Jack Durrett, Former NSSF Board Chairman and Shooting Industry Leader, Dies at 84

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’s history, passed away 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.

There 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 more than 95 countries.

Durrett 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 his 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, Durrett served on the boards of Leupold & Stevens, Blackhawk Industries, Nosler, and Crimson Trace after his retirement from Michaels.

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

The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, contributions might be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. (stjude.org)