Project Appleseed

Colonial Shooter (known to friends and colleagues as Sam) passed away Wednesday morning in his sleep.  He was 55.

Sam joined the Appleseed family in 2008.  A year later, he became a shoot boss.  He would later accept the mantle of leadership and become a Senior Instructor and the Upper Plains Regional Coordinator.  Despite health challenges in recent years, he remained a stalwart Appleseed volunteer.  His calm and steady leadership was responsible for keeping his region together through some tough times.

He was smart, funny, thoughtful, and fiercely loyal to his crew.  He was always striving for ways to help make them more effective.

Sam is survived by two children who live in Virginia.  This Patriot will be dearly missed.  It's my belief that Colonial Shooter is in heaven sharing a pint with men like Revere and Adams... and they bought the first round.

If you're of the mind, please offer a prayer or kind thoughts for his children.

in Liberty,
MO

Oh, Sam  :'(  Appleseed will miss you, my brother.

I will miss you. The world is a little darker today. One of our brightest stars has gone out. When Marcus Aurelius said that what we do now echoes an eternity, he was talking about you.

I promise we'll make you proud.

For those who had the honor of knowing him, Sam's loss certainly hits us hard. He was proud to be "one of the first" Appleseeders and was an attendee at one of the very first Appleseed events. The folks he mentored have become mentors themselves and that could probably be traced back two or three generations of Appleseeders at least. Sam was a true "Son of Liberty" and definitely committed himself to this mission and to helping out his fellow Appleseeders, whether that was staying at his house for a Cheyenne event (bacon wrapped elk backstrap) or him coming down to Colorado to run an IBC for the volunteers down here.

You'll be missed Brother

I worked with him on several occasions and found him to be a true Patriot and a Gentleman.   My heart is saddened.  His countenance and knowledge will be missed.  I pray that he is at peace and sharing a pint with those that went before him.  I think that God neede a rifle instructor.

Sam was very hospitable to us after our long drive from the South by providing us a room and anything else we wanted.  He was indeed a TRUE Patriot.  He will be missed for sure!  Rest well, friend!

Was sorry to learn of Sam's passing this morning from friends close to him in Wyoming.  I met Sam at the first seed I attended in Douglas, WY, and he was living in Casper at the time.  I went to one of his IBC's in Douglas later, in 2012 I believe, and he started me on the path to instructor and I had the good fortune to work with him on numerous AS events in the following years.  Sam was always upbeat, even knowing that he had an inoperable heart condition, and all who worked with him appreciated his experience with the program.  He was planning to host a big instructor get-together with steak and all of the trimmings at the Wyoming three day extravaganza coming up in just a week, May 14,15,16.  We were all looking forward to getting together again and meeting the newbies coming to the Cowboy state.  It will be a little different now...

Sam was a patriot and a leader. He knew his day was coming, and he worked to leave the best possible organization behind him to continue bailing. Now that he's gone, I think of all of the little (and big) ways I've dropped the ball and added to his stress or workload.

Berk has the ball for the short term. Anyone who is able to step up and help make his job easier has my gratitude.

 I can only echo what has been said about losing a great one.I only met him a few times but it was more than enough to identify him as a gentleman and patriot.He was gracious and comfortable hosting a crowd at his home for a elk bite and steak dinner.
He 's leaving Appleseed better than he found it.  Fair winds and following seas. :'(

I was looking forward to hoisting a pint with Sam next weekend in Cheyenne. Now we'll be toasting to the remembrance of this Patriot & dedicated Son of Liberty. Requiescat in pace!

I only knew of him through the forum and from his contributions updating manuals.  He did the work and carried his load.  Can we ask anymore?  God grant you rest.

Quote from: MOIt's my belief that Colonial Shooter is in heaven sharing a pint with men like Revere and Adams... and they bought the first round.

:yeahthat:

I can only hope that I have the endurance and fortitude to carry the water he did, esp. in the face of all his other life challenges.

Rest well, brother.

Rest in peace brother.

Not sure how much easier it will make Berk's job but I will be there for the trifecta weekend to assist. I will be bringing some of Tennessee's finest to raise a toast to Sam after the event for those who are prone to do such things.
Ramblin' Wreck

Quote from: sleepy on May 06, 2021, 11:11:55 PMSam was a patriot and a leader. He knew his day was coming, and he worked to leave the best possible organization behind him to continue bailing. Now that he's gone, I think of all of the little (and big) ways I've dropped the ball and added to his stress or workload.

Berk has the ball for the short term. Anyone who is able to step up and help make his job easier has my gratitude.

Sam was the guy that helped me shoot Riflemen  and awarded me the patch. Rest in Peace Sam.  :'(

  Only knew Colonial Shooter via the forum but what a shock.
Very sad to hear this. I know he will be missed.
Prayers for his family and our Appleseed Family. 🙏🏻
RIP CS.  😢

Dang.
Sam did an unbelievable job. He took the number of instructors that an average size state would have, and covered a very large chunk of the country with it. We had phone calls & texts, chuckling at the absurdity of it. Yet he pulled it off.

Hearing about the feasts that he would throw at his place made me jealous of the folks in his neck of the woods.

Rest in peace, Sam. Your work here is done.

Please let us know if there's a way that we can reach out to his family.

Instructor Scheduling / Nashville Stage

Rest in Peace

Only knew him from the forum, but he had long been a stalwart presence.  He will be missed.  RIP, sir.

The world and Project Appleseed lost a great patriot and leader.
Rest in peace brother.
Know that the standards you set will further the mission of liberty.

Sam is a good man.  I met him while I visited Wyoming for the Train the Trainer Pistol event.  We lost a good one.  Rest In Peace, Sam.  You will be missed. 

Just learned from the June newsletter that Sam has passed.  My heart is broken.

I remember the first time I talked to Sam here on the forum in 2008 about coming to an AS event- I was a 13 year old cook at the time. Knowing Sam over the years was a privilege. Rest in peace, Sam.

I'm way late to add my condolences, but here they are.  Sam started (by kicking my foot, endlessly) down the Appleseed Trail in 2009.
Finally shot Rifleman on the 5th day of RBC Douglas - must have been to give my right leg a rest.  Only after he died did I realise how much he did for US from his wheelchair, not just in Wyoming, but for Appleseed in toto.
He was a real Patriot and is greatly missed.  I am grateful for all his help over the years.  Surely he is proud to have made MI!
RIP old friend.