Sportsmen’s Alliance is proud to announce Charlie Brown, President and Owner of MKS Supply, as the recipient of the Vincent W. Shiel Sportsmen’s Heritage Award. Brown, who has long been an advocate for the protection and defense of sportsmen’s rights, was presented the award during the Sportsmen’s Alliance reception held at SHOT Show on Tuesday evening.
The annual award was created in memory of Vincent W. Shiel – one of the original board members of the Sportsmen’s Alliance and Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. As a legendary figure in the sporting goods industry, he understood that he owed much of his good fortune to the American sportsman and saw it as a chief responsibility to ensure that the legacy endured. Shiel was a tireless fighter for the rights of sportsmen and devoted a significant portion of his adult life working to protect the pursuits of hunting, fishing and trapping.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Vincent W. Shiel Sportsmen’s Heritage Award,” said Brown. “The work that the Sportsmen’s Alliance does to protect the rights and increase both participation and access for hunters, fishermen and trappers is essential to the survival of our industry.”
Brown, who grew up on a shooting range in southwestern Ohio, exemplifies Shiel’s dedication to the outdoor industry. The two actually worked closely together for a number of years when Shiel offered Brown a sales rep job at his firearm distribution company, Outdoor Sports. Brown, who took the position upon graduation from the University of Cincinnati with a double major in Marketing and Management, worked as a rep at Outdoor Sports for eight years until leaving for a new opportunity.
A few years later Shiel approached Brown again, this time offering him a role at MKS Supply, a company formed to do the sales and marketing for a small local Ohio firearms maker called “Hi-Point”. Brown eventually ended up running the company and was offered the opportunity to purchase MKS from Vince. He has owned and operated MKS for the last 10 years.
“Mr. Brown is a shining example of the good that can be gained when industry leaders take an active role in protecting the rights and interests of American sportsmen,” said Sportsmen’s Alliance Interim President and CEO Evan Heusinkveld. “His actions speak volumes and are a testament to his personal passion for preserving our ability to hunt, fish and trap.”
Outside of time spent fulfilling his duties at MKS, Brown enjoys fishing and bowhunting for whitetails. He has been happily married for 32 years and has four children – all of whom he says enjoy shooting sports.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.