Joseph W. Barnes
Shooting icon Joseph W. Barnes, Jr., 94, of Branchville, NJ died Thursday, April 12, 2012. Joe was a veteran of World War II and pursued a career in the insurance industry. Joe’s shooting affiliations include the National Rifle Association, the New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, Inc., and the Black Hawk Rifle Club.
Barnes prone shooting skill was recognized by election to the Sussex County, New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame. Joe had won state championships in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Barnes was on the US Dewar Team ten times and served as Captain and Coach of the twice he also was a member of the 1969 Roberts Team.
Barnes ran 320 consecutive 10s and 245Xs in 1966 for the first ever Perry 3200 iron sight possible and the Hoppe Trophy. He posted a 3200-240X in the any sight Perry aggregate in 1980 and a 3200-260X in 1987. In his 82nd year he competed in the 2000 6400 any sight aggregate. Over the course of the first two days Barnes watched the foxy wind with care and ended up with a perfect 3200 an accomplishment appreciated an acknowledged by the gallery
A National Record holder, Barnes joined the1600 and the 3200 Club in 1966, the second member of the latter. He earned Prone Distinguished in 1967.
Barnes won the Sam Bond Trophy, emblematic of the senior prone title in 1977, 1984, and 1985. The 1987 US Cartridge Company Trophy awarded to the national any sight Champion graced Joe’s mantle.
The chain smoking hard holding rifleman will be missed.
We are diminished.
I was a Jr shooting in NJ in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s and remember seeing Joe’s name and scores always near the top. I will never forgot Joe. He is missed by many who met him at matches, and many more who followed his success throughout his shooting career.
It is competitors like Joe who perform at such a high level in their 70’s and 80’s that encourages shooters of all ages that it is never too late to jump back into the game. Thank you Joe!