July 12, 2021

Jack Durrett, Former NSSF Board Chairman and Shooting Industry Leader

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Jack Durrett, long-time shooting sports industry leader and Chairman of the National Shooting Sports Foundation Board of Governors during a critical and challenging time in the industry history, passed away Thursday morning, July 8, 2021. He was 84.

Durrett came to the shooting sports industry after 20 years in the food industry where he received multiple honors, recognitions and awards. He joined the shooting sports industry with Michaels of Oregon where he rose to President, CEO and Chairman and received recognition for his role in growing that family-owned business into a highly respected manufacturer and distributor of shooting sports accessories with sales in over 95 countries.

Jack was elected to the Board of Governors of the National Shooting Sports Foundation in 1994 and served as Board Chairman from 1998 to 1999.  Industry insiders remember Jack’s astute and energetic leadership during the challenging years of the late 1990s and early 2000s when the industry was challenged by a flood of politically motivated lawsuits. He was instrumental in the creation of the Hunting and Shooting Sports Heritage Fund (HSSHF), which raised tens of millions of dollars to successfully fight the political lawsuits and to fund innovative new programs to help defend and grow the industry.

In addition to his service on the NSSF and HSSHF Boards, Jack served on the boards of Leupold & Stevens, Blackhawk Industries, Nosler and Crimson Trace after his retirement from Michaels.

Jack is survived by his wife, Betty Jean, and five children. He was predeceased by son, Joe, in 1993.

The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, contributions might be made to St. Judes Children’s Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/

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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.

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Media contact:
Bill Brassard
203-426-1320 ext. 212

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