Page 5 - Desert Oracle July 2019

Executive Director’s Letter

Edward Hutch Hutchison

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On June 28 2019, we lost a friend, mentor, and a kind giving soul who
served his country, his family and the entire world that touched him.

Most knew him as a proverbial “gun nut”. I have no idea of how many he
owned or shot or where he used all that ammo, but I do know that he did it
on many continents, in many countries and with many people. Let me start
at the beginning.

Edward Hutchison was born in Pineville, KY May 30, 1941. For those of
you who don’t know Kentucky, even this was remote. His father ran
shooting events so guess who became a shooter? He eventually went into
the Army, was stationed in Germany and had a first date with a German
Lady. Typical Hutch, he asked her to marry him; on that date. So 55+ years
later he has left the love of his life and their son Bill. They visited over 50
countries together and so many states. They loved to travel and they
seemed to do it his whole adult life.

Once, while in Nebraska, at a PVA Convention we were wheeling down the
hall, headed for our meeting and he was surrounded and hugged out of his
chair by several huge men with beards, laughing and yelling greetings of all
sorts. From my perspective, what made it so interesting was they were all
wearing blue jackets with the letters ATF on the back. He told me to go on
but I waited for him at the elevator. On our trip down, he explained vaguely
they once worked for him. The only explanation over the next 14 years was
that he worked for the US Embassy. I know he loved South Africa and had
spent years working with the handlers on the preserves, interestingly
enough spending time chasing poachers. Although an avid hunter, the
meat could never be wasted. He told me elephants that were not fully dead
after their tusks were taken were sent to be cut up and canned for food. I
never Googled to check. I know he felt Mohamed Ali received the short end
of the deal when he was sent to prison. Apparently he drove miles to see
him fight.

There are so many things I don’t nor will ever know about Hutch. Except on
June 28, 2019 I lost a friend, a mentor and a kind soul who served his
country, family and the entire world he touched.

Peter Quinn, Executive Director