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             Archery loses a lifelong supporter, heaven gains a shining star

 

 

Author and marketing professional Richard L. "Dick" Lattimer, who for 23 years managed the advertising and public relations duties for archery pioneer Fred Bear and Bear Archery and for ten years led the primary trade association for the archery industry, died September 6 following an extensive illness. He was 75.

Lattimer was inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame in 1999 and also served as its president for two years.

Born in South Bend, Indiana December 6, 1935, Lattimer was a proud Hoosier and 1957 graduate of Indiana University. He was working for a South Bend advertising agency handling multiple accounts as a photographer and copywriter when went to work for Bear Archery in 1966 at its Grayling, Michigan location. The company moved to Gainesville, Florida in 1979, where he remained in charge of marketing and advertising until 1989, just months after the death of Mr. Bear.

In addition to the multiple annual catalogs and ads Lattimer produced and directed during his tenure at Bear Archery, perhaps his best-known and most effective advertising campaign centered around the "Become a Two-Season Hunter" theme. The sport of bowhunting was gaining both credibility among hunters and an unprecedented growth in the mid-1970s, as state agencies enacted liberal archery deer seasons and hunters discovered they could expand their time afield by taking up bowhunting.

After leaving Bear Archery, Lattimer was hired in 1990 to serve as the first paid staff member of the Archery Manufacturers Organization (later becoming the Archery Manufacturers and Merchants Organization and later yet the Archery Trade Association) where he served as president until 2000.

While heading AMO, one of Lattimer's prime accomplishments was the creation of the "Save Our Heritage" program, which, through contributions from member archery equipment manufacturers built a significant "War Chest" of funding to be used to promote archery and bowhunting as well as to defend all hunting methods against the threat of voter initiatives launched by anti-hunting and animal rights groups seeking to end specific hunting seasons or methods.

A prolific writer, historian and incorrigible note-taker whose Gainesville garage overflowed with boxfuls of memos, photographs, catalogs and other items from his years working for the iconic Fred Bear, Lattimer transformed his passion for archery and respect for his longtime friend and employer into two successful books, I Remember Papa Bear (2005) and Hunt With Fred Bear (2006). His fascination with outer space, respect for country's astronaut program and the U.S. space program resulted in two books, All We Did Was Fly To The Moon (1985) and Space Station Friendship (1988).

Lattimer published The Jesus Digest: What you never knew about the everyday life of Jesus in 2005 and also wrote poetry under the pseudonym of Joshua Carpenter, his interpretation of the real name of the itinerant preacher from Nazareth.

In the 1970s Lattimer served as Television Chairman of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and Co-Chairman of its full Communications Committee in Washington, D.C. He was also a member of the Hunting and Conservation Committee of the National Rifle Association, on their Bowhunting Sub-committee, and on the NRA Public Affairs Committee. He also served on the Board of Directors of the United Conservation Alliance.

Mr. Lattimer is survived by his wife, Alice, and three children, Michael Lattimer (Lora) of Gainesville, FL, Elizabeth Golnick (Chuck) of Grayling, MI, and Kevin Scott Lattimer (Afie) of Potomac, MD, five grand children, and two great grand children.

A memorial service for Dick Lattimer was held Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at the Cedar Key (FL) United Methodist Church.

--J.R. Absher

Well-known industry insider, writer and all around good-guy, Absher is founder of The Outdoor Pressroom






 


click to read tributes from Frank Addington & Dick Mauch

 

Dick Lattimer passes at 75

 


 

Les Brown remembers Dick Lattimer........

It is with fond memories I remember my brief incounters with Dick Lattimer, mostly during my term as president or board member of the Professional Archers Association, and this continued through three Archery Hall of Fame Banquets .I always found Dick an easy fellow to talk with, a good listener and extremely good natured. After every Bear employee retirement mail from him would find itself forwarded to me by some other knowing archer and often they would carry  the news of the passing of some one I had known. Some close to home, some very good friends and archery associates. It was one of the caring things he did.
When occasionally traveling down I-75 I would always be aware of passing Bear Archery and thinking of archery friends that had been there. As the trees grew and hid the new factory from the I-75 express way the people disappeared also.
 Sometimes we are drawn to a place and don't know why, so I don't know why I  was drawn to Cedar Key while staying in Crystal River, Florida.  At the time I thought it was because of the isolation and the weather. I drove up to Cedar Key several times just to walk in the city park and feel the wind and air in my face and watch the sea gulls and waves. I did not know there was also an well known archer there who was in a great location to share his archery experiences with his friends and the world and even outer space.
Dick Lattimer is  to be commended for stepping up to the plate and continuing his part in "The Dream" as set forth by Archery Hall of Fame founder, Dave StaplesI.
On behalf of the past Board of directors and membership of the Professional Archers Association,  many of who never were aware of the part Dick played in our tournament sponsorships,
I offer to  his family and friends around the world our condolences, and to his wife, Alice,  we thank you for sharing so much of his time with the sport of Archery.

Leslie (Lewis) Brown
Past President
Professional Archers Association

 

Ann Clark writes.....Enclosed please find a donation to the hall in memory of Dick Lattimer, It hardly seems enough for all he has been to the Industry.

 

A note from Maryanne Schumm .......Enclosed is a donation in memory of Dick Lattimer. It is such a shame when we lose an archery leader....and a very nice one at that. I've known Dick for many years and had fun with him each time he came to TWAC. I also enjoyed seeing him when I was on the Archery Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Please give Alice and his family my condolences.

 

......Enclosed please find a donation to the Hall in memory of Dick Lattimer, he will be missed by so many.

George Gardner

 

Dick was one who did so much and ask for so little in return. The Archery Hall of Fame Board of Directors, as well as the archery community have lost so much with the passing of Dick Lattimer.

His wisdom, his kindness and his laughter will always be remembered.

Diane Miller

 

G. Fred Asbel writes....

I just saw that Dick Lattimer died on the 6th of September, and I was deeply saddened. What a fine man. I spent a couple of days in his presence at a wildlife function in St. Louis a few years ago, and I came away realizing that we rarely know/understand much of/about people whose names and images we often see in the media. Dick was genuine, and perhaps as professional as anyone I've ever known in this outdoor business. And while he made his living promoting the industry, the amount of volunteer work he did was inspirational. We can't say enough good things about Dick Lattimer. He was a class act and should be an inspiration to us all.


 

 

   
 
 
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