Getting to know you ... Montana Olympians

Thirty years ago, during the 1988 Summer Olympic Games, Plains resident Erich Buljung earned a silver medal in air pistol marksmanship. As the Winter Olympics are in full swing, he seemed a perfect fit for a "Getting to know you" story.

When I arrived to interview Buljung at his business, the Dew Duck Inn, I was in for a surprise. Let's just say he is the most modest person I have ever met. I mean that to the deepest extent - "ever" met.

Before I even asked a question, I was greeted by Buljung saying, "I think your story should take a different path." Keenly, I listened, as I was unsure where he was redirecting me. I quickly realized there was something even more fascinating about the Olympian than his silver medal.

He handed me a piece of paper showing what he thought my story really needed to be about; his dear friend Lones (pronounced LONE-iss) Wigger, Jr.

"He is a Montana native, internationally famous, and a much better shooter than I ever was. I think this would be a better story. He deserves print," Buljung stated, with apparent effort to keep his eyes dry.

Wholeheartedly, Buljun filled me in with the details.

Wigger was born and raised in Carter, Montana (30 miles northeast of Great Falls). He started shooting at age 12 at his father's rifle range, where he took part in junior shooting programs. He graduated from high school in 1955, and college at MSU with a degree in agronomy in 1959. After school, he began a career with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and served two combat duties in Vietnam during 1967 and 1971. He retired from the Army after 26 years and earned rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Throughout these years Wigger had achieved the title of "Best Ever" Rifle Marksman. A title he most definitely deserved. Not only did he partake in multiple national and international competitions, he also represented the U.S. three times in the Olympic Games, where he was awarded three medals.

In 1964 he went to Tokyo, where he won a gold medal in small-bore rifle, three-position (prone, kneeling and standing) at 50 meters. At these same games, he tied for gold but ended up winning a silver medal after losing a tiebreaker in small-bore rifle, prone position at 50 meters.

He continued to represent the U.S. and competed at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 and 1972 Olympics held in Munich. In Munich he won another gold medal in the mixed free rifle, three-position, 300 meters competition.

He would have secured his fourth attendance in the 1980 Olympics, but that year the U.S. boycotted the games being held in Moscow, in stance against the offensive position taken by the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

But Wigger didn't stop there. He broke 29 world records and won 58 U.S. championships with 20 of these being international wins. From 1963 to 1983, Wigger participated in five Pan American games, in which he amazingly collected eight gold medals.

In 1987, after retiring from the military, Wigger moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to become Director of USA Shooting and coach to Olympic participants. Wigger was inducted into the U.S. Shooting Hall of Fame in 1991. He was also inducted to the Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008, and is the sole shooting athlete to ever be awarded this honor.

The most decorated shooting athlete in the world, Lones Wigger, Jr., passed away this last December from pancreatic cancer complications. Unfortunatly, this legend has left our world, but not before passing on his talent to daughter Deena, who represented the U.S. as a rifle shooting athlete in the 1988 Olympics.

Buljung and Wigger met in 1977 when Buljung was assigned to training in miltary marksmanship. They never competed against eachother, since Wigger was a rifle shooter and Buljung shoots pistol. But they were on the same marksmanship teams, trained together and travelled the world together contending at the same competitions.

Their friendship continued to grow as they worked together in Colorado Springs from 1992-2002 while developing a strong USA Olympic Shooting Program, coaching adults and youth.

Buljung had a career similar to Wigger. For 25 years, Buljung served the Army as a shooting instructor, in Fort Benning, Georgia. During this time, he competed in pistol shooting at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea.

The pistol shooter placed ninth in Los Angeles, and was awarded a silver medal in 1988 for the 10 meter air pistol event.

This event made its Olympic debut in 1988. The event was based off two portions, the qualifier and finals. Buljung scored 590 out of a total 600 in the qualification round, the top score of all shooters who move on to the final round.

Buljung tied with Tanyu Kiriakov, Bulgaria, to a tenth of a point after the final round. Once again, medal color was based off a tiebreaker; amazing when you take into consideration that these men were shooting at something the size of the period at the end of this sentence.

There were no tie-breaking rules in place since this event was in its first year. The conclusion was made that the best shooter in the final round would be awarded gold. Decision went to Kiriakov, who shot a better final round.

It was this competition that provoked the Olympic Committee to set standards for breaking future ties in this event.

"Our sport is different than the others. You won't find many of us getting into trouble," Buljung stated about shooting sport athletes, who are rarely reported to have behavior or attitude related baggage. He attributes this to the mental strength, focus and discipline needed to be successful in marksmanship. Once these qualities are achieved, a successful shooter must apply them throughout many years of training, learning fundamentals and gaining consistancy.

"In this sport, you have to figure out what you want to do and how to do it. Sure, you have to have keen eyesight and nerves of steel, but it is more mental than physical."

Buljung added that being able to take constructive criticism and then applying it is required to become successful in both marksmanship and life in general.

In 2005 Buljung and his wife, Charlotte, began a new chapter in life when they purchased a motel in need of some TLC located in Plains. Together, with dedication and serious work ethic, they took on a major renovation project, resulting in the current day Dew Duck Inn.

A few years into working the Dew Duck Inn, Buljung received a phone call from a customer wanting to rent a room while waiting to move into their new home in Plains. Buljung got the customers name and was blown away.

Tom Garrigus, Oregon native, was moving to Plains. This may not seem like anything extra-ordinary to most people, but to Buljung, he knew who he was dealing with. Buljung gladly made room for a fellow Olympian at his Plains inn.

Garrigus is a 1968 Mexico City Olympian shotgun trap shooting silver medalist, and was the youngest member on the U.S. shooting team at these games. Like Wigger and Buljung, he settled for second after falling short in a tiebreaker.

During the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Garrigus served as referee for shooting events and had the honor to carry the Olympic torch while in route through Salem, Oregon.

Sadly, Garrigus passed away December 2006.

Over and over Buljung reiterated that anyone can do anything that they want to do. "If someone tells me that they can't do something, it is because they don't want to, and are not going to try."

From the very start Buljung believed he could, and he did. He took top honors in his first-ever national competition. Shortly after that, during the Pan American Games, Venzuela, he set a world record.

Humility, dedication, strong work-ethic, focus, confidence and goodwill are attributs that can take someone very far in life. Just ask Buljung, who has nothing but the deepest respect for his friend and mentor; Lones "The Best Ever" Wigger, Jr.