Bear Archery Center in Mi.

[kill shot]

Does anyone remember Ken Englebretzen who owned Bear Archery Center in Grand Rapids Michigan? Do you have any stories to share about him? I thought and still think that he was one of the great pioneers of archery.

[DennyK]

Wow, I had known Ken for years, and worked for him part time in my college days. He was and awsome man and always treated people like family. He was truely one of the good guys.

[kill shot]

Denny, it's a pleasure. I bet you also knew Chuck Sperry.

[44charlie]

I remember Ken! Went in the shop there on West Leonard many times. Bought my first set of aluminum arrows from him. He usually had what you need too!Didn't always have a half smoked cigar in his mouth or am I thinking of someone else.

[kill shot]

Thats him! The half smoked cigar was his trademark. This is going to be a great day for me.

[DennyK]

Yup- Chuck Sperry, Frank Plite, Jerry Jewell, Frank Rus- and on and on. Then across the street to Lannings Resteraunt. Good Times!!!    

[DennyK]

"Now listen here son, there is a deer somewhere in that half dozen arrows-you just gotta pick the right one"- Ken Sr. kill shot- do you also remember Ken's wife Lillian? Great Lady. This thread brings back alot of great memories for me. Sometimes that half smoked cigar was from the previous day. "Gotta let them age alittle"
                               

[gvdocholiday]

Learned all I know about archery from Frank Rus and his son Jamie.  Spent my college days shooting in the range at AUI and studying while pirating wifi from some local house that didn't have it protected.

[kill shot]

He used to string a recurve by putting it on the side of his foot and pushing the upper limb away while sliding the string. I never could do it. I can remember asking him if my bow (40#) would kill a deer. "son,this bow can kill more deer than you will"