Cecil Rhodes II, a Bullseye Pistol competitor and match director, passed away in a calm and peaceful manner at his home on November 27, 2023. The community of competitive shooters is in mourning over his passing. He was a significant figure in the shooting sports, both locally in North Carolina and nationally, and he placed a significant amount of work into promoting and supporting the shooting lifestyle that we all cherish. He was a tremendous presence in the shooting sports. Cecil had reached the age of 67.
The 25th of October, 1956 found Cecil Rhodes II being born in Beulaville, North Carolina. He later relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, in order to further his education at North Carolina State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1982, Cecil tied the knot with Susan Bostic, and shortly thereafter, he established his home in Clayton, North Carolina. In 1992, he welcomed a daughter named Elizabeth into the world. After having a prosperous career with ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., he decided to retire in the year 2016, holding the position of vice president.
During the more than twenty years that Cecil was in charge of running Bullseye Pistol contests at the Sir Walter Gun Club in Creedmoor, North Carolina, he turned the sport into a popular attraction at that club. Unrivaled in his commitment to the sport was his dedication. Cecil produced essays on various elements of the shooting sports, including one titled “Camp Perry,” which many people would read each year before making the journey to Camp Perry. In addition to teaching novice shooters, Cecil also published articles on other parts of the shooting sports. A significant number of individuals consider his piece on Camp Perry to be an essential component of that legacy.
In 2019, the Oglethorpe Trophy Finalists
As a member of the North Carolina Rifle and Pistol Association Team, Cecil Rhodes II (pictured on the far right) was a member of the team that was awarded the Oglethorpe Trophy for being the best civilian team at Camp Perry in 2019. (Image courtesy of CMP.)
In 2006, Cecil was the winner of the.45 Caliber National Championship, in addition to winning a number of State and Regional Championships. He was a talented competitive shooter. Additionally, he was awarded Distinguished Badges in the following categories: Service Pistol (2001, Badge No. 1232), Revolver (2006, Badge No. 9), and.22 Rimfire Pistol (2018, Badge No. 76). Also, Cecil was awarded the President’s 100 at least fourteen times (it is likely that he was awarded more than that, although records only go back to 2003). In 2003, he competed in the President’s 100 and, in addition to being third overall, he was the High Civilian competitor at that particular event. In addition, he was a member of the National Civilian Team that was awarded the Elihu Root Award in the year 2007.
In 2019, he was a member of the North Carolina Rifle and Pistol Association Team that was awarded the Oglethorpe Trophy for being the best civilian team and the Gold Cup Trophy for being the best overall winning team. Both of these trophies were awarded to the team that won the competition.
Both his wife, Susan, and his daughter, Elizabeth, will carry on after his passing. Sunday, December 3, 2023 was the day that Cecil was laid to rest at the burial grounds that belonged to his family.
