South Dakota man honors father by sponsoring bench at Pete Lien & Sons Shooting Sports Complex

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - A South Dakota man is honoring his father at a shooting complex.

Louis Vaughn sponsored a bench at Pete Lien & Sons Shooting Sports Complex in memory of his father, Floyd Vaughn.

“He lit a fire in my soul that still burns, so for the things he did with me and for me, I wanted something to honor him,” Louis Vaughn said.

The bench is located at the far end of bay 10. The complex opened a few months ago, but some benches at certain shooting positions carry names with decades-old stories attached.

“Sponsoring a bench out there in his honor was just perfect. It’s a legacy that’ll last way beyond the time that I’m gone,” Louis Vaughn said.

Floyd Vaughn fostered in his son a love of conservation and the outdoors that includes activities like fishing and hunting. He was an accomplished marksman and served during World War II in the European theater.

When buffalo hunting licenses were first issued in 1968, Louis couldn’t afford the $500 fee. His father made sure that didn’t stop him.

“A couple of weeks later he handed me an envelope with a Custer State Park return address on it. I opened it up and inside is license number B1. The first license ever issued for buffalo in South Dakota,” Louis Vaughn said.

Manager Gary English said others can also honor someone through a bench sponsorship.

“It’s a really unique opportunity to put a bench in memorial of somebody special to them. Maybe that taught them how to hunt or fish or shoot. Somebody who has made a significant impact on their lives,” English said.

The complex accepts sponsorships from individuals and organizations. Like Louis’ sponsorship, it can provide an opportunity to make sure someone is remembered for a long time.

“It’ll be here forever, so every time you come out here to shoot, you go shoot at your bench. Thank you,” English said.

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