606-286-6413
garystevens@alltel.net
"Mr. Overlay"
by Kim Williams
Troy McManus: "I first met Gary Stevens in 1992, when he was CRO on the infamous "Walt's Garage" stage. I was a lowly D class competitor nervously shooting my first Nationals. Even though Walt's Garage was turning into the stage from hell, Gary and his crew really impressed me with their professionalism and dedication. In fact, I was so impressed that I decided right then to volunteer for Nationals the next year, which I did. Imagine my surprise when I was assigned to a stage up the hill, only to find I was working with Gary and the same crew from the year before. Being a lowly cub RO, I had a lot to learn, but Gary, Matt, and Joe showed admirable patience, and we got along famously. I've worked with Gary at several Nationals since then, and it's always a pleasure to work with "Mr. Overlay."
Kim: Let's jump right in. Are you married? Do you have any children? Where do you work and live? What can you tell us about Gary Stevens?
Gary: Yes, I am married. 32 years to the same woman (so far.) I have 2 children. A daughter, Erica, who is a Pediatrician and a son, Blake, who is currently in college. We live in Olive Hill, Kentucky where I am a retired Kentucky State Police Trooper. I currently work in the security section of the state court system providing additional security for high profile trials.
Kim: What's the story behind that "Mr. Overlay" nickname? I've heard you called that many times before.
Gary: You already know that one, don't you?
Kim: Oh, yes. I've heard the story many, many times. I just want to hear your version.
Gary: I was working as RM at one of the Nationals and was called to score a target. The shooter was emphatically saying the hole was a "double" before I could even get a good look at it. So, as I reached into my shirt pocket for my for my scoring overlays I said "Well, let's see what Mr. Overlay says about it." Unfortunately, instead of scoring overlays, I pulled out my magnetic hotel key, which, as we all know, is a solid card. I just placed the solid card over the hole and said, "Sorry, can't see it." Well, the ROs fell on the ground laughing and the shooter kind of just stood there looking at me with a stunned look. I finally found my scoring overlay and scored the target, though I can't remember if he got his double or not. From that point on, my call sign and future nickname was "Mr. Overlay." There you have it, my version of this story, although there are some other memories floating around about this.
Kim: Yep, that's the way I've heard it, more or less and in between chuckles and guffaws. So, how did you get started in this wacky wonderful world of shooting?
Gary: I read an article in American Handgunner and it sounded interesting. I found a club in 1979 within a 3 1/2 hour drive and began shooting that year. I have never regretted it.
Kim: What about USPSA, how did you get started with the organization?
Gary: I was already shooting IPSC when USPSA came into existence. Since they were an organization that was going to promote the sport, I joined and have been here ever since.
Kim: Do you remember what made you decide to jump into the officiating end of competition?
Gary: I attended the 1987 U.S. Nationals and was very impressed with the organization of the match. I wanted to learn how such an event happened. I took an RO course in 1988 and volunteered to work the Nationals that year. I got accepted, thanks to Chris Edwards, and have been working for USPSA ever since.
Kim:Can you give us a breakdown of your certification levels through the years?
Gary: I attended my RO course in 1988, taught by Walt Bodie. I think it was in 1989 or 90 I took the CRO course with Dave Stanford. I began the RM program in 1994 with Marilyn Stanford and I may have finished up with John Amidon, but I can't remember for sure. The RM program was a little different than it is now.
Kim: Do you know how many matches you've worked over the years?
Gary: I can't count the number of local, state and area matches I have worked. I have worked 17 US National Championships in one capacity or another.
Kim: That's a lot of matches. Do you have a favorite match as a shooter?
Gary: They are all good. Some better than others, but they are all good.
Kim: What about as a member of staff?
Gary: Working the Nationals. You learn more there in a week than you can anywhere else.
Kim: And now here you are a brand new instructor with the National Range Officer Institute. You've already got a couple classes already under your belt. What made you decide to go one step further and become an instructor?
Gary: Honestly I noticed the Instructor Corps was getting thin, and a few people were teaching a lot, and I repeat a lot of classes. I just wanted to try to help out, and besides I like teaching and talking to our members.
Kim: Do you think you'll make a good instructor?
Gary: I hope so, I am sure someone will tell me if I am not. The feedback I have received to this point has been positive. I can only try to do the best I can do.
Kim: Each instructor has varied strengths and a different teaching style. Do you hope to bring a fresh new perspective to the instructor corps?
Gary: I do, but it is hard to re-invent the wheel. I am following in the footsteps of some great instructors and great people. I am an avid competitor as well a Range Official and Instructor and an Area Director. I hope to use all of those bases of knowledge to help the new RO students understand that their job is to safely assist the shooter through the course of fire. To do this, they need to be knowledgeable of the rules, objective in their judgment, and also understand what the shooter is going through as they complete the course of fire. We all need to understand each other's role in this sport.
