San Antonio, TX -(Ammoland.com)- The National Sporting Clays Association inducted four individuals into its Hall of Fame last Thursday evening, October 25, honoring them with the highest award available to NSCA members.
Three of the awards were for shooters, while one was for service to the association and the sport.
Wendell Cherry, Mark Kiddie, and W. Ray Newman were inducted into the Hall of Fame as shooters, receiving the Gold Medallion, sporting clays’ highest honor.
Kiddie and Newman were honored posthumously, and family members accepted on their behalf. Glenn Lubeznik, founder of Kids & Clays, NSCA’s official charity, accepted the du Pont Service Award for his dedication and service to the sporting clays community.
Wendell Cherry
Wendell Cherry, winner of the 2006 U.S. Open and countless championships, member of numerous All-American teams, and named to Team USA many times, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in recognition of his success and leadership as a shooter.
Cherry began his sporting clays career while engaged in a full-time career as a musician in Nashville. While achieving success as a shooter, he also began receiving requests to teach others. Since his music performance schedule limited his time for accomplishing all he wished as an instructor and shooter, he took the leap of faith of ending his music career to devote full time to sporting clays. He ended his music career as he had started it: playing the Grand Ole Opry in the historic Ryman Auditorium.
The training and discipline he had learned as a musician shaped his coaching and training. His belief that every shooter is capable of more than they think they are inspires his students to give their best. His students know that he is dedicated to their success, and thus he has produced champions and winners across all ages and genders in both sporting and FITASC. His dedication, professionalism, unwavering code of ethics, and pursuit of excellence have helped to create a better sport.
Mark Kiddie
Mark Kiddie, known as a true gentleman in sporting clays who demonstrated professionalism, taste, and class, was inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously in recognition for his accomplishments as one of the earliest shooters in our sport in the U.S.
Kiddie was a shooter for more than 50 years, with more than 20 in sporting clays. Among his many accomplishments were Veteran First Team NSCA All-American in 2004-2008 and Second Team in 2009; 10-time NSSA International Skeet Open Team member; Double All-American (sporting and international skeet) twice; caption of NSCA Veteran All-American Team in 2005; and National All-Around Championship at Dallas Gun Club in 1997. He has been named to the Ohio Halls of Fame for both skeet and sporting clays.
Kiddie was instrumental in the development, planning, and execution of one of the nation’s top shooting fundraisers for charity in our country, the Boomer Esiason Foundation shooting event. To date, over $2.6 million has been raised for cystic fibrosis research through that event.
In addition to his prowess as a shooter, Kiddie was an accomplished equestrian and golfer, and he enjoyed many outdoor pursuits.
W. Ray Newman
W. Ray Newman was also recognized posthumously for his accomplishments as a sporting clays shooter. Newman joined NSCA in 1994 at the age of 59, starting as a D-class shooter and quickly progressing to Master class.
Newman enjoyed a successful career in Oklahoma as a homebuilder and land developer. No matter how busy he was, he always found time for his hobbies, including modified stock car racing, golf, antique cars, hunting, fishing, and finally, sporting clays.
His highest individual accomplishment as a shooter came in 2001 when he won the World FITASC Super Veteran Championship. His numerous wins qualified him for 8 consecutive All-American teams from 2001 to 2008. He was a proud 10-time member of Team USA, serving as captain three times. He was also influential in fundraising for Team USA. He pioneered the formation of the Oklahoma Sporting Clays Association and served as its first president.
Shooting not only satisfied his competitive drive but also broadened his circle of friends. He looked forward to traveling to shoots worldwide and, along the way, making friends who knew him as a gentle sportsman, fierce competitor, and a loyal friend. Newman died on Christmas Day, 2007.
Glenn Lubeznik
Glenn Lubeznik was the recipient of the du Pont Service Award, NSCA’s top honor for service to the sporting clays community.
Lubeznik is a McDonald’s owner, operating six restaurants in Indiana and being honored with numerous awards and committee/board appointments by McDonald’s Corporation and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Glenn turned one of his hobbies into a major fundraising effort for Ronald McDonald Houses across the country. In 1999, he and his wife Kathy founded the first annual sporting clays event that benefited the Ronald McDonald House near University of Chicago Children’s Hospital. This event inspired him to share his knowledge of this fundraiser with other Ronald McDonald Houses across the country.
To date, sporting clays tournaments have been held in 17 cities across the United States, with proceeds benefiting the Ronald McDonald Houses in each respective market. Through generous sponsors and participants, these events have generated nearly $9 million net profit and have touched the lives of thousands of families served by these houses.
Kids & Clays Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation, is the official charity of the National Sporting Clays Association, as well as National Skeet Shooting Association and Amateur Trap Association.
Lubeznik enjoys boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, camping, traveling, and a variety of shooting sports. He and Kathy support many local community organizations.
National Sporting Clays Association is the official governing and sanctioning body for Sporting Clays. Headquartered at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas, the NSCA is the world’s largest Sporting Clays organization, with members in all 50 states and 10 foreign countries. For more information, visit our website at NSSA-NSCA.org.