Old North State Posse
Club History and Evolution

The Old North State Posse (ONSP) had its beginnings late in 1993 at the PHA (Piedmont Handgunners) range in the Lexington, NC area. This began as an informal group using donated materials to build some props and targets for some initial cowboy matches. With increasing interest, the Old North State Posse club was formally organized in 1994 with an annual membership fee and monthly shoot fees to raise money for operating expenses. As the posse grew, the needed props, targets and target stands began to be accumulated.

The Old North State Posse Charter Members

Bad Hand - Calamity Allie - Carolina Ranger - Coachman - Dexton Fox
Doc Barnes - Firestick - Grizzly Greg - Hangfire - Harry II Late
Horse Soldier - Jess Wade - Kidd Blackhawk - Klearwater Kate - Longeye
Mississippi - Oklahoma Charlie - Pecos Ranger - Polecat Landis - Richard Egan
Royal Barnes - SassyFrass - Stinky Jim - Tall Dark Stranger - Woodeye
Cajun Kid - Calamity Jane - Charles Sirringo - David Neagle - Dirtwater Duke
Doc Tetons - Gray Rider - Gun Shye - Marshal Harland Wolff - Hole in the Head Kid
Just Plain Lucky - John Hardin - Kit Wilkins - Lone Scout - Mace Bowman
Nathan Hawkes - Packin Penelope - Pistol Packin Possum - Rawbone Bill
Sam Carp - Showdown - Sundance - Thomas P. McCall - Wyatt E
Josh Barton - Rick II Feathers - Rebeckah Barton

Note: The above list was taken directly from a certificate that was created recognizing the charter members. Signed by Firestick (Chairman of the Board), Oklahoma Charlie (Club President) and Cajun Kid (Vice-Chairman & Treasurer).

The first "big" match for the ONSP club was Frontier Days in 1995. After this successful event, ONSP next hosted the first NC State Championship match at the PHA range in 1996. With increasing interest and participation in ONSP, a decision was made to move ONSP to its current home at the Rowan County Wildlife Assoc. (RCWA) in 1997 to better accommodate the larger club participation and the annual state championship match. ONSP subsequently sponsored and hosted the next 9 annual NC State Championship matches at RCWA in addition to regular monthly club matches. The second annual NC State Championship match (the first held at ONSP) in 1997 was the first ever SASS sanctioned state championship match in the country. The early founders of ONSP started a SASS state championship process that became a model for many other SASS state championship matches now held around the country. After sponsoring and hosting the 10th annual NC State Championship in 2005, ONSP decided that they no longer had the man power to try to run both the normal ONSP club operations and the popular NC State Championship match. In 2006, an independent group, the North Carolina Cowboys, Inc., was formed to organize and run the annual NC State Championship. The NC State Championship has subsequently proven to be even more popular under the leadership of the North Carolina Cowboys which includes representation from many of the other NC cowboy clubs. Although still involved in supporting the NC State Championship, ONSP has subsequently turned its primary focus back to providing fun monthly matches for the club membership and increasing interest in Cowboy Action Shooting.