By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – One of the legendary figures of Tennessee Tech's rifle program has passed away, with Robert Aylward fighting the good fight against cancer to the last day earlier this month.
Aylward was a four-time All-American with the Golden Eagleyes program, helping the team win its first National Collegiate Rifle Team Championship in 1971 – the NCAA did not sponsor the sport until 1980 and Tech won the first three national championships under the NCAA's direction, built on the foundation Aylward and his teammates constructed.
Born August 27, 1951, in San Francisco, Aylward started shooting at a young age, competing in YMCA and National Rifle Association BB-gun programs at eight years old, advanced to gallery smallbore, then competed at Abraham Lincoln High at a time where the area schools all had rifle competition programs.
As a member of the Tech rifle program, he was an All-American all four years in smallbore competition, helping the program earn three NRA championships.
Aylward graduated from Tech in 1973 as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a degree in secondary education. He was then assigned to the U.S. Army Signal Corps and spent time in Korea. He was reunited with several Tech rifle teammates – including fellow Hall of Famers Ray Carter and Ed Etzel –when he was assigned to the International Rifle Section the following year.
In 1975, as a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, Aylward competed on the Army's National Trophy Rifle Team at Camp Perry with Etzel and won the Pershing Trophy as the high shooter.
He became a team member and then leader for the USA Shooting team, helping lead the group to its first team medal in program history at the 1981 World Match Crossbow (Armbrust) Championships in Switzerland. He continued to compete with the team at the 1983 Pan American Games, the 1985 Championships of the Americas and the 1986 World Shooting Championships.
Aylward went to the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va., then became the Deputy Commander/Executive Officer for the USAMU. He retired from the military as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1993 before serving as the Deputy Commander/Executive Officer as a civilian for the next 30 years.
In addition to being inducted to the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, Aylward was also inducted into the USAMU International Rifle Hall of Fame and the USAMU Hall of Fame.
During his military service, Aylward was bestowed the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one OLC, the Army Commendation Medal with four OLC, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge, the U.S. Distinguished International Shooter Badge and the Bronze Excellence in Competition Badge for rifle.
Aylward is survived by his wife, Jennie, and six kids and 10 grandchildren.
