The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) State Directors are representatives who help boost marksmanship programs by providing leadership, resources, program information, coordination, networking, motivation and publicity for marksmanship activities within their respective states.
Please help us welcome our new State Directors!
Larry Grace, Vermont
Larry Grace became involved with marksmanship in 1978 when he joined the United States Marine Corps. He eventually moved on to the Vermont Army National Guard, joining the combat pistol team in 1984 despite having never shot in pistol competition. Grace showed talent, leading him to a spot on the state bullseye team and multiple All-Guard Combat teams through national and international contests. He holds multiple distinguished honors and championship titles.
Also exhibiting an aptitude for leadership, Grace was named the Marksmanship Coordinator for the Vermont National Guard in 2002 (among other titles), where he served for the next 18 years and reinvigorated bullseye programs statewide. He went on to support youth programs and was instrumental in securing Camp Ethan Allen for CMP’s New England Games.
Outside of marksmanship, Grace is married, with one son, and enjoys restoring classic cars.
William “Frank” Starr, Alabama
Frank Starr began coaching marksmanship in the summer of 2014, leading Navy JROTC sporter and precision units as well as Georgia High School Athletic Association precision class teams. In 2018, he returned to his home state of Alabama to continue Navy JROTC coaching, developing both sporter and precision class teams.
Starr spent over 20 years in the Navy, 11 as an enlisted sailor and another decade as an officer. He holds a Master of Science in Education and has worked within the field at three military Joint Service schools – recently celebrating two decades in the high school classroom.
In his personal life, Starr is married with five children and a nephew. He enjoys carpentry, yard work and tinkering on cars. He’s also passionate on initiatives to prevent serious highway traffic incidents.
Patrick Prell, Nevada
Patrick Prell has been involved in marksmanship since he began as an athlete in an Army JROTC program. After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy where he spent the next 22 years. During that time, he became a U.S. Navy JROTC instructor and rifle coach, helping to lead his team to regional and national events.
He decided to become a CMP State Director to pass on the knowledge he has accumulated from his own experiences while building self-esteem and confidence in each youth athlete in his state.
Prell is married with one son and holds a master’s in business administration.
Bill Shannon, Oklahoma
Bill Shannon is the rifle team coach at Sapulpa High School’s Marine Corps JROTC and is also a member of the Oklahoma Sharpshooters – achieving “Expert” status in pistol and rifle.
Shannon spent over 30 years in the Marine Corps before retiring in 2020, the same year he joined the Sapulpa team as coach. Since his time there, he has been dedicated to expanding youth marksmanship opportunities in his state. He was also proud to be able to double Sapulpa’s range firing points with the hopes of not only benefiting the school’s athletes but also area clubs for juniors interested in the sport.
Personally, Shannon has been married for 32 years and has four children. He enjoys trail running, mountain biking, hiking and hunting.
State Director Info and Open Positions:
Only one open State Director seat remains: Washington state! Learn more about CMP’s State Directors, including how to become one, at https://thecmp.org/training-tech/state-director/!
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation that places its highest priority on firearms safety and marksmanship activities, with a focus on youth. CMP’s programs encourage personal growth and build life skills, with such initiatives as its junior training and competition programs, Affiliated Club program and scholarships providing support to citizens of all backgrounds across the nation. Learn more about the CMP at https://thecmp.org/.
Read the full article here
