Date of Birth: October 8, 1939
Hometown: Holdredge, Nebraska
Events: 300M Rifle, Smallbore Rifle
Personal: Anderson grew up on a small farm in Nebraska and found his love for shooting sports early. From a young age, the shooting sports and hunting intrigued Anderson. A self-taught sportsman, Anderson found himself gaining momentum in the sport after training at home for hours at a time, holding the rifle on a spot on the wall in his home.
His quest for Olympic gold led him to the United States Army, where after convincing the Army rifle coaches of his talent was moved to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in Fort Benning. His first international match was the Pan American Games in 1959, and two years later he would claim his first National Championship title.
After his active career, Anderson has continued to work with shooting. He was Shooting Competition Manager at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, and has served as Director of Civilian Marksmanship in the U.S. Civilian Marksmanship Program since 1999. He is also one of the vice presidents of the International Shooting Sports Federation.
Competition Highlights
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(Pictured above) Gary L. Anderson was presented the United States Distinguished International Shooter Badge #1 by President John F. Kennedy in early 1963. Also present was Frank Orth, Executive Vice President of the NRA. He later became the President of the U.S. Olympic Committee. President Kennedy is forming the size of the 300m target 10-ring with his hands.
Gary Anderson and Lones Wigger, 1964 Olympic Champions
Gary L. Anderson, Multiple 1966 World Champion
Gary Anderson with the Argentine Trophy (World 300m Free Rifle Team Championship) and teammates Lones Wigger, Margaret Thompson and John Foster at the 1966 World Shooting Championships
Voted by UIT as the #3 shooter in UIT history
1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City
Gary Anderson was NRA Executive Director - General Operations from 1977-92.
This photo was taken in October 1985 at the Championships of the Americas in Fort Benning, GA as he presents Olegario Vasquez Rana, President of the International Shooting Union, with a plaque. Gary is displaying his elk hunting beard.
