Murray State University Athletics
Racers Mourn Loss Of Great Vande Zande
10/12/2018 3:59:00 PM | Rifle, Hall of Fame
The Murray State athletic department and its rifle team mourn the recent loss of Racer legend Ernie Vande Zande. Vande Zande passed away recently at the age of 70 at his home after a protracted battle with pancreatic cancer.
Along with a brilliant shooting career, Vande Zande was known for the care and compassion he extended for those closest to him and especially the shooting community he loved. In 1999, he established an endowment fund carrying his mother's name, The Wyatt,Vande Zande Foundation, for women who are beginning a new life after having escaped a domestic violence situation, to receive education and/or skills training to enable them to provide for themselves and their families.
The 1971 graduate was a four-year All-American for the Racers and for his endeavors he was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in 1988. To his death, he continued to help and support the Racer rifle team behind his signature line of "It's great at State," and he left an indelible mark that will stand the test of time.
"I don't know how many people asked me who is that guy always saying 'It's great at State!," said head coach Alan Lollar. "Ernie was more than an alumnus and there is no doubt he was proud of being from Murray State. Ernie and Bill Beard spearheaded a fundraising campaign that has meant the world to our team, but he was more than a fundraiser. He was a great shooter that tirelessly helped any shooter that would listen and show commitment to excellence. He was my mentor, always there to listen, give an opinion, but always support. I would not be here without him. Most of all he was a friend, one of the best people I have ever known. If it is "Great at State" it's because Ernie helped make it that way."
To honor Ernie, the Racer will create the first individual rifle award in school history, which will celebrate the Racer with the highest individual prone smallbore average each year.
Vande Zande's involvement impacting the sport he loves is nothing new. As project director, he was instrumental in the raising of the current USA Shooting headquarters and shooting range in Colorado Springs. He's seen first-hand the impact of youth shooting when he served as Director of NRA Junior Olympic Shooting Program from 1982-88 and while serving as Assistant National Rifle Coach from 1986-1991.
As a competitive shooter, Vande Zande more than held his own as well, earning the nickname as the "human benchrest" throughout his distinguished career. In 1975, Vande Zande won a gold medal in rifle in the Pan American Games held in Mexico City. He followed that with a gold and two silvers in the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Also in 1979, Vande Zande won a silver medal at the World Air Gun championships in Seoul, South Korea. In 1981, Vande Zande took five gold medals and set two world records at the Championship of the Americas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A year later, he took the bronze at the World Shooting Championships in Caracas, Venezuela. In 1984, he missed qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team by four tenths of a point. In total, Vande Zande claimed 36 team and individual championships and set more than 200 national records in shooting.
An International Distinguished shooter, Vande Zande was the Smallbore Rifle Prone Champion at Camp Perry in 1980 and earned his place on nine Dewar teams. In August 1971, he was commissioned as an Army officer. During his military career he served at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) at Ft Benning, Georgia, Company and Compound Commander at Camp To Bong Son, Korea. After 23 years of active and reserve service he retired as a Major.
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In addition, Vande Zande served as the Athlete Advisory Council Representative for Shooting to the United States Olympic Committee from 1988 to 1996. He was also appointed to the United States Shooting Team Foundation Board of Directors in 1990 and served on the NRA International Competitions Committee from 1988 to 1994. He served as U.S. Shooting Team Leader at the 1996 Olympic Games.
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Along with a brilliant shooting career, Vande Zande was known for the care and compassion he extended for those closest to him and especially the shooting community he loved. In 1999, he established an endowment fund carrying his mother's name, The Wyatt,Vande Zande Foundation, for women who are beginning a new life after having escaped a domestic violence situation, to receive education and/or skills training to enable them to provide for themselves and their families.
The 1971 graduate was a four-year All-American for the Racers and for his endeavors he was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in 1988. To his death, he continued to help and support the Racer rifle team behind his signature line of "It's great at State," and he left an indelible mark that will stand the test of time.
"I don't know how many people asked me who is that guy always saying 'It's great at State!," said head coach Alan Lollar. "Ernie was more than an alumnus and there is no doubt he was proud of being from Murray State. Ernie and Bill Beard spearheaded a fundraising campaign that has meant the world to our team, but he was more than a fundraiser. He was a great shooter that tirelessly helped any shooter that would listen and show commitment to excellence. He was my mentor, always there to listen, give an opinion, but always support. I would not be here without him. Most of all he was a friend, one of the best people I have ever known. If it is "Great at State" it's because Ernie helped make it that way."
To honor Ernie, the Racer will create the first individual rifle award in school history, which will celebrate the Racer with the highest individual prone smallbore average each year.
Vande Zande's involvement impacting the sport he loves is nothing new. As project director, he was instrumental in the raising of the current USA Shooting headquarters and shooting range in Colorado Springs. He's seen first-hand the impact of youth shooting when he served as Director of NRA Junior Olympic Shooting Program from 1982-88 and while serving as Assistant National Rifle Coach from 1986-1991.
As a competitive shooter, Vande Zande more than held his own as well, earning the nickname as the "human benchrest" throughout his distinguished career. In 1975, Vande Zande won a gold medal in rifle in the Pan American Games held in Mexico City. He followed that with a gold and two silvers in the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Also in 1979, Vande Zande won a silver medal at the World Air Gun championships in Seoul, South Korea. In 1981, Vande Zande took five gold medals and set two world records at the Championship of the Americas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A year later, he took the bronze at the World Shooting Championships in Caracas, Venezuela. In 1984, he missed qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team by four tenths of a point. In total, Vande Zande claimed 36 team and individual championships and set more than 200 national records in shooting.
An International Distinguished shooter, Vande Zande was the Smallbore Rifle Prone Champion at Camp Perry in 1980 and earned his place on nine Dewar teams. In August 1971, he was commissioned as an Army officer. During his military career he served at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) at Ft Benning, Georgia, Company and Compound Commander at Camp To Bong Son, Korea. After 23 years of active and reserve service he retired as a Major.
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In addition, Vande Zande served as the Athlete Advisory Council Representative for Shooting to the United States Olympic Committee from 1988 to 1996. He was also appointed to the United States Shooting Team Foundation Board of Directors in 1990 and served on the NRA International Competitions Committee from 1988 to 1994. He served as U.S. Shooting Team Leader at the 1996 Olympic Games.
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