Just a quick note to let you know that Mr. Lee Jurras passed away at approximately 235AM this morning at his home in Columbus, In.  Lee had been battling cancer for quite some time.  I spent quite a bit of time with Lee over the past couple years.  He taught me many things and was an amazing guy.  One of my best times was when we met in Shelbyville for lunch and he took me to the old Super Vel plant for a tour.    Rest In Peace Lee.  You will be greatly missed by many! 

 

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Rest in Peace Lee, you will be missed my friend!!

 

Many years ago, a collector had sets of the Super-Vel (Auto Mag) newsletters made up, in color in a smaller format.  Lee wanted a "remuneration" from the collector.  He wouldn't pay it.  I expect to see these newsletters showing up for sale.

 

There is a phony, made to deceive, Backpacker out there, serial number BB-3. 

 

Collectors should beware of "recently discovered" Jurras items that are now for sale. 

 

R.I.P.  Mr. Jurras

 

I too am surprised, especially Bert's website.  They have had a lot of contact with each other in the last 10 or so years.

Lee E. Jurras, 82, passed from this life early on the morning of April 24, a victim of the ravages of cancer. During his last hours he was attended by good friend Mike Hatfield and Lisele Bockes, his loving caretaker for the last portion of his life. As per Lee’s wishes, there were no funeral services and his ashes will be scattered over a caprock area of New Mexico.

Born in Florida, Lee spent his growing up years years in Florida, California, and Indiana. In his late teens he served in the U. S. Marine Corp, first in the reserves and then active duty. His involvement in the shooting sports while growing up, then Marine Corp firearms training, and participation in target pistol competition significantly shaped his later life.

After His USMC service, he returned to Indiana where he attended embalming school and embarked on several careers, often more than one at a time. He worked as an embalmer, worked in the family paving business, worked as a photographer, as a business owner, locksmith, gunmaker, gunsmith, and writer.

It was as a business owner of Super Vel Cartridge Corp. that he truly made his mark. He saw a stagnation in the development and marketing of high performance handgun ammunition. Seeking to fill this gap, Lee joined forces with a financing partner and put his visions into reality. By his ingenuity and hard work. he made Super Vel the leading ammunition for police needs, self protection, and hunting.

During this time he organized and sponsored the annual Outstanding American Handgunner Award to recognize the person who did most to promote the sport of handgun hunting.

Lee became fascinated by the development of a new powerful autoloading handgun called Auto Mag. When he obtained his first one, he stayed up all night disassembling and studying the gun. After the sale of Super Vel, He dealt with the maker of Auto Mag, designing and assembling his own custom version of the gun. The guns he made are now highly prized by collectors. Additionally, he formed a club for Auto Mag shooters, collectors, and fans, giving them up to date information on new products, reloading data, etc.

After Auto Mag production ceased, Lee focused his talents on the Thompson/Center Contender pistol. Again, he designed and built his own version of the pistol, calling it the Howdah. This gun was also well received by collectors and shooters.

During these periods of his life, Lee found time to go hunting. In addition to many, many varmints, he took more than a hundred head of big game most with a handgun.

Knowing that to have good friends, one must be a good friend, Lee developed great friendships with a huge number of people, both inside and outside his areas of endeavor.

We miss him and are saddened by his departure. Lee was preceded in death by his wife of sixty years, Alecia Halberstadt Jurras and grandson Jacob Manning. He is survived by daughters Michelle Mayberry of Hagerman, NM and Nannette Manning of Bluffton, SC as well as three grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, and sisterJamar Schessow of Santa Monica, CA. .

At 63, I don't see any more on the horizon.

I will get out my Auto Mag and give him a 21 shot salute.

RIP LEJ

Semper FI

 

I never personally knew or met Lee, but always admired him as one of the founding Auto Mag legends, and I did exchange a few private emails with him a few years back, and once mailed him a souvenir (empty) Canadian beer bottle, called "Curmudgeon India Pale Ale", just for his amusement (from Grand River Brewing Co. up here in the Great White North).  

I also share an interest in some of the old western style revolvers which I know he was also a member on one of the other forums  for.  Too bad we couldn't all have shared a day at the range with Lee sometime. 

RIP Lee. 

Cheers.

John Taffin has a very good article on Lee Jurras and his life in the September/October issue of American Handgunner which I just received tonight.

There is also a web address with lots of photos,  

  www.americanhandgunner.com and click on Web Blast.

I have not looked at the photos yet myself.

The article and pictures are now up on the above web address.

It's worth your time to look it up in my opinion.

 

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