Perhaps no individuals have had as great an impact
on the success of the PITA over the last 25 years as
Dick and Elyse Stoner. They served in the
Secretary’s position for over 15 years and their
efforts were a large part of the reason the PITA was
able to transform itself into an organization guided
by an Executive Committee and become more responsive
to membership wishes.
Along the way, the Stoners were also able to make
the transition at the PITA office from an operation
where everything was still done by hand to the use
of computers for much of the work. This was no easy
task with the equipment and knowledge available in
the mid-1970’s. Both Dick and Elyse had to learn how
to program and operate the equipment. Since they had
been hired late in the shooting year, the first year
on the job was especially difficult since they only
had a short time to relocate the PITA records,
supplies and equipment from Oregon to their home in
Washington. At the same time, they had to maintain
the records as information continued to flow in,
figure averages, issue membership cards for the
coming year, and gather and prepare the information
necessary for the upcoming yearbook. All of these
operations were still done by hand.
Dick and Elyse both gave up successful
businesses and dedicated all of their efforts to
PITA during the fifteen years they served the
association. The office opened when they awoke each
morning and closed when they retired at night, seven
days a week. When they were able to get away from
the office, arrangements were made for someone to
answer phone calls. Things important to shooters
(yardage reductions, questions, and information)
were taken care of quickly either by phone, mail or
face-to-face at the many shoots the Stoners attended
and worked for the PITA. They were both strong
promoters and ambassadors for the association in
everything they did and wherever they went.
Two major areas where their efforts improved the
association immediately were the yearbook and the
Grand Pacific. They rapidly changed the yearbook
from a small, stapled set of pages of averages to a
larger bound book with more pages, pictures and
information for members. Elyse took on the job of
designing, layout, collecting information and
editing the yearbook. Major changes also took place
with the covers and the yearbook became an eagerly
anticipated event each year. Over time, the yearbook
became a bigger and bigger job. Their first yearbook
(#43 – 1976) was 166 pages and their last (#57 –
1990) was 316 pages.
Dick did not shoot at the Grand Pacific while he was
Secretary, involving himself in almost every part of
the operation to ensure a smooth running shoot. He
was always available for decisions, advice, or
information and seemed to be everywhere. For many
years, he was the “Face of the PITA” for hundred of
shooters. Elyse purchased the trophies for the Grand
Pacific, awarded them to the winners, and made sure
each winner had their picture taken. She was also
constantly taking pictures at the Grand Pacific and
other shoots for the yearbook and her large “Down
the Line” photo album, which she displayed each year
at the Grand Pacific. It was a very popular feature
and allowed many shooters to see what had occurred
during the past shooting year. Dick and Elyse were
proud to have served the PITA under ten different
Presidents and the many other individuals who made
up the Executive Committee during those years.
Both Dick and Elyse sacrificed much of their own
shooting careers to the job. Even when they were
able to shoot there were constant distractions. Dick
took up registered shooting in 1949 and while a
Senior at the University of Washington in 1953,
captured the doubles, HAA and HOA championships at
the Washington State Shoot. In 1965, he won the
Washington Preliminary Handicap with a lone 98 and
in 1976 he tied for the state handicap championship.
Dick achieved the 200,000 milestone with the PITA
while racking up good scores and wins from Canada
throughout the West.
Elyse was a PITA All-Star for four consecutive years
from 1964 through 1967. She was the Washington state
ladies singles champion in 1965 and ladies handicap
champion in 1967. She also won ladies trophies for
both the preliminary and state handicap in 1968. She
broke 100’s in singles and once fired 99 in doubles
with a pump! At the Washington’s birthday shoot she
captured the handicap championship in 1963. A
shoulder injury ended her shooting day prematurely.
The Stoners have always been active in the promotion
of trapshooting and the protection of gun owner
rights. For many years before taking the PITA
position they served at the club and state level in
a variety of positions. They also conducted shooting
clinics several times over the years and Dick was
often an eloquent spokesman for gun rights at many
meetings and hearings dealing with gun rules and
legislation.
Dick and Elyse did not just “fade away” after their
retirement from the Secretary position in 1991. They
continued to travel, shoot, promote and help the
PITA and have helped sponsor events at the Grand
Pacific including the Second Amendment Handicap for
several years. When the PITA encountered some
problems in the mid-90’s, Dick served on the
Executive Committee for three years as the Central
Handicap Committee chairman. They have also made
many donations over the years in support of state
associations, individual clubs and the various
shooting sports. The countless hours of record
keeping, meetings, discussions, work running shoots
and promotion of the PITA were a labor of love for
Dick and Elyse. Their time as the PITA Secretary was
one stop in a lifelong journey of supporting and
promoting things they loved and believed in. Our
sport and our association are greatly improved
because of their efforts over the years.
