COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— Rifle shooter Lones W. Wigger, Jr. was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame June 19 in Chicago at the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater.
Seventy-year-old Wigger (Colorado Springs, Colo.), whose career spanned 25 years, is a three-time Olympian, having competed at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City and the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where he won a combined two gold and one silver medals. In addition, he qualified for the 1980 Olympic Team.
Wigger also competed on five Pan American Games teams, where he won five silver and 13 gold medals. During his shooting career, Wigger won 111 medals and set 29 world records in international competition, more than any other shooter in the world. He is a member of the USA Shooting Hall of Fame and was also honored in 1996 by the USOC as a “Golden Olympian.” A retired Army Lt. Col., Wigger is a two-tour Vietnam Veteran and spent 25 years on active duty.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and especially to represent the shooting sports,” said Wigger. “I am overwhelmed and can’t hardly believe it. I would like to thank everyone who voted for me and supported me.”
Presenting the Hall of Fame honor to Wigger at the induction ceremony will be his son, Major Ron Wigger, who is the Army rifle coach and two-time National “Coach of the Year.”
Along with Wigger, the outstanding 2008 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class to be inducted as individuals included wrestler Bruce Baumgartner, athlete Joan Benoit, figure skater Brian Boitano, boxer Oscar de La Hoya, volleyball player Karch Kiraly, equestrian J. Michael Plumb, basketball athlete David Robinson, swimmer Amy Van Dyken, and Paralympic swimmer John Morgan.
The awards ceremony was recorded and will be aired Sunday, August 3, 2008 on NBC from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET.
For more information on, please visit The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Website.
