Marvin Gary Stevens, age 77, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at UK King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky, surrounded by his loving family.
A Sergeant First Class who served his country for nearly two decades in the Kentucky National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve—later working as a Kentucky State Trooper in different roles over a 23-year career—Gary Stevens carried that same discipline into the shooting sports that defined much of his life off duty. His range extended from close-quarters defensive techniques to precision marksmanship at distances reaching 1,000 yards, and his influence on the sport went well beyond his own performance. He helped launch the Practical Shooting Division at Ashland Gun Club, served three terms as a director of the United States Practical Shooting Association and claimed two national titles in the Super Senior category.
I first met Gary Stevens in 2004. A small group of Nationals staff who were on staff for the USPSA Area 5 Championship that year were sitting poolside the night after setup, talking about how unprepared the club was to host a major match. They didn’t even have any white pasters. When I asked the Match Director where they kept the white pasters, he replied, “We don’t need them. They aren’t supposed to shoot the white targets.” At that time, a person walked up to us and said, “Hi, my name is Gary Stevens, and I am your Area 5 Director. My room is next to where you are sitting, and I couldn’t help hearing some of what you were saying. Do you mind if I join you?” We then had a productive discussion about improvements for next year’s Area 5.
The following year, Area 5 was held at the same club, and the match was significantly better prepared. Gary had worked his magic. That year, the evening discussions were about how much better the match was.
Gary Stevens was a retired Kentucky State Trooper who was known by some as a gentle giant, not for his stature but for his personality. He would speak in a soft and gentle voice but was firm in what he was saying.
Gary was an avid shooter who preferred the single stack in .45 ACP, a collector of older Smith & Wesson revolvers, a USPSA competitor and a range official. He was also a major contributor to the growth of our sport and to USPSA in general, serving as Area 5 Director and a Range Master Instructor.
Gary’s nickname was “Mr. Overlay,” which he earned at a match where, when asked to overlay a target, he mistakenly pulled out his room key instead of his scoring overlay. Putting the room key on the target, he told the competitor, “I just can’t see it.”
Gary was also known as “The Father of Single Stack Division” after he wrote the rules for the Single Stack Division. He convinced the USPSA Board of Directors to add this division.
I had the opportunity to work with Gary at the 2019 Area 5 in Zanesville, Ohio, as co-range masters, which was something I had always wanted to do. Unfortunately, this was his last USPSA match before moving on to shoot Steel Challenge. Gary was a mentor and friend of mine.
Gary Stevens was a mild-mannered Southern gentleman who was well-respected and will be missed. He was one of the good old guys. Rest in peace, my friend.
—Paul Hernandez
I can’t remember when I first met Gary, but it was fairly early in my shooting time. He was always at the major matches. He had this “Mayberry” Southern drawl that, when you got to know him, if he started a story, you knew there was a lesson coming.
He was the USPSA Area 5 Director and a Range Master.
One year in Barry, Illinois, which was usually where we went for the one Nationals we had every year, Gary was the Range Master. I was squadded with one of the champions from overseas. This shooter thought that every time they couldn’t find all the shots on the target, there must be a double in there somewhere. Gary always showed up to check but couldn’t find the double. After probably a half-dozen visits, Gary was getting a little frustrated. As he was walking away, Gary stopped, looked at the shooter and said, “If you are that good, just spread your shots out a little.” Gary left, and the shooter never asked for the Range Master again that match. I had never heard anyone say that before, but I have used that comment with shooters many times over the years.
Gary was a great guy. He was good for the sport. He was always teaching and suggesting things to help make our sport better.
He is missed. He was one of a kind. I agree with Paul—he was one of the good guys.
—Rick Steele
Legends: Marvin Gary Stevens
August 12, 1947 – August 5, 2025
Article from the March/April 2026 issue of USPSA’s magazine.
