Chuck Lear

Chuck Lear began shooting archery at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, where he has taken the gold medal each time he participated. Lear moved onto the competitive circuit in 2002 and made his international competition debut just one year later.

Lear has been a consistent face on the U.S. Paralympics Archery National Team. He is a two-time Paralympian and three-time world championships team member.  In 2011, Lear won his first major international medal, claiming silver along with teammates Jeff Fabry and Jerry Shields in the men’s team compound W1 event at the World Para Archery Championships.

Lear retired from the United States Marine Corps in February of 1967 due to wounds suffered in combat in the Republic of Vietnam. He received the Purple Heart and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry among his military decorations. 

Lear is married and the father of three children and three step-children, and he has six grandchildren. He is actively involved in the Third Battalion Fourth Marines Association and the Vietnam Veterans of America. Lear is a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Disabled Veterans of America. 

Major Achievements:

• 2014: Gold medal, Parapan American Championships
• 2013: 9th place individual, World Archery Para Championships
• 2011: Silver medal, Men’s Team Compound W1 – World Para Archery Championships, Torino, Italy
• 2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Archery - Beijing, China
• 2008: Second place - NFAA Missouri State Indoor Target Championships
• 2008: First place - NFAA Kansas City Pro-Am Shoot Out
• 2007: 15th place, W1 Compound - IPC World Archery Championships, Cheongju, Korea
• 2007: Second place, AR1 division - U.S. Outdoor Target National Championships, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• 2007: First place - NFAA Midwest Indoor Sectional
• 2004: 11^th place - Paralympic Games, Athens, Greece
• 2003: 13^th place - IPC World Archery Championships, Madrid, Spain
• 2003: Silver medal, AR1 Men's Team Event - IPC World Archery Championships, Madrid, Spain