We at ODU Magazine are extremely proud to have John Simeone. John brings a wealth of knowledge to share.
About John: “John was raised in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas and was home schooled in Journalism by his mother. A script writer for WNBC in New York, Hazel Simeone and her husband Frank inhabited the 21 Club in New York. There they hung out with the Rat Pack, Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark. John’s father Frank was a famous musician with Paul Whiteman. Hazel insisted they move back to Arkansas where she read the works of Robert Ruark to young John. This was the basis of his motivation as an Outdoor Writer.
Hunting and Fishing at the base of Mt Magazine John developed the “Gift” of the American Sharpshooter. He also, from age 9 began a life long practice of the Martial Arts. By age 12 he was an avid Upland Game hunter and had an early yearn to be in Conservation. He studied Forestry at the University of Arkansas at Monticello but received his Draft notice and volunteered before they made him go. He became a Military Policeman in the US Army.
With his outdoor skills and shooting skills Staff Sergeant Simeone served about 7 years as an Army Game Warden in 4 states including Alaska. Spending 8 years in Germany, he also learned the ways of the Yeagermeisters, how hunting is conducted in Euroupe.
Mr. Simeone had several great Mentors. Grand Master Louis Ellison a for real life Cherokee Medicine Man taught him a well spring of knowledge of firearms and the martial arts. Lou was a Board Member at large for the NRA Museam. Grand Master George Chaney of Alaska finished Simeone as a Master as they established the Armed Forces Karate Association.
While stationed at Ft Ord California, now Chief Game Warden Simeone auditioned and was Top Gun for two years on the Shooting Team. He set an incredible record of shooting 10 shots in a 2 inch circle, off hand at 100 meters and many other awards, twice awarded the Army Achievement Medal just for shooting skills alone.
From Game Warden and Patrol Supervisor, Simeone then attended Army Detective School and became a Criminal Investigator. He states that with all the paperwork he had to do that is what really made him a writer…
Retiring in 1993 at Ft Polk Louisiana, Simeone began as an Outdoor Writer with a local News Paper with a column Uncle John’s Outdoors. It was an instant hit and the Leesville Daily Leader increased it’s sales only to lose it after 6 years when the Liberal Media chimed in with their hatred for anything hunting or gun oriented. That set Simeone on a crusade.
1. In 1999 he established the World Squirrel Rifle Championship “The Top Gun Challenge” it was held for 13 years at Ft Polk until once again the Liberal powers caused so much Red Tape it was no longer a fun time.
2. John is the Past La. State Director for Ted Nugent United Sportsmen of America.
3. John won Excelence in Craft with his articles in 2005 and 2006 with the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association.
4. He helped to establish the outdoor online magazine Foremost Hunting.com where about 60 of his articles are today.
5. In a 4 year battle with the Pope and Young Club, John’s investigative reports on the legalization of the Crossbow for Louisiana was signed into law. This is in the archives of Horizontal Bow Hunter Magazine and Crossbow Connection Magazine.
6. John has been the Chief Director of the Armed Forces Karate Assn. from 1981 to present. In 2009 he was awarded the 10th Degree Black Belt, a Phd in the Martial Arts. Teaching thousand of students from Army Green Berets to at risk youth producing numerous World Karate Champions.
Uncle John’s outdoor articles may never reach the impact of his hero Robert Ruark but the legacy of his expertise and ethics with great emphasis on the core hunter, gives rise to the personal adventure of the American hunter. Each article is ended with his special icon that Ruark gave us in his book “The Old Man and The Boy”….Pass it on”