ARLIE & KATHY CLIFT
1939-__ 1940-__
A LIFETIME FOR ARCHERY
Arlie joined South Gate Target Archers in 1963, and soon served as an officer in
that club. When he joined Valley West Archers, he became an officer for them.
Southern California Archery Association benefited from Aries services as well.
In 1975 Arlie conceived the idea of forming the California Archery Hall of Fame.
There was no procedure in place anywhere in the country for honoring outstanding
archers to serve as a guideline. Arlie talked with the leaders of the archery
community to enlist their help arid financial support. It was nearly a year
before a structure was in place to elect the first archers to be inducted into
the Hall of Fame.
Today the National Field Archery Association is instituting a National Hall of
Fame based on California's.
During the year Arlie was gathering support for his idea, Kathy learned to type
and took a business class to develop the skills necessary to conducting the
business of the Hall of Fame Committee. She assisted Arlie in generating funds
for the awards through letters and telephone calIs. Kathy's steadfast belief in
the importance of the Hall of Fame has buoyed Arlie's dedication in times when
funds were hard to find. Kathy has been the communication center for the
committee, organized its records, scheduled its meetings, arranged
accommodations and services for the inductees, and even placed centerpieces on
the tables for the banquets.
When Arlie and Kathy moved to Visalia, Arlie became an officer and newsletter
editor for Antelope Archers of Woodlake, and concurrently served as president of
Central California Bowmen. During his terms of office he was instrumental in
creating the San Joaquin Valley Children's Hospital Benefit Tournament.
Arlie approached CBH-SAA with the question of where our archery excise tax
moneys were going. He was made a Legislative representative at large by the
legislative coordinator and was given the duty of following through on his
question. His efforts on CBH-SAA's behalf resulted in the first BLM land that
became available for purchase by an archery club - Kern River Archers. Through
Arlie's efforts the CBH-SAA Range Acquisition Committee was formed.
Kathy and ArIie traveled all over the country for two years, promoting archery
through public demonstrations of trick shooting arid target skills. Thousands of
children and adults learned about the ancient traditions of archery through
their efforts.
For thirty-two years Kathy and Arlie have worked as a team dedicated to further
the growth and standards of the sport they love. Their twenty yours of work for
the California Archery Hall of Fame has created a permanent Institution for
California Archers.
Inducted 1996