My good friend Spence Dupree passed away a couple of days ago. He has written a number of articles for the DGJ, but he is mainly remembered as the retired Outdoor Columnist for The Jackson Sun, in Jackson Tennessee.

I was introduced to him about 10 years by a gun dealer friend who told me I had to meet this guy because he was just as big a double gun nut as me.

Spence loved doubles, I think mainly English guns had his fancy of late, but he loved the Parkers and LC Smiths that I would bring by his house to see.

Spence had an unfortunate run-in with a sweet potato trailer when he was three which left him without the use of his legs and all the complications that go with it. But he never looked back. He was an inspiration to me to never complain about ones limitations but to do everything you want to do.

I will miss him.

I encourage anyone that wishes to read about him in this link.

http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/201001...pree-remembered

I remember reading a story or two from the DGJ by Mr. Dupree. I'm sorry for your loss.

I remember a few of his articles too, and I was aware he was wheelchair bound, a similar handicap to that suffered by the the late Bill Wise. I always wondered how those guys stayed so committed to the sport with the limitations they suffered, and if I could have done the same. I doubt I could have.
My condolences.
Best,
Ted

Spence was one of those "feel good" guys to me. I never knew he had lost his legs. In the 70s he wrote an article that included Baker shotguns-------I think a boxlock, which was rare in Bakers. I saw the picture in Outdoor Life or some similar magazine. This was before the internet, so I wrote him a letter about one of the guns pictured. In short, he put a price on it and I bought it. It was a nice gun and I wrote him a letter, thanking him for the gun and it's nice condition. He wrote a lovely letter back thanking me. He said most guys don't write or maybe they even [censored] a bit, trying to get a lower price. That was the first letter of that kind I ever got. He must have been quite a fellow. Thanks for letting us know.

Wow, tough guy to have that happen at 3 and keep going.

Spence was quite the man.

Dear Wallis,

Thank you for introducing Spence to those of us who did not have the pleasure of meeting him. After reading the article about him, it is a loss to all that didn't have the pleasure of knowing him.
His was a "Life well lived", We should all take from his example of how he lived his life to the fullest. God bless him.

Kindest Regards,
Rob

I may be confusing him with someone else, but didn't Mr. Dupree go to Africa at one point and manage to take a Cape buffalo? I think the story ran in a Gun Digest from the 70s or 80s.

I believe he did. He wrote a book called "Across the River" that recounts his huntng adventures.

So very sorry to hear of Mr. Dupree's passing. I really enjoyed his articles and was not aware of his handicap until it was noted in one of the DGJ's. I too recall seeing some of Mr Dupree's articles back in the day when I was still reading some of the Outdoor magazines. He will be sincerely missed! My deepest condolences to Spence Dupree's friends and family members. Jeff S.

His name is spelled C H A R A C H T E R.