Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters JB: Why did Gary Sitton disappear from Handloader in 1999?

Gary Sitton wrote several articles for Handloader in the 1990s. In the Oct 1999 issue (#201), Scovill introduced him as a new staff member and Sitton wrote the first installment of what was to be his new backpage column titled the "The Last Word".
After that issue, Gary Sitton never appeared in Handloader again.

JB, you were writing for Handloader back then, do you know why Gary left?

IIRC,Gary passed away a few years ago.It's a shame-he was one of my favorite writers.

WB

he was great. I had heard that substance abuse was involved but that is only heresay,

Then why say it? That's one of the ways heresay get's started.

Battue

Exactly.....

Regardless of his vices, Gary Sitton was an excellent writer, top-notch. NO offense meant to any of the other writers, JB I really enjoy your writing as well.
Gary quit writing for Peterson's Hunting about that same time. His back page article was the first thing I read every month.
He was my all time favorite writer.

Bill

Come on man, why do you think I said it, use your head. I was answering the question, and read it in Petersen's hunting.

Heresay and fact are two different things. My heads perfectly clear regarding the distinction.

Battue

I read the same thing in Peterson's Hunting and I don't ever recall it saying ANYTHING about substance abuse BEING the reason he quit writing. Yes, they said Gary had some demons he had to deal with, but Boddington also said Sitton could out write him all day long despite that.
He's sure as hell not the first famous writer who drank a little in excess.

Bill

I took that article and others as an explanation as to why there were periods of time when he was not writing. That's all I could get from it.

From David E Petzal of F&S ;

http://fieldandstream.blogs.com/gunnut/2006/04/so_long_to_the_.html


Mike

What the hell, it's only a man's reputation were talking about on a public forum.

Battue

I remember that last piece--it shook me up a little. I showed it to my wife and said, "this guy is either getting divorced or going into rehab, or both!" Like most of you, I loved his writing. However, when I finally met him, I found that I didn't like him very much--but that didn't stop me from reading everything that he wrote.

I thought the Petzal article was very complimentary. Everyone seems to have liked Gary Sitton, so no one is bad mouthing the man. Most people just miss his writing is all.

I shot next to him a few times at the now defunct Tucson Rod and Gun Club. He was a reserved quiet guy. I made small talk with him a few times. I enjoyed reading his articles.

Well lots of people some well known and some known but to God have, have had problem with the bottle or drugs. Some over come it and others never do. What ever Gary's problem or problem's was is only known to those that knew him or his Maker. This dose not take away the great writing talent that he had. We all have our short comings, lord knows I have a few, while I never had any problems with booze or drugs, I can understand how one can get trapped in that escape. Either way its a sad thing.

I enjoyed his writing and seem to recall that he died of cancer. But then, if I had cancer, substance abuse might ease the pain.

Gary Sitton was a personal friend of mine when he lived in Tucson. Like AZshooter, I first met him at the Tucson Rod and Gun Club, met him several timewhen he was at Jensens Custom Ammo. More than once did we have a couple of drinks together but I never knew Gary to do "drugs" Once you got past the "outer shell" Gary was a fun guy to be around. As posted he died from Cancer which I don't think you get from a little booze.
I guess without some definate proof, I hate to hear stories his death was from anything other than Cancer.

Gary Sitton was one of the best, ever. Sure wish someone would publish a collection of his works as I'd be the first one to line up to buy my copy!

6mm250, thanks for posting that link it was a great read! Truly enjoyed it!

I take Petzal's column as being a complemtary story about a friend. I makes me wish I had read his stuff and met him.

"Sick" was what I immediately thought. Sadly I was right. Always enjoyed his writing and hoped I would see him come back some day.

Maybe someone will take the time for an anthology of his work. I'd be in line for a copy.