Lee Hoots, a respected editor of Rifle and Handloader magazines at Wolfe Publishing and former editor of Guns & Ammo, died February 6, 2026, at age 57 due to early-onset dementia. He had a 30+ year career in outdoor publishing with Western Outdoor News, Outdoor Sportsmen Group, and Petersen's Publishing.
Dennis Highby, former Cabela's CEO who joined the company in 1976 and led it to become a $4 billion outdoor retailer, passed away February 26 at age 76. Highby was instrumental in Cabela's growth, IPO in 2004, and was credited by industry leaders like Gary Loomis and Tim Leatherman for launching their success.
Evernham & Associates founder Michael Boyd Evernham, 80, died Friday, January 9, 2026 in Fishers, Indiana. A longtime industry figure, Evernham held positions with Simmons Gun Specialties and Winchester-Olin before founding Evernham & Associates in 1983. A renowned shotgunner, Evernham was inducted into the Indiana Trapshooters Hall of Fame in 2020.