This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Rulon Isaac "Ike" Hancock changed the world of flight archery.
In 1975, he built the first solid carbon arrow for flight archery competitions, in which archers compete to shoot arrows as far as they can. Carbon arrows, which fly farther, have since become an industry standard, said David Hayes, who became chairman of the U.S. National Archery Association Flight Committee after Hancock led it for years. Though some are now hollow, rather than completely solid, the trend began with Hancock.
On Jan. 17, Hancock died in Holladay at the age of 83.
"His ingenuity forever changing the sport, as most flight archers use these arrows today," Hancock's obituary reads. World Archery, the international governing body for the sport of archery, noted Hancock's contribution in a 2006 article: "How many competitive target or field archers would want to be without carbon arrows today?"
The Salt Lake City man was born Nov. 27, 1932. After graduating from Granite High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War. After his service, Hancock worked for US West until his retirement in 1990.
For much of his life, archery was a beloved hobby — one he shared with a friendly rival, Harry Drake.
"They were good friends but they were very competitive," Hayes said. Drake set "many, many records, and Ike Hancock was right with him."
In 2002, Hancock even held the world record for the longest shot using an American Long Shot bow.
In at least the 2000s, Hancock was still participating in archery tournaments. In a 2003 U.S. National Archery Association tournament in Wendover, he placed first in a longbow competition. At the same tournament, in 2005, Hancock placed second in American longbow and field bow challenges, and was awarded the U.S. Westcott Medal for his talent.
Archery was far from his only passion. He loved working in his tomato garden and, musically gifted, playing the guitar, harmonica, ukulele and xylophone, according to his obituary.
"He also enjoyed studying the behaviors and environments of varying species of fish and sharing his knowledge, specifically of the pupfish," his obituary reads. Hancock even wrote a 1974 article about pupfish for the North American Native Fishes Association.
Hancock is survived by his sister Claudia Sleater, as well as nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by sisters Penny Crenshaw, Janice Davis and Sandra Johnson.
Twitter: @MikeyPanda