North Carolina Bowhunters Association
HALL OF FAME - PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY
LEON D. OWEN
#3: Leon Dameron Owen
Inducted: February 19, 1994
At: 1994 NCBA Banquet in Salisbury, NC
Leon was a charter member of the "Greensboro Green Archers" during the 1950’s & 60’s. He gave many hours of his time helping others learn about the sport of archery.
He was a professional archer and represented Hoyt Archery for many years. He loved to bowhunt and taught archery to may youth clubs and organizations.
He harvested the first Bobcat entered in the NCBA "All-Time Records" listings. Taken (1967) Montgomery County. (Score: 7 4/16")
Leon was born in Worthville July 19, 1920, but was raised in High Point, N.C. He died April 25, 2005 in Greensboro after a long respiratory illness. He was survived by his wife of 60 years, Doris Jordan Owen; his daughters, Diane Owen Lewis and Jean Owen Heinz all of Greensboro.
He served his country during World War II in the Army Air Corps as a link trainer instructor and Military Police. He was also on the Army Boxing Team. He retired from DeSoto Chemicals in 1968.
Nominated By: Ramon Bell
COMMENTARY:
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I
first met Leon Own at the "Greensboro Green
Archers" range which was located at the Guilford
Battleground Park at the time. Leon gave me what was my first
expert, (or professional)
instructions on how to shoot a bow and arrow there at the
range. I joined the "Green Archers" and was a member for
several years before the club shut down. It lost it's lease or
permission to use the park property for it's range and had no
where to go.
I shot many rounds on that old course, even a
couple rounds with Leon Owen. They didn't have 3-D targets back
then, only paper targets with animal faces on them. I remember
one target in particular. It was a "Moose" target and the
distance, best as I can recall, was about 80 yards. I was
shooting an old Ben Pearson "Cougar" recurve bow at the time.
I had never hit that target before. Leon was shooting with me,
Chuck Schmidt (deceased) and Johnny Hayden at the time. He told
me where to "hold" (aim) my arrow and I let it go. It wasn't a
"bullseye", but I hit the moose in the vital area. I don't
recall if I ever hit that target again. But, I'll never forget
hitting it on that day.
North Carolina Bowhunters and many old time
archers who knew Leon will surely miss him.
Ramon Bell
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