Nebraska Archery & Bowhunting Hall of Fame

The Nebraska Archery & Bowhunting Hall of Fame (NABHF) was founded in 2010 by members of the Nebraska Traditional Archers (NTA) and is financed by voluntary donations from archery organizations and individuals.

The purpose of the NABHF is to recognize Nebraska’s pioneering bowmen and organizations as a means to record their early contributions to the rich history of the sport of archery and bowhunting in Nebraska.

On each 5-year anniversary of the NABHF, an updated book will be published detailing the biographies of inductees and the history of archery and bowhunting in Nebraska that dates back to a period from 50 to over 145 years preceding the date of publication, e.g., in 2015 the book “Nebraska’s Pioneer Bowmen 1870 to 1965” will be published.

Books will detail the history of many of Nebraska’s earliest archery and bowhunting organizations as well as the contributions of hundreds of bowmen who are not inductees in the NABHF.

Books published by the NABHF are available only to participating archery organizations and only on a pre-published and pre-paid basis in limited numbered editions.

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to submit biographical letters of nomination detailing all aspects of a candidate’s archery career in the following categories:

Organizer Retailer
Bowhunter Influence on the Sport
Competitor Educator
Contributor to the Sport Writer
Inventor/Innovator Historian
Manufacturer Coach

Biographies should include footnotes referencing original documents from the era, which are used to confirm the historical accuracy of biographical details. Individuals who are a minimum of 75 years of age, and organizations established a minimum of 50 years prior to nomination, are eligible for induction.

Biographies and other correspondence should be mailed to Nebraska Archery & Bowhunting Hall of Fame, PO Box 44, Boys Town, NE 68010.

Biographies received before January 1 each year, are reviewed for factual accuracy and qualified nominees are placed on an induction ballot and mailed to NABHF electors before February 1. Ballots are returned and counted before March 1. No more than a total of two inductees, individuals and organizations in combination, can be installed in any one year. Candidates require the approval of the majority of the electors for induction.

The electors include the living inductees of the NABHF, and representatives from participating archery organizations within Nebraska. A majority vote of existing electors is required to confirm a new elector.

Electors must have a minimum of 50 years of involvement in the sport of archery. Selection as an elector is for the lifetime of the elector, or until voluntary resignation. Electors do not receive any compensation or reimbursement for expenses from the NABHF.

A laser engraved NABHF award plaque is awarded to each inductee.

The award plaque was designed by Ken Oberschulte of Aurora and Wade Phillips of Omaha. The plaque shape was borrowed from a 1940s broadhead that was handmade by Ken McDonald, a 1950s President of The Nebraska Prairie Bowmen and the Omaha Archery Club, organizations whose members were instrumental in helping to establish Nebraska’s first bow and arrow deer season in 1955. The select walnut for the plaque was donated by Frank and Zack Hicken who cut the tree in the prime deer country woods near their home in North Bend. Craig Schoneberg and Renae Soto of Grand Island designed the NABHF logo. With permission from the NTA, Craig borrowed the NTA logo theme that was created by Mike Rhodes of Gretna