Rod and Gun Club dedicates memorial to Corda

The Libby Rod and Gun Club bid farewell to a fallen member Saturday afternoon, dedicating the clay target fields to the memory of Al Corda, who passed Jan. 20, 2015, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Club president Dan Ackerman delivered the tribute during the club’s annual Ironman Shoot.

“He built a legacy that is going to stand for the ages,” Ackerman said of Corda. “This complex is going to be here for generations to come.”

Corda, Ackerman said, was both the inspiration and the impetus behind the building of the clay target fields at the Lincoln County Shooting Complex. While acknowledging the contributions of a number of other individuals, Ackerman said it was Corda who led the project, balanced all of the personalities and was ultimately responsible for its success.

“There are a number of people who were part of this,” he said. “But Al Corda was the leader.”

Club activities director Mike Cirian unveiled the dedication plaque, now hanging on one of the target sheds at the front of the fields. The sign, he said, was built from a photo of Corda taken at one of the club’s many shooting events.

“Al was a great competitor, gracious in both winning and losing,” Cirian said. “He was a wonderful teacher and mentor, but most of all he was a true friend.”

After the dedication the club continued with the Ironman Shoot, an event inspired by Corda. Shooters competed in four different clay target events, shooting a total of 100 shots.

Cirian won the Ironman title, shooting 87 out of a possible 100 targets in the four-event contest. Roy Hyde earned Tinman honors, the youth high score, with 72 out of 100. Jeremy Rank’s 23 earned him the skeet championship. Dan Ackerman won the trap title with 24. Dameon Kelch earned scrap champ honors with 19 and Tom Bailey took the five-stand win with 20.