FAVORABLE TARGETING

by Dave Friant

February. Viewed by some as the lousiest month of the year. Maneuvering icy sidewalks with short-step uncertainty to get to the mailbox. Oldsters shivering like chihuahuas during canine division competitions at the Polar Plunge. The second of the twelve calendar flips is additionally characterized by Cupid; the dressed in red chubby toddler doing his bit to initiate romantic match-ups.

Thought I’d stick with his tools of the trade and interview a gentleman whose decades of major involvement with the sport of archery might be of interest to a segment of our can’t shoot straight readership. Bows and arrows bigtime. Explorations into the ins and outs of participation through the eyes of an advocate. We’re talking Olympic scale efforts to reach the podium. The biggest of stages.

I had the privilege of meeting 80-year-old Marty Swanson within the confines of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford (HEB) Hospital. Not as partakers of fine-tuning from white coat specialists. But both as volunteers who aid the undertakings of paid staff on Fridays. Mr. Swanson, his secret sauce spouse Mary of 34 years, and other similarly directed volunteers provide the sacraments of communion to patients. Their endeavors are attempts to “make people feel more comfortable” during the stressful times of hospital care.

Marty was raised in Texas, but moved to California while in elementary school. Since the return to the Lone Star State in 2023, this dynamic pairing (five children and eight grandchildren between them) has been active in a variety of ministries within their religious affiliation. Near the top of those efforts has been their involvement with an immigrant children reading program. Both have additionally been absorbed over the last two years with volunteer activities within the International Newcomer Academy which has as its’ goal the development of learners in a diverse society. They plan on continuing in the Spring of 2026 with a reading and mentoring effort through a local elementary school.

Both have histories in law enforcement; Mary as a Dispatcher and Marty as a Police Officer within two different California jurisdictions. The two continued their probe on the favorable side of the legal system through education and successful graduation from Western State University Law School in San Jose, California. That would be correct if you’re scoring at home. . . both are legal eagles. Toss any pre-conceived notions about the worthiness of lawyers. These are two solid individuals. Any objections are over-ruled.

Marty’s legal career lasted until his retirement at the age of 60; the majority of those years as a defense attorney handling criminal and child dependency juvenile matters. A few of his professional years were also spent as a Public Defender handling adult cases of which several were death penalty prosecutions. He wore the black robe as a judge for the remainder of his 15 years within the judicial branch of the system.

Archery had been a passion of Mr. Swanson’s parents, and it was during his elementary school years that the interest spread like creamy cinnamon butter on a Texas Roadhouse warm roll. Shooting at targets with family and neighborhood kids within the San Fernando Valley became a regular after school activity.

His interest in archery continued to grow over the years. Asthma limited the wide range of athletic endeavors which he could experience. Marty recalls the purchase of a bow in conjunction with the 1976 Summer Olympic games in Montreal. Mistakenly, it was a left-handed one.

Participation in all matters bullseye-related were ramped up as he gained some recreational momentum. To include 1976 Gold Medalist Archer Luann Ryon, Swanson became acquainted with a number of Archery champions and Olympians. He crossed paths with former National and World Champion Bill West; a pull-back-and-aim-carefully expert archer who once asked Swanson if he needed a coach to pursue the sport on a more intense level. Marty won several medals over his archery career and was in his early 40’s when he was ranked 16th in Field Archery in the United States. He last shot competitively at the age of 60.

Prior to those arrows being tossed into the quiver for the last time, Mary’s partner in paradise was involved in managing and coaching several U.S. teams, judging U.S. and International competitions, overseeing the World Championships in Long Beach, California, being on the 1984 Summer Olympics Committee, leading as Venue Manager for the 1984 Summer Olympics, and participating as Chairman of the Ethics Board for a number of U.S. and International competitions.

Marty describes archery as a “developed skill” and a sport with participants who “can’t get over excited” if they expect to excel. Swanson attributed his coveted oversight responsibilities to “being a good listener and someone who would go to bat for you.”

NOTE: No apple-splitting/William Tell-ish feats of marksmanship were undertaken in conjunction with this article.