Perry Wilson, 20 Years On The Line
by Kim Williams
(Interview originally appeared in March/April 2004 Issue of Front Sight Magazine)
If you were lucky enough to compete in the Race Gun Nationals for the past two years, chances are pretty good you've met Perry Wilson, the focus of this issue's Safety Area. Perry acted as RM two years running in Bend, Oregon, lending his experience to two enjoyable matches. He and his wife Terry, of 28 years, whom Perry describes as "lovely and tolerant" recently moved to Bensenville, IL. They have 1 son who is 27 years old and is close to receiving his PHD in Meteorology from the University of IL. Employed as a Master Volvo Tech with 35 years of experience, Perry has been with Patrick Volvo in Schaumburg, IL, for the last 13 years. Read on for more about Perry, in his own words:
K- Let's start off with your experiences as a shooter. When and how did you get started in the sport?
P- I originally started shooting with friends at a local range and found out that I was pretty good. Being competitive by nature, I sought out the nearest shooting club. A Bullseye club in my area, the Arlington Heights Rifle and Pistol Club, taught me the basics. A year later in 1984, I shot my first IPSC match. I soon joined the Northern Ill. Shooters Assn. where I am still a member today. I shot my first match in 1984 at the suggestion of a close friend. This was at the Northern Ill. Shooters Assn. (NISA), where I’ve been a member for the last 20 years. Shortly after joining NISA, I became involved with club operations, first as range staff, then as an RO, board member, and finally their President for 10 years. My current classifications are B Open and B Production.
K- So, how did you come to the decision to take it further and get involved with NROI?
P- During the mid 80's, I became acquainted with Bill and Marge Kehoe. They were already RO's and suggested that I take a Range Officer's class. In 1988 I took my level 1 training from Walt Bodie. With practice on the range, I became more confident in my knowledge of the rules and decided to go for Level 2. In 1990, I signed up for Level 2, taught by Andy Hollar and Chris Edwards. Little did I know that this class would be one of the most infamous in USPSA history. From our class, 5 became Range Masters, 4 became NROI Instructors, 1 an Area Director and 2 Section Coordinators. What a hit factor!! After a couple of years as a CRO and Co-Match Director of Area 5, I decided to enroll in the Range Master's Program in 1992. I became a Range Master in 1996, as a student of the venerable John Wells, who didn't make it easy to complete my training.
K- There's a lot of work involved in climbing the ladder of officiating, because of our high standards. What motivated you to go on and become an instructor?
P- Being part of a sport with rules and regulations, a sense of sharing my experience of 20 years on the range as a competitor and range official has motivated me to become an NROI Instructor. As an NROI Instructor, I travel to clubs around the country that request RO classes. During these classes, I meet people that range from those with some experience to those that are very green. Over the next day and a half, I see the change in their faces go from somewhat confused to understanding because things have become much clearer.
K- What's your favorite part of working "behind the scenes" at so many of these matches?
P- Being behind the scenes allows me to work with the very best. I've heard the RO's at the Nationals referred to as "The Good Old Boys Club." While they may seem so, they are the best ROs, CROs, and RMs that can be found in USPSA. Shooters come to the Nationals to compete against the best in their divisions, and they deserve the best staff that USPSA can assemble. I believe that we do just that.
K- Just how many matches have you been involved in…either as competitor or staff?
P- My many years of experience include countless local matches; NISA BIRTHDAY BASH: 98, 99, 00 and 01; Area 5: 89, 92, 94, 96, 02 and 03; Northern IL / WISC Sectional: 90 and 91; Match Director of the Harold Barrow Classic 95; Northern IL. Sectional: 94-03; USPSA Nationals: 95,99/CRO: 00 and 01/RM: 02 and 03; Race Gun Nationals; CRO North American Championship; and CRO at the Pan American Championship.
K- That's a lot of matches. Does one stand out as a favorite, either from a shooter or staff point of view?
