We Are Conservation

Spotlight on people and partners

Jan and Gwen Morris

Jan and Gwen Morris, Imperial, dedicated their careers to teaching, spending much of their time inside a classroom. But that dedication has stretched well beyond the confines of a school classroom, as they have given countless hours to hunter education and shooting sports.

Hunter Education …

When Jan was teaching high school in the 1970s, some boys invited him to go dove hunting. “I realized how unsafe they were with their firearms and decided to do something about it,” he said. So, he became an instructor with the NRA in 1971, and later with MDC’s hunter education program in the 1980s. Once Gwen retired, she found she could continue teaching as a hunter education instructor while coaching shotgun sports.

… and Beyond

Their next opportunity came at Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center, where they started Team Henges, a nationally successful youth trap team that is still competing today. Jan co-founded the Missouri Youth Sport Shooting Alliance (MYSSA) and served as volunteer executive director. Gwen served as secretary/treasurer.

In Their Own Words

“Whether air rifle, shotgun, or shooting sports organizations, hunter education and introducing young people to lifelong shooting sports has been a perfect combination for us.”