Kelly McMillan Has Passed — Sad News for the Shooting World

In Memoriam: Kelly McMillan, 1954-2021
Kelly McMillan has left the range. He passed away on June 1, 2021 from rapid, unexpected medical issues. This is a great loss for the shooting community. Kelly was a major figure in the shooting sports world, one of the greatest supporters of competitive shooting and rifle Team USA. Kelly was the son of Gale McMillan, founder of McMillan Fiberglass Stocks. Kelly was the driving force behind McMillan Stocks for decades, but had sold the company earlier this year.

Kelly’s successors at McMillan Fiberglass Stocks posted: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kelly McMillan. Kelly spent most of his life putting his unique mark on the firearms industry. His influence and efforts expanded beyond the famed McMillan Stocks…. We are forever grateful to Kelly for what he built. We are grateful that he poured his heart into his many interests. We will celebrate his legacy and see that his lifelong pursuits will continue to grow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

Anyone who ever interacted with Kelly knew him as a strong, forthright, ethical, and generous man. He gave so much back to the shooting community — through sponsorships, by providing stocks to shooters, and by helping shooting teams.

This Editor can also say that AccurateShooter.com owes a debt of gratitude to Kelly. His company was one of the very first sponsors of this site when we started as 6mmBR.com 17 years ago. As he supported us, he also helped many notable shooters such as Derek Rodgers (F-Class World Champion, 2017 K02M Champion), and Paul Phillips, the 2019 K02M Champion. On learning of Kelly’s death, Paul Phillips posted:

“I have no words to express how saddened I am today. We lost an icon in the shooting industry. Kelly McMillan was not only a great friend but the most generous and giving man I knew in the industry. There is not enough space to write about everything he did for competitive shooters, military snipers, hunters, and shooting enthusiasts.

You were one-of-a-kind Kelly and I will forever remember your friendship and how big an advocate you were for shooting sports. RIP my friend. Prayers go out to Kelly’s family for this tragic loss.”

Kelly’s Wall of Honor in Phoenix proudly displayed McMillan-stocked rifles used by U.S. Military marksmen.

Kelly was also an avid hunter. Here he is with Derek Rodgers (left) and Paul Phillips (center).

Derek Rodgers wrote of his friend and hunting partner: “It is difficult to tell you how deeply saddened I feel about the loss of Kelly. What started as a shooting relationship quickly became a close friendship so many years ago. It was a privilege to know Kelly on a personal level and I will never forget his generous, caring nature and the never-ending kindness he had for others. My heart goes out to his family and he will forever be missed.”

Members of the Shooting Sports Industry Remember Kelly

“We mourn the passing of an icon in the precision rifle community. Rest in Peace Kelly.” — G.A. Precision

“Every man’s heart one day beats its final beat…. The shooting industry lost a legend today. You were a critical piece to the Marine Corps Sniper Program and the shooting community. Kelly McMillan, you will be greatly missed and your legacy will continue.” — Bravo Delta

“Kelly did a lot of things in the sport that were not profit driven. He was a real force in where we are today. He will be missed.” — Wheeler Accuracy

“Dad, Grandpa, Husband, Businessman. Pioneer in the firearms industry for over 30 years. Advancing and pushing the limits of composite rifle stocks. Avid supporter of the NRA, NSSF, and Youth Shooting Sports. The industry has lost a Titan. You will be missed.” — Grayboe

“We lost a great man in the shooting industry. Thank you Kelly McMillan for imparting your leadership, friendship and knowledge to the shooting community.” — Sheila Miles

Kelly (left) with 2016 K02M Winner Mitchell Fitzpatrick, and team-mates Paul Phillips and Bryan Litz

Kelly (far left) with F-Class Team USA.

Remembering Kelly McMillan — How He Helped Shooters
by David Joe, Texas
Kelly McMillan often proudly referred to his father Gale McMillan’s early pioneering work in fiberglass stock production. He assumed that family mantle and moved it forward, for very much of his life, with an energy and dedication few sons match. Kelly was part of a real American family business success story…

He was especially proud of the military’s adoption and deployment of several McMillan stock models. He described to me once how he, himself, was the one who mixed the green camo colors for those early military stocks. I could tell that Kelly really loved stock building for competitions. I think those were his proving grounds for new ideas, but more importantly, his people — the competitors he supported.

Kelly with F-TR World and past USA Champion Derek Rodgers and Nightforce’s Sean Murphy.

Kelly enthusiastically and generously helped a large number of F-Class teams, ELR teams, and individuals. I recall dinner in 2018 in Raton with Kelly and some 40 grateful members of teams, including the team my young daughter was on. Kelly was the honoree, but he picked up dinner and then defrayed costs for the teams — what a gentleman. Kelly treated people really well, and that leaves such a lasting impression.

Kelly was an original sponsor of the first All-Women F-class Team, X-It Strategy. That was just one example of the many teams he sponsored.

Similar Posts:

• The Three Amigos Are Now Two — Remembering Kelly McMillan
• Shooting Superstars Go Antelope Hunting in New Mexico
• Kelly McMillan on Gun Freedom Radio
• Beast in the Works — New ELR Stock from McMillan
• New F-TR Stock from McMillan

Tags: Derek Rodgers, In Memoriam, Kelly McMillan, McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, Obituary, Paul Phillips