Last year during our 3-D season, my wife who is a nurse, was working weekends. Most weekends left me babysitting our two small children one is 4 and the other is 5, both girls. Every now and then I could find a babysitter and would slip out to one of our local shoots. Well this particular weekend I could not find a sitter, grandma and grandpa were busy and I had exhausted all my options. I really wanted to go to the Sissaphaw Traditional archers shoot that was held this particular Saturday. This is the only "traditional only" shoot that is in my area, so I really wanted to try to make it. I figured what the heck, I will just load up the girls, head down there just to check things out. Couldn't hurt right???? Wrong.......
To make a long long story short my little kids were....well.... acting like little kids. You other parents know what I am talking about. So all my friends were preparing to go out on the course and I just didn't feel like they wanted to be distracted by my rug rats, so I stayed back. After everyone left for the course I took the girls over to a pick nick table and broke out some juice boxes and snacks and let them have at it. I was sitting there a little bummed out when this older gentleman comes up and sits down beside me. He introduces hiself as Bob and strikes up a conservation. He asked me if I was planning to shoot. I explained to him my situation, and that I didnt want to take the girls out on the course for fear that they would distract all the other guys. To my astonishment he invited me out on the course, kids and all. My little girls took right to this guy, he was asking them questions and they were giving him answers, in that shy kid kind of way. So out we went to the course.
and.....how did yall shoot! :goldtooth: did he shoot that Hill bow? :)
As we went from target to target, he would watch the girls when I shot and I would watch them when he shot. We stopped and rested after every 2 or three targets. He got tired quickly but I didn't mind, my girls wanted to stop too. Explained to me that he had just started back shooting regularly since he had an operation to remove some prostrate cancer. Somewhere about target number 7 or 8 Howard Hills name came up. He told me that he had been a good friend of Howard Hill. I said oh really??? The Howard Hill? Longbow king of the world Howard Hill? He said yes. Well after that it was on. I asked him every question I could think of from there to the end of the course. And man could he tell a good story. We got to the end of the course and he picked 2 wild flowers and one each two the girls. We said our good byes and went our separate ways. It turned out to be a very good day even after the rocky start.....
It wasn't until today, that I realized who this guy really was. It was Bob Wesley. The Bob Wesley that one of the Howard Hill longbows are named after. I was surfing around today and came across a story about Bob Wesley and Howard Hill. It had 2 pictures attached, one old and one new. The new one showed a picture of Bob Wesley holding one of Howard Hills bows. When I saw that picture I realized that the guy I shot with that day was Bob Wesley. Hows that for a story to tell your Grand kids. Best thing is.....My girls got to share it with me.
QuoteOriginally posted by bayoulongbowman:
and.....how did yall shoot! :goldtooth: did he shoot that Hill bow? :)
He shot pretty good. Come to think of it he was shooing a light poundage Howard Hill bow. :D He was just like a regular old guy, except he could tell a story better than most and he knew THE HOWARD HILL - . :biglaugh:
Very nice story. Joe
that is why every one who has one of his bows just loves em cause he is so nice!!! My wife and I went to his longbow school years ago when he lived in Miss. his wife and him are old school nice people. and good shots too!!
Bob is a true Southern Gentleman. This picture is when he won the Howard Hill Longbow shoot in 1982
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Hill_shoot_%238.jpg)
I'm still kicking myself. I was at that shoot too and did not get to meet him. I was one of the only other guys there shooting a HH too. I hope to get another chance this coming season.
Thats pretty sweet Ron! Thanks for posting that. Did you and Bob get to shoot in the same group that weekend? Tell us the story!
Bob is a really nice guy - its a real pleasure and honor having him at our Sissipahaw shoots.
I too have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wesley and shooting a round of 3-D with him at Sissipahaw. He is a true GENTLEMAN, and CHRISTIAN. That day he was shooting a (guess what) HH Wesley Special at about 45 lbs. (if I remember correctly.) On thing I won't forget... that man could shoot that bow. It was also the quietest bow that I have ever been around. Sorry to hear he has been sick. Glad he's up and feeling better. Mr. Wesley; if you read this, May GOD bless you.
I was privileged to go to Bob's shooting school, Whisperin' Pines, this past October. I did a web page on the experience. Here is a condensed url to it:
http://tinyurl.com/2qjrql
It was a wonderful experience. Bob and his wife were gracious hosts and great people.
Bob is a Christian and doesn't hide the fact! He has a little fish sign on his quiver. I haven't seen him in several years but the last time I noticed he was useing a HH WS 45#. He also handled it well.You will be hard pressed to find a better person. I pray that his medical problems go away.
Mr Wesley is top notch. I introduced him to Bernie at sissispaw. It was fun listening to them swap stories. DB
I've never met the gentleman, but an article of his in LONGBOWS AND RECURVES set me on a practice regimen that improve my league average score by about 25% !!!!
Bob , wrote many articles in Instinctive Archer Magazine as I recall. There was alot on hunting and Indirect aiming and grooving your shot in! A very good read. Bob , sent me a tape of his shooting ...Mr. Bob if ya read this God Bless you too. Many thanks ...Mark#78
Great story for sure.The chance of a lifetime and a memory you will surely never forget.
That is awesome. Bob is originally from Poplarville, MS. I was born and raised in this town, and when I started shooting a recurve as a teenager, he helped me out a great deal. No one in my family shot bows, and at first I was having a hard go at it. My dad knew Bob and suggested that I give him a call.
Well Bob kind of took me in under his wing and taught me a great deal about shoting. I thought this was great, because he was charging for his lessons, and I got them for free. He is one of the finest men I have ever met, and all the time he spent with me will never be forgotten. Derrick
Bob moved to NC to be closer to his son and grandchildren. He often misses out on some tournaments because of grandad duties. Who can blame him?
I attended Bob's training class several years ago in Mississippi. He is such a fine gentleman. We spent two days shooting and on that occasion he was shooting a Bob Lee recurve. And the man could definitely shoot......WOW! I have an authographed photo of him and me together as well as an autographed arrow that he sent to my son.