by Hap Rocketto
George Stephens and his son Chris examine an exhibit at the National Rifle Association of Great Britain’s museum at Bisley during the morning of the day of the 6th Earl Lord Roberts Trophy Match.
Noted shooting historian and rifleman George C. Stephens suffered a stroke on October 24th, seemingly on the road to recovery he passed away on November 2, 2009 after a second occurrence.
George was the department chair of the Geology Department at George Washington University, his alma mater, at the time of his passing. A George was a quiet and gentle scholar. An expert in structural geology and the formation of mountain ranges he was happiest when doing field work. But most of all George enjoyed teaching introductory geology because he wished to give the non science inclined student an appreciation of how geology impacts lives.
His nearly a hundred scholarly papers such as Assessment of Soil Conditions and Burial Location of Jesse W. James in Kearney, Missouri and the ever intriguing The paleogeographic relationship between the Argentinian Precordillera and the Appalachians: an analytical paleobiogeographic comparison of Ordovician brachiopod faunas were only topped by his seminal work on the Morgan Rifle and the most comprehensive study to date of rimfire cartridge loading blocks. At his passing he was deep into a history of the later model Winchester 52, the E and D series, which included a large data base of serial numbers.
He was a regular Camp Perry participant traveling with his long time shooting crony, and fellow GW alumni, Paul Nordquist. He took a break during a trip to England this past summer to root on the United States Roberts Team as well as take in the National Rifle Association of Great Britain’s museum at Bisley. A friend of many on the team his visit was very much appreciated.
While his family suffers the greatest loss both George Washington University and the shooting community join them in mourning his passing.
