I met Jim Scoutten more than 20 years ago when I first entered the firearms industry. He was already a legend in the industry but always treated this new guy in a kind and compassionate manner.

Following is an excerpt from Firearms News about the life and work on this iconic voice for the firearms industry.  RIP Mr. Scoutten.

Jim Scoutten, Shooting USA legend and OSG TV Personality, Dies at 77

With sad hearts, Outdoor Sportsman Group announces that Jim Scoutten, co-host of the Shooting USA television program on Outdoor Channel and one of the most iconic voices in the shooting sports industry, has died at the age of 77.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jim Scoutten,” indicated the Jim Scoutten Shooting USA Facebook page. 

“In his thirty years of reporting the shooting sports, Jim played a pivotal role in the industry and will be greatly missed.”

He’ll be especially missed at OSG, where he has been a fixture for many years.

“Jim leaves a strong legacy as a tireless defender of