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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper November 2018 Page 25
Bob Eiker, Sr., Archer y Specialist
William Eiker, Sr.
From Friday, October 29,
1954, issue of Frederick Post:
My father, Bob Eiker Sr., was a “Pictured are winners of
life-long resident of Emmitsburg, championships and trophies
who resided at 116 South Seton at the recent championship
Avenue, located directly across archery match, sponsored
by Indian Lookout Bowmen’s
from the Chronicle office. From his Club. Elwood Eiker was
garage, he operated Bob’s Archery awarded the trophy for
Shop, the only supplier of archery winning the championship at
the tournament held at the
accessories within 25 miles. He range on Riffle Road near
crafted custom shafts, bow strings, town. Other winners at the
new and used bows, and free shoot were Maurice Eyler,
advice. medal and ribbon; Robert
Eiker, medal; and Johnny
A straw bale was used as a target Adelsberger, medal. The first
in the back yard. Arrow shafts junior award was claimed by
evolved from cedar to fiberglass to Robert Eiker, Jr., ribbon and
aluminum to carbon over the years, medal, with James Brown
second. Weldon B. Shank won
and from long bows to recurve to the flight medal award.”
compound.
Bob also provided services In the early 1950s, Bob and Bob was so respected for his
to the Trojan Sport Shop near several friends of the community knowledge and successes in bow
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. endeavored to form a local archery hunting that his friends referred
Producing custom bow strings and club, equipped with a shooting to him as “The Fred Bear” of
straightening aluminum shafts were range that would be open to Emmitsburg.
among some of his services. He enthusiasts for competition. This Fred Bear was born in
was responsible for many potential dream was realized when land was Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, in 1902
archery and bow hunting buffs in leased southwest of Emmitsburg, and earned the reputation of “the
the surrounding communities. off Riffle Road. Father of Bowhunting.”
Some of the early founders Over the years, Bear would
and members of Indian Lookout become an international bowhunting
Bowmen were Bob Eiker, Harold legend, tackling all manner of
Hoke, Weldon Shank, Elwood dangerous game with his trusty bow
Eiker, Gilbert Eiker, Morris and arrow. Bear broke six archery
(Mickey) Eyler, Jack Umble, Jim world records for various big game
Brown, John Adelsberger, Tom species: Alaskan brown bear, barren-
Zurgable, and Mac Ancarrow. ground caribou, mountain caribou,
Competitors from miles around Canada moose, polar bear, and stone
came to shoot this rugged terrain sheep.
and challenging course. The club My father catered to his customers
disbanded in the late 1950s due to in Emmitsburg for nigh onto fifty
the loss of the land. years. His last two buck successes
Bob also assisted in the were acquired when he was eighty-
formation of a new archery range two and eighty-three years of age.
in the 1960s, off Pumping Station Bob Eiker, Sr. was born January
Road near Gettysburg, and then 21, 1917, and departed this life May
again when this range relocated 10, 2004.
near Bonneauville, Pennsylvania. May his legacy live on!
Scenic Sabillasville
5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run
Fun for the Whole Family!
Contact race coordinator Megan Doolittle
mldoolittle81@gmail.com
301-514-3115
https://bit.ly/2IFQYnR
