore is a blank. The Articles of Merger were filed and approved by the Indiana Secretary of State on February 22, 1967.
Little time was wasted in launching activities for growth, influence, and service to the shooting sportsmen far beyond bullseye events. Membership drives, booths at sports and gun shows, monthly column in Hoosier Outdoors Magazine, and broadened match schedules were some of the growth activities that lot of hard-working people got going. I appeared on WIRE radio, Channel 8 TV, Channel 10 TV, and wrote the Magazine column. Birch Bayh was Senator then and he took a lot of incoming rockets from my column.
Today 1991–25 Years Later
Those old shooters, 25 years ago, left a legacy. You who followed them picked up this legacy, invested in the dream, and turned it into one of the great representative shooting sports organizations in America. The outstanding Association Award, silhouette shooting, action pistol, strategic planning, firm financial foundation, excellent newsletter, leadership, synergy and teamwork puts the Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Association in an excellent position of strength and vitality to enter the 1990s and the next 25 years. Thanks to everyone for investing in the legacy and keeping it alive and growing. In the eyes of this old shooter and in the eyes of the generation you leave this legacy to–it is in good hands, you have cared for it well. God bless you.
