Murray State University Athletics
Veteran MSU Rifle Range Official Joe Lawrence Passes Away
8/5/2011 10:50:00 AM | Rifle
The Murray State rifle program lost a dear friend this week when longtime chief range officer Joe Lawrence passed away, Aug. 3, at the age of 70 in Murray, Ky.
Lawrence was a veteran official in the area of college rifle and worked many MSU matches as chief range officer including those for NCAA regional and national competition.
"Joe has been a part of our MSU Rifle Family for a long time,” MSU Head Coach Alan Lollar said. “We have lost a good friend."
Lawrence was known as an excellent range officer and for his sense of humor.
"Joe is most remembered by shooters for one line, uttered before every relay he officiated," Lollar stated. “Keep your cotton picking body parts off my red line! He made it fun when you came to MSU for a match."
"It's not a stretch to say that he is one of the reasons that I am here as coach now,” Lollar added. “Between Joe and Elvis (former MSU coach Elvis Green), I learned a lot about competitive shooting and shooters. I draw quite often from the wit and wisdom of Joe Lawrence."
"His cotton picking personality will be missed," Ole Miss Rifle Coach, Valerie Booth said.
Lawrence was a United States Army veteran with 22 years of service. Among the awards he earned include: jump wings for service in Vietnam, four Overseas Bars, Presidential Unit Citations, and Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal with five campaign stars, parachutist badge and Army Commendation Medal.
After his retirement from the Army, Lawrence served 13 years in the department Army Civil Service with Murray State University ROTC.
For the past few years he has served as a supply pastor and lay speaker for United Methodist Churches in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama and was serving Carter's Chapel United Methodist Church in Huntington, Tenn.
He was also a past president of the Murray Calloway County Fair Board and was instrumental in starting and ran the Glory Bound Ministry for ten years. He was a member of the Goshen United Methodist Church, were he had served as a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, chairman of the board and trustee.
He was born in Calloway County, July 2, 1941, to the late Nathan and Barnell Smith Lawrence.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Jones Lawrence (married Feb. 7, 1963); daughter, Teresa Lawrence of Murray; son, David Lawrence and wife Kendra of Knoxville, Tenn.; four sisters, LouAnn McCallon of Murray, Ina Masters and husband Don of Coco Fla., Jean Eldon and husband Darryl of Fort Myers, Fla., Vicky Wilkerson, Garden City, Ga.; brother, Thomas Lawrence and wife Anna of Fallon, Nev.; five grandchildren, Derrick Duffy, Eric Duffy, Chandra Lawrence, Trevor Lawrence, Karlei Lawrence.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011 in the chapel of the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home. Rev. Mark Earheart, Rev, H.B. Fields, and Rev. David Allbritten will officiate with burial in the Goshen Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 Friday, Aug. 5, 2011.
Expression of sympathy may be made to the Goshen Church Cemetery Fund, C/O Steve Sexton, 559 Airport Road, Murray, Ky. 42071.
Lawrence was a veteran official in the area of college rifle and worked many MSU matches as chief range officer including those for NCAA regional and national competition.
"Joe has been a part of our MSU Rifle Family for a long time,” MSU Head Coach Alan Lollar said. “We have lost a good friend."
Lawrence was known as an excellent range officer and for his sense of humor.
"Joe is most remembered by shooters for one line, uttered before every relay he officiated," Lollar stated. “Keep your cotton picking body parts off my red line! He made it fun when you came to MSU for a match."
"It's not a stretch to say that he is one of the reasons that I am here as coach now,” Lollar added. “Between Joe and Elvis (former MSU coach Elvis Green), I learned a lot about competitive shooting and shooters. I draw quite often from the wit and wisdom of Joe Lawrence."
"His cotton picking personality will be missed," Ole Miss Rifle Coach, Valerie Booth said.
After his retirement from the Army, Lawrence served 13 years in the department Army Civil Service with Murray State University ROTC.
For the past few years he has served as a supply pastor and lay speaker for United Methodist Churches in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama and was serving Carter's Chapel United Methodist Church in Huntington, Tenn.
He was also a past president of the Murray Calloway County Fair Board and was instrumental in starting and ran the Glory Bound Ministry for ten years. He was a member of the Goshen United Methodist Church, were he had served as a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, chairman of the board and trustee.
He was born in Calloway County, July 2, 1941, to the late Nathan and Barnell Smith Lawrence.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Jones Lawrence (married Feb. 7, 1963); daughter, Teresa Lawrence of Murray; son, David Lawrence and wife Kendra of Knoxville, Tenn.; four sisters, LouAnn McCallon of Murray, Ina Masters and husband Don of Coco Fla., Jean Eldon and husband Darryl of Fort Myers, Fla., Vicky Wilkerson, Garden City, Ga.; brother, Thomas Lawrence and wife Anna of Fallon, Nev.; five grandchildren, Derrick Duffy, Eric Duffy, Chandra Lawrence, Trevor Lawrence, Karlei Lawrence.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011 in the chapel of the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home. Rev. Mark Earheart, Rev, H.B. Fields, and Rev. David Allbritten will officiate with burial in the Goshen Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 Friday, Aug. 5, 2011.
Expression of sympathy may be made to the Goshen Church Cemetery Fund, C/O Steve Sexton, 559 Airport Road, Murray, Ky. 42071.
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