Earl Chronister, sadly, no longer with us.

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For those who've been around this game a while, it would be hard not to have known Earl Chronister, a PA Club Charter member and top competitive shooter of many decades.

Ole Earl has the distinction of being the first guy ever to shoot a 10 shot groups in the 4's. Second guy to ever shoot a 100. One of only 2 people to ever hold a HG Worlds Record, twice, and the only one to have done it for group and score separately.

Earl finished high in the aggs in PA pretty much throughout his life. A long time Hall of Famer here, known for his shooting Sierra Bullets and BIG calibers. Earl was winning with his 30-378 light gun till the very last.

I'll never forget sitting up near the bench one cleaning area a couple years back with Dan Frazier, Frank Grappone, Ed Oncay and Ed Kenzakoski, all laughing as we watched Earl shoot his LG in the shootoff. He was getting blown about into the bench 8 cleaning area :D. We were chuckling pretty good till I mentioned that the funniest part was that he was there in the shootoff and we were watchin!

I know a lot of the guys from down south shot with Earl for years and will remember him vividly. I know I will.

Earl's gonna be missed. He's probably looking down on the standings now wishing he could get back in the game.
 
when i think of Earl

like most of the posters I saw the articles in the Sierra manuals too.

i live close to the pa 1000 yard club in kellysburg so i joined as a member and went up to check things out and watch a competition, just to see if i would like to try it. well all the people at the range that day were nice and willing to talk but two individuals took me under their wing and gave me special treatment. that was pete flisock (aka yukon kid. pete I hope spelled your last name correct, forgive me if not.) and Earl. between both individuals they really had me convinced i wanted to try competing. earl even had me assist him in his cleaning regiment after he shot in his relay. even though Earl was a world class shooter he wanted to promote the sport and made me feel honored and special that day.

i recall in two weeks i took a rifle to the range and Pete borescoped my rifle that i assumed was shot out. well it was just a copper mine. i knew i had to get that barrel clean. Bobby Hart told me about bore-tech copper remover and that stuff really worked.

sadly i lost my job and tried to get several in the shooting industry but that didnt pan out either. so the next job i landed took me out of town all week so my weekends were restrained to hunny do's and chores around home and i could not develop my new found friendships. regrets, well yes. my world is somewhat dimished by Earls passing. but thanks for what all the fellows at kellysburg gave me, fond memories. i just hope that i am able to compete after i retire. Greg Moyer
 
Earl will be missed.I met him when first started shooting at williamsport.he always made everyone laugh,and he always had fun.he always told some good storys and tried to help others.he was a serious shooter though,even in his late 70's he would come to the line and give us some lessions on shooting in the wind with that 30/378 of his.
 
The first time I ever visted the PA 1000yd club with my buddy Bob McGeorge, Earl was the first person to see our new faces and walked out to shake our hands to welcome us.
I had seen him do it more than once as everyone here has already documented. He was a spokesman for the sport to say the least!

Another person shooting in the first relay that day was Rick Taylor (the then World Record holder @ 5.031"). He also took the time to answer many questions from myself that day.

Both are now gone but not forgotten for their contributions to our sport.

Steve
 
From Bill Shehane

Very sad to hear of the passing of my old Friend Earl Chronister. Earl was the first Williamsport shooter I met. Not at the range but a small truck stop just South of the turnoff to Bodines.

Chuck Bass and I had driven about 10 hrs. and knew we were close so we stopped at the truck stop to have supper before going to our motel for the night.

A small Gentleman was sitting at the counter with a truck driver and I overheard him tell the driver he was a 1000yd. World Record Holder.
I looked at Chuck and said I bet that's Earl Chronister. Not sure, when the conversation with the driver was over I said kinda loud in his direction -- Earl!

He picked up his bowl of soup and drink and moved over to the table with Chuck and I.

That was the beginning of a long relationship with this fine Gentleman. I was lucky enough to have shot 13 straight Super Shoots (Thats what it was called when I was a kid) with Earl and spend many a night on the phone between matches with him. As I type this I am looking at a picture in my office of Earl, Lowell Amand, Bill Miller, Frank Webber, Rick Taylor, Walt Bryan and myself around our tent at one of the SS's telling lies and talking big. God rest his soul, he did leave his mark on this Great sport. I would only hope that when my Grandkids get in their teenage years and forget ole Grandpa I might be as lucky as my friend Earl and shoot & shoot good once again as long as he did.

Bill Shehane
 
For those that knew him, all I can say is "Paul Nueman" has left the range and Judy Judy and Olinga will really miss him.
 
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