NextNext Meeting:Meeting: NNovemberovember 19-20,19-20, 22011011 TheThe RobertsRoberts Centre,Centre, Wilmington,Wilmington, OOhiohio TheThe invitationinvitation thatthat startedst ""TheThe Father of all GGun CCollectingollecting OrOrganizations"ganizat DearDear friendfriend andand ffellowellow gunman:gunman: YouYou are want- ed!ed! InIn NewNew London,London, at Bedford’s place,plac Sunday, AugustAugust 8,8, 1937,1937, at 1 o’clock,o’clock, for a big state- widewide meetingmeeting of all gun shooters, collectors andand swappers.swappers. PurPurpose:pose: to get ththee individual cliquescliques andand rings bett er acquaintedacquainte with one anotheranother fromfrom all over the state;state; to enable thethe brothersbrothers to see and havehave a largerla stock toto swapswap amongstamongst themselves, andan to start a strongstrong gungun club forfor the purposepurpose of bringing thethe ganggang togethertogether and enable us toto put in our wordword aatt thethe rightright time whenwhen thethe wrong kind ofof gungun lawslaws ccomeome up,up, and to the advantagead of loverslovers ofof oldold gunsguns as well as modern.mod Bring youryour tradingtrading stock, good stustuffff , aandn perhaps a ccampamp sstool.tool. TTellell everyone elselsee you know. BringBring thethe ladies,ladies, if theythey are interestedinteres – Mrs. Bedford’sBedford’s invitation.invitation. 135 W. MainMa Street, NewNew London,London, Ohio. Meet the owownersn of the swellswell oror largelarge collections, the ownersown of the high-pricedhigh-priced rare articles, and fi nen shooting guns,guns, andand experimenters.experimenters. See whwhata Ohio has toto offoff erer in thethe gun world. Yours,Yours, Bedfordedford AA SaluteSalute toto OGCA Founder Miller Bedford PAGE 2 OGCA -- 75 YEARS The following is adapted and updated from an early Court House, Marietta, and Canton. Sites en- history article by fi rearms author and psychiatrist Dr. gaged for the meetings included such diversifi ed DeWitt E. Sell, a member from 1962 to 1986. places as hotels, National Guard armories, city halls, parks, private clubs, ballrooms, fraternal On Sunday, August 8, 1937, some 33 men, halls, fairgrounds and auditoriums. known to be interested in fi rearms and their col- lection, responded to an invitation extended by On January 25, 1942, the constitution was OFFICERS the late Miller C. Bedford to meet at his home amended to the effect, “That we have not more PRESIDENT in New London, Ohio. The enthusiasm which than six meetings in a year.” The fi rst thirteen Cecil Parker eventuated from this initial informal gathering of meetings of the association were one-day affairs “gun-buffs” was such held on Sundays. FIRST VICE PRESIDENT that a need to formally It was not long, Jim Tekavec organize was recog- however, until the nized and thus was amount of activity, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT born The Ohio Gun business and rapid Robert Ray Preston Collectors Associa- growth of the asso- SECRETARY tion. This organiza- ciation dictated the tion, celebrating its During the next 12 months we will celebrate the necessity for ex- Frank S. Hodges, Jr. Diamond Anniversary past, present and future of The Ohio Gun Col- tending the meet- TREASURER during 2012, is now lectors Association with collectible keepsakes, ing to two days. Thomas L. Kyser the largest associa- As a consequence, tion of gun collectors featured exhibits, and historical presentations. We the first two-day not only in the United hope to help you create some legacy memories, but meeting was held DIRECTORS States but the world in Akron at the 2011-2012-2013 more importantly we want to honor, salute, and with a current mem- Mayflower Hotel X Terrie L. Hill congratulate the people of OGCA -- past, present bership of approxi- and future. OGCA is a chartered Fraternal Or- on March 11th and Fred L. Kolb mately 16,000! 12th, 1939. Here, ganization. Farmer, truck driver, teacher, doctor, r Charles D. Metcalf approximately Charles D. Rush During the infancy of lawyer, soccer-mom, policeman, baker, sculptor, $100,000 worth the OGCA, it was de- Governor, Senator, Judge, General, electrician, of firearms were 2010-2011-2012 creed that “meetings CEO, labor leader. Where else does such an on display (based, Hal Ferrell shall be held when, of course, on the where and as often as ecumenical council convene? Frank Kern 1939 dollar). Sub- the majority of mem- sequent meetings This article, fi rst printed 50 years ago, outlines the 2009-2010-2011 bers present desire.” have been two-day As a consequence, Frank Becker, Jr. “look and feel” of the early days. Please enjoy it affairs, currently the zeal of the mem- opening at 8:00 AM Thomas E. Bowersox and – Happy Anniversary. bership for getting on Saturday and Jon Chorpenning together was such extending to 2:00 that for the fi rst few PM on Sunday. BUSINESS OFFICE years, or up until the Cecil Parker, President OGCA, P.O. Box 670406 entrance of the United Despite the tempo- Sagamore Hills, OH 44067-0406 States into World War rary loss to military Laura Knotts, Business Mgr. II, the group met nearly every month—averaging service of many members