The University of Akron Athletics
Robert A. Pinn Shooting Range
Robert A. Pinn Shooting Range
In 1919, The University of Akron entered into contract with the United States Army to provide a shooting facility for the purpose of training members of the Army ROTC. Starting in 1919 The University of Akron ROTC started competing in sanctioned rifle matches. The marksmanship program received many national honors under the guidance of the military. In 1967 the Athletic department at The University of Akron fielded its first rifle team supported by the athletic department. The following year, the new shooting facility located in Shrank Hall South was opened. The ten-point, 50-foot, computerized electronic facility was the first of its type in the state of Ohio. After many years of reliable service, the facility has completed several renovations and updates which involved the replacement of the electronic target carriers, the shooting stalls, the ventilation system, target lighting, and the bullet backstop. The facility remains one of the premier shooting facilities in the state. :In addition to the smallbore rifle facility the team has access to a separate 8 point, 10 meter air rifle facility. This allows the team to train and conduct competitions with up to 18 athletes at one time. Thanks to the generous support of H&M Metal Processing in Akron, Ohio, new state of the art Sius electronic scoring systems were installed prior to the 2013 rifle season. Rifle matches will now be much more spectator friendly and will be live streamed over the internet.
In 1998, the shooting range was named the "Robert A. Pinn" shooting range. Robert A. Pinn was one of only four African Americans from Ohio to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Pinn was born on a Perry Township farm near Massillon, and the sixth of 10 children born to William and Zilphia Penn. He attended school and worked on the farm until he was 18. Pinn joined the Army in Massillon, Ohio, and by September 29, 1864, he was serving as a First Sergeant in Company I of the 5th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, also known as the 127th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On that day, his unit participated in the Battle of Chaffin's Farm in Virginia, and it was for his actions during the battle that he was awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on April 6, 1865.
Pinn returned to Massillon after the war where he worked as a contractor and teamster. In 1874 he entered Oberlin College and after graduation served as principal of Cairo High School and taught school in South Carolina. After teaching, Pinn returned to Massillon and read in the law office of Robert H. Folger. Pinn was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1879. Pinn was married to Emily J. Manzilla, (deceased 1890) and they had a daughter Gracie R. Pinn (deceased 1938). Pinn died at age 67 and was buried in Massillon City Cemetery, Massillon, Ohio. In 1973, the Ohio National Guard named its new armory in Stow, Ohio, in his honor. In 1998, the shooting facility at the University of Akron was renamed the Robert A. Pinn Shooting Range in his honor. The range, used by the university's ROTC component and NCAA rifle team, is one of the premier shooting facilities in the state of Ohio. The Robert A. Pinn range, used by the university's ROTC component, NCAA rifle team, Rifle classes and many local law enforcement agencies, is one of the premier shooting facilities in the state of Ohio.
GPS address for the Shooting range is 222 Carroll Street, Akron, OH 44304 Click here for a google map.
Entrance is located off the Lot 37 parking deck, lower level.
The range telephone number is 330-972-5552.
In 1998, the shooting range was named the "Robert A. Pinn" shooting range. Robert A. Pinn was one of only four African Americans from Ohio to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Pinn was born on a Perry Township farm near Massillon, and the sixth of 10 children born to William and Zilphia Penn. He attended school and worked on the farm until he was 18. Pinn joined the Army in Massillon, Ohio, and by September 29, 1864, he was serving as a First Sergeant in Company I of the 5th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, also known as the 127th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On that day, his unit participated in the Battle of Chaffin's Farm in Virginia, and it was for his actions during the battle that he was awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on April 6, 1865.
Pinn returned to Massillon after the war where he worked as a contractor and teamster. In 1874 he entered Oberlin College and after graduation served as principal of Cairo High School and taught school in South Carolina. After teaching, Pinn returned to Massillon and read in the law office of Robert H. Folger. Pinn was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1879. Pinn was married to Emily J. Manzilla, (deceased 1890) and they had a daughter Gracie R. Pinn (deceased 1938). Pinn died at age 67 and was buried in Massillon City Cemetery, Massillon, Ohio. In 1973, the Ohio National Guard named its new armory in Stow, Ohio, in his honor. In 1998, the shooting facility at the University of Akron was renamed the Robert A. Pinn Shooting Range in his honor. The range, used by the university's ROTC component and NCAA rifle team, is one of the premier shooting facilities in the state of Ohio. The Robert A. Pinn range, used by the university's ROTC component, NCAA rifle team, Rifle classes and many local law enforcement agencies, is one of the premier shooting facilities in the state of Ohio.
GPS address for the Shooting range is 222 Carroll Street, Akron, OH 44304 Click here for a google map.
Entrance is located off the Lot 37 parking deck, lower level.
The range telephone number is 330-972-5552.
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