P- My favorite match from a shooter's position was the Pan American Championship. After repairing my gun and catching up on a few stages, I came to my last stage, #17. Unfortunately, it was also where the Super Squad finished. I came to the stage with two other shooters. We turned in our score sheets and sat down to wait. Shooter to the line, we asked, "Can’t we wait until those guys are gone?" "No, we are tired and want to go home, so let’s go!" The Super Squad and all the spectators were still there, but I still went to the line, thinking to myself, "Don’t screw up now!" The beeper went off, I went on autopilot and let the plan work itself. When I was finished and clearing out, I heard a round of applause and heard someone say, "Hey that guy is wearing an RO shirt, I didn’t think those guys could shoot that good!" I remember thinking to myself, "How about that, RO’s are shooters too! This match was also one of my favorites from an RO’s standpoint. The chance to work with international RO’s and interact with the international shooters was priceless.
K- There's the threat of burnout when working so many matches.
P- RO burnout is a very serious problem. Learn to share the timer and duties at local matches such as setup, tear down, match director, and RO duties. This requires a large commitment on the part of the members of various clubs. Remember this is a volunteer sport.
K- What can we do to encourage more classes, staff, and RO retention?
P- Share! Share information, staff, equipment, ideas, and time. Many clubs in this country are being treated as businesses, i.e., they pay their fee, they shoot, and they leave. They do not help. Many feel that they have put in their time because they were ROs or club officers. I thank them for their help, but ask that they help encourage these new shooters as we try to do as ROs and club officers.
K- What about that "Us Vs Them" mentality, do you think that still exists?
P- This attitude is still there but not as bad as it used to be. Part of an RO class is going through the rulebook. With a better understanding of the rules and fairness learned in the class, they can share this with their club members when they return home. A good RO is there to safely assist the shooter through the course of fire.
K- If you could sit down with each and every new RO and offer him/her some practical advice, what would you tell them based on your experiences?
P- Work many local matches before you jump into a tournament. By practicing your craft at home, you are under less pressure, and the locals are more likely to help you if you make a mistake. Ask questions of more experienced ROs and have an open mind. Simply reading section 8.3 in the rulebook and remembering it can easily rectify using Improper Range Commands. Remember these commands are spoken in English worldwide. Some foreign shooters are easily confused if we adlib.
K- What about shooters, what advice would you offer them?
P- Shoot a lot! Spend your time and money on practice and ammo. Learn to get your hits --speed comes with time. Attend a Level 1 RO class. This will make you a better competitor with a better understanding of the rules. Get involved with your local club and see if you can make a difference.
K- With all that experience on your side, what do you see as the biggest problems facing the organization, and what can we do about them?
P- In the past, USPSA has faced a slow growth period. By implementing the new Divisions of L-10, Production, and Revolver, we have opened the door to a new class of competitors, who do not need a large expenditure to get into and compete in our sport. These new competitors need to understand that they are initially only competing against others in their own divisions with like abilities. Word of mouth is a powerful advertisement. By putting the US Nationals on tape and on cable, we have now opened our sport to millions of viewers that may still be punching paper at their local range. There could be a lot of new IPSC shooters just waiting for a new sport to come along.
K- In closing, Perry, do you think we're headed in the right direction?
P- Yes! The more exposure our sport gets, the more it will grow. With the new divisions and rule changes, our sport can now bring in competitors that want to compete but are unwilling to spend a lot of money to compete in Open or Limited divisions. It has been said that there are 2 kinds of shooters, those who have been DQ'd and those who will be. In my 20 years in our sport, I have not been DQ'd and don't intend to be. I believe that this comes from an inherent need to be safe. Ours is a sport of shooting, moving, and accuracy. It is therefore imperative that we are safe if our sport is to survive. I believe it is best to lead by example. As an Instructor with NROI, it is my job to not only teach the rules and regulations of our sport, but to pass on a helpful, caring attitude. Let's work together to make USPSA the best shooting organization in the United States. Remember that I, You, We, are the future of USPSA.
If you should see Perry out at a match wearing one of his many hats, or if you get the opportunity to take one of his seminars, be sure to let him know how much you appreciate all he does for our sport.
