Huelet L. “Joe” Benner was born in Paragould, Arkansas, on November 1, 1917. He was introduced to shooting by his grandfather, and later in life was bit by the competition bug.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1935 and while in basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, came to the attention of Sgt. James Tumlin. Recognizing Benner’s aptitude and motivation for pistol shooting, Tumlin became Benner’s first coach. The rest is history.
Benner went on to compile an incredible record of accomplishment in pistol shooting that included not only U.S. domestic 2700 bullseye competition (six national championships between 1947 and 1959), but also the more specialized pistol disciplines of the International Shooting Union, (ISU, now known as the International Shooting Sports Federation, ISSF), including Free Pistol (World Champion, 1954 and Olympic Champion, 1952), Rapid-Fire Pistol (World Champion 1949 and 1952) and Center-Fire Pistol (World Champion, 1949).
Benner, his guns and his methods, were profiled in “The Pistol Shooters Book” by Charles Askins, Jr., who described Benner as having, “One forward speed, compound low.” Askins also noted that most of his guns were secondhand acquisitions: a .22 Colt Woodsman, a .38 Colt Officers Model and a Model 1911 .45. All had been worked on by ace pistolsmith A. E. Berdon and all had grips by Detroit policeman Lew Sanderson.
Benner’s victories at the World Rapid-Fire Pistol Championships in 1949 and 1952 were remarkable in that he used his Colt Woodsman chambered for .22 Long Rifle. One of the stages in those championships required (and still requires) the shooter to fire one shot at each of five different targets in four seconds. Most European marksmen at that time used compensated pistols chambered for the .22 Short, but Benner made do with his National Match rimfire gun.
At the age of 82, Benner passed away in Tampa, Florida, on December 12, 1999.
Legends: Huelet L. “Joe” Benner
b. November 1, 1917 – d. December 12, 1999
