Anderson, Gary L.

Shooting

b. Oct. 8, 1939, Holdredge, NE

Anderson won gold medals in three-position free rifle shooting at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics. His record score of 1,153 in 1964 stood until 1972, when Lones Wigger broke it.

Ironically, Anderson helped Wigger win two medals in 1964. Wigger, taking part in his first major international competition, was unnerved by the size of the crowd. Anderson advised him to become part of the crowd instead of being intimidated. Aided by that advice, Wigger relaxed and won a gold medal in the small-bore rifle, three position, and a silver in the small-bore rifle, prone.

Anderson won 11 national championships and 6 world titles in both small-bore and free rifle competition. A graduate of Hastings College in Nebraska, he attended a seminary in California to become a Presbyterian minister in 1972. He later served as a Nebraska state senator and as executive director of the National Rifle Association.