Kim: Are you nervous about getting out there on your own?
Gary: I am always a little nervous at the beginning.
Kim: Why?
Gary: Because it is a new adventure. Once the class starts though, within about 5 minutes, I feel right at home.
Kim: As you mentioned earlier, as well as being a new NROI Instructor, you're also an Area Director. Do you think USPSA is headed in the right direction as far as membership, marketing, juniors, divisions, etc?
Gary: We are trying everything we know to do to succeed in this area. It is not easy with the limited resources we have for marketing. That being said though, each member is the best marketing tool we could ever have. If each member would make a concentrated effort to recruit one new member next year, we could double our membership. It is not that hard when we all pull together and try to reach a common goal.
Kim: What do we need to do in terms of changing the direction of the organization or what do we need to work on in your opinion?
Gary: I think we have already changed for the better. I know in my Area I actively try to seek out ideas, opinions, the good-the bad- and the ugly. I think all of the Area Directors do the same. Does that mean that they are always happy with my answers? Well, honestly, no. But at least I try to give them a reason as to why I might not agree with them, and I am always willing to listen to them.
Kim: What about NROI? What do you think we can do to improve RO recruitment and retention?
Gary: The individuals who make up NROI are some of the hardest working individuals I know. Much like the recruitment of new members, Range Officials need to cultivate persons to fill the ranks of NROI also. Trying to find persons that they would like to work with when doing RO duties, as well as having that individual RO them at a match, will insure we get quality people to fill the NROI ranks. Avoiding burnout is an ever present need. I tell my RO students to get in as much shooting as they do working as an RO. All work and no play makes for a short career.
Kim: Do you see a problem with the "US vs Them" thing that people sometimes balk about?Gary: Only to a small extent. Most of it is from a bad incident with a couple of strong personalities. Referring back to what I said earlier, each of us had a role to play in this sport. Many of us play multiple roles. Each of us need to understand the particular pressures the other is operating under when we are on the range.
Kim: Even though you see it as only a small problem, do you think anything can or should be done about it?
Gary: I teach in my class that I expect every one of the students to treat the shooter like they would like to be treated, until the situation calls for other measures, then execute the other measures fairly and objectively. We need each other, and I think in the 99 percentile our program works very well. We now need to work on that 1 percent. Anytime you have the human element involved there are potential problems. We just need to be ever vigilant to those problems and take corrective action when necessary.
Kim: What advice would you give new shooters just starting out like you did way back in 1979?
Gary: As with a new baby, learn to crawl before you try to walk. Learn to walk before you try to run. Ask questions, watch experienced shooters, and listen to what people are telling you. They most likely have already made the mistakes and are trying to tell you how to not make the same mistakes.
Kim: And what about new Range Officers? What would advice would you offer them?
Gary: The same as a new shooter. Both have a learning curve they have to work on.
Kim: What do you think is the most fundamentally important thing to teach students attending your seminars?
Gary: Be fair, objective, knowledgeable, and treat the shooter like they would like to be treated.
Kim: What motivates you to volunteer and do so much for this sport?
Gary: Just naive, I guess. No seriously, I love shooting. I love the association with the people who I meet on the range. These are great people and I am honored to be with them. For me to continue to shoot in this environment though someone has to step up and say "Let me help you with that". I guess I am one of those people. I have been in almost every position now that USPSA offers, except President. I ran a not so close second in that venture already, and am currently the Area 5 Director.
Kim: Do you have any interesting, amusing and/or disturbing anecdotes you'd care to share with us?
Gary: I have a don't ask /don't tell policy on most of this stuff, but there is one I tell in class sometimes. We had a course at the 1988 or 89 Nationals that had a target with the upper A/B zone only over a No-Shoot target at about 35 yards. Now this was in the days of iron sights and it was a tough shot. This shooter went prone, fired two shots, and stood up. Upon looking at that particular target he observed a large black spot on the No-Shoot. He dove back prone and shot another round which hit the No-Shoot and the original black spot flew away. The end result was that he took about 10 additional seconds to hit a No-Shoot. Those flies in Quincy are quite large, and probably not on that shooter's list of favorite insects, if there is such a thing. It was hard to keep the proper decorum during the "unload and show clear" part of the range commands after that.
And there you have it. I'm laughing now and wondering if that anecdote was the reason behind the "Great Raid Target Debate" many years ago. At any rate, if you get the opportunity to take one of Gary's seminars, grab it. If you see him out on the range, be sure to shake his hand and thank him for his dedication and support of our sport. USPSA and NROI are lucky to have added him to our outstanding pool of instructors. His dedication and enthusiasm will offer a fresh new perspective and we take great pride in welcoming him aboard.