during WWII, the PH: (330) 467-5733 eight meetings per year. During this early period, association continued its meetings. Even with Fax: (330) 467-5793 meetings were staged in the following cities: the obstacles of gas rationing and war-time Bucyrus, Mansfi eld, Alliance, Massillon, Akron, travel, attendance at meetings up to February, Email: [email protected] Ashland, Lima, Warren, Portsmouth, Columbus, 1945, continued unabated and attracted many Web: www.ogca.com Wellington, Cincinnati, Toledo, Cleveland, Steu- distinguished guests including military personnel, Inside Pg. benville, Chillicothe, Springfi eld, Washington arms experts and technicians, authors, artists, OGCA - - 75 Years 2 75th Anniversary Firearm 4 OGCA PAC 4 Rohal Firearm Donation 5 Dues Notice 5 Ohio Inventor at Works Museum 6 Welcome Sandra Schwab 6 Vote for Director 7 The Gun Quiz 10 Guest Passes 11 Table Application 13 In Memorium 15 AFFILIATED WITH THE NRA AND CMP OGCA meeting, early 1940's. Outdoor meeting with OGCA Founder Can you identify the location? Miller Bedford and wife, Norma. PAGE 3 THE FATHER OF ALL GUN COLLECTORS ASSOCIATIONS etc. Continuous fl urries of newspaper and spacious as Columbus Veterans Memorial, and other groups. In addition, OGCA has radio attention served to further popularize had remained the choice at that time for the two affi liated non profi ts, OGCA PAC and and swell the membership of OGCA. In 1944, associations’ two meetings each year held the OGCA Civil Rights Defense Fund. Both the late Capt. Clark Gable, U.S. Army Air outside of Columbus as there was nothing groups work tirelessly in defense of our free- Corps., native Ohioan and, yes, in peace time comparable in Ohio to the Columbus Vet- doms. Throughout our history members can a professional movie actor residing in Encino, erans Memorial which could accommodate be proud of our success in rallying behind California, applied, and was accepted, for unrestricted demands of OGCA members for pro-gun candidates and fi ghting injurious membership. exhibition space. legislation. In 1953, OGCA President Lee Petrov visited Washington D.C. and partici- However, at the February 10th and 11th, 1945, From the very beginning, spouses of the pated in lengthy hearings to seek removal of meeting held at the Argonne Hotel, Lima, members were encouraged, even urged to antique arms from provisions in the National Ohio, it was decided by almost unanimous attend meetings and above everything else, Firearms Act of 1934. Another case in point vote that there would be no more meetings The Ohio Gun Collectors Association was is at a meeting in 2002 OGCA kicked off a until such meetings met the approval of the born with a rustic charm that was as American letter campaign to U.S. Senators objecting to Offi ce of Defense Transportation, the Offi ce of as ice cream and apple pie. It would quickly anti-gun show bills, S.890 and S.767. Mem- Price Administration and other federal regula- grow and prosper accordingly. bers signed and mailed 1,400 letter petitions tory bodies and in no way interfered with the and a legislative alert went out to members speedy and successful conclusion of the war. In the fi rst couple years, the association’s not present asking them to participate. The This period of abstinence lasted only until meetings were open to the public. The col- legislation was successfully halted. December 8th and 9th, 1945, when meetings lectors were proud of their acquisitions and were resumed on a regular basis—the host were not averse to displaying their wares to OGCA received the NRA’s prestigious Gun city for the above dates being Columbus; the all who evinced an interest. However, it later Collector Organization Award for the year place, the Neil House. proved in the best interests of all concerned 2000, and the 2001 Gun Rights Organization to restrict attendance at meetings to members of the Year Award by the Citizen’s Committee It is interesting to note that the fi rst meeting of and invited guests of members. Later amend- for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. In ad- the OGCA to be held in Columbus (October ments specifi ed “That a member must have dition, OGCA is a proud affi liate of the CMP 16, 1938) drew a large crowd with 128 new been a member in good standing for a period (Civilian Marksmanship Program). members confi rmed—presaging the evolu- of one year before he may sponsor a candi- tion of this city into the capitol of the gun col- date for membership,” and “That the Offi cers Are gun collectors a unique species within lecting fraternity. Columbus continued from and Directors (of which there are 15) must be the animal kingdom? The answer to this this point on as the site of at least one meeting residents of the State of Ohio.” The OGCA question has proven to be a categorical annually through December 14th and 15th, was always proud of the fact that although it “No!” The membership of the OGCA is 1957, when the fi rst Columbus meeting to be has been checked from time to time by vari- constituted of people from virtually every staged in the exhibition hall of the Veterans ous regulatory offi cials—federal, state and walk of life.