Ernest John Vande Zande

Ernest J. Vande Zande passed away at home on September 29, 2018 after a protracted battle with pancreatic cancer. He is preceded in death by his mother Lenore Vande Zande, grand-mother Luella Wyatt, and aunt Ada Wyatt.

In 1999, Ernie established an endowment fund carrying his mother’s name (Wyatt Vande Zande Foundation) in Vancouver, WA a private non-profit foundation which provides funding to organizations with educational programs for battered women. He served as Foundation President for 19 years.

He graduated in 1971 from Murray State University with a degree in Business Administration. He competed on the rifle team earning All American honors all four years, and four team National Championships. He was inducted into the Murray State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.

August 1971 he was commissioned as an Army officer. During his military career he served at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL, US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) at Ft Benning, GA, and Company Commander at Camp To Bong Son, Korea. After 23 years of active and reserve service he retired obtaining the rank of Major.

He represented the United States in the World Shooting Championships, Championship of the Americas, Pan American Games, World Air Gun Championships, and CISM Championships (commonly referred to as the military Olympics). He won thirteen medals in international competitions for the United States. In 1975 he was awarded United States Distinguished International Shooter Badge for his performance at the Pan American Games – Mexico City, Mexico. Many consider his crowning shooting achievement to be his performance at the Championship of the Americas in Rio De Janeiro where he fired a World Record in the 50M English Match event with a perfect score of 600. Won 46 national championships while setting over 200 national records. In 1988 he was inducted into the USAMU Hall of Fame,

He was employed as the Director of the NRA National Junior Olympic Shooting Program and shooting operations at US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO 1982-1988. Responsibilities included the design and construction oversight of the US Olympic Shooting Center which continues to produce Olympic champions.

• Elected as the Athlete Advisory Council Representative for Shooting to the United States Olympic Committee serving 1988-1996.

• Elected as a member of the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors 1988-1996.

• Appointed to the United States Shooting Team Foundation Board of Directors in 1990.

• Served on the NRA International Competitions Committee 1988-1994.

• In 1990 filed complaint to the United States Olympic Committee against the National Governing Body for shooting which ultimately led to the formation of a new and independent National Governing Body (USA Shooting) for the sport of Olympic Shooting in the United States.

• Member of the Board of Directors of USA Shooting, 1994-1996.

• Member of the Board of Directors of the Clark County Chapter of the American Red Cross and Powell Trust, 1995-1997.

• Employed for nearly 15 years as the Pearson Field Airport Manager for the City of Vancouver, WA.

Ernie unselfishly gave his energy, time, and financial resources in providing precision shooting coaching to countless individuals and teams over 55+ years in the sport of rifle shooting. We are all diminished with the loss of this great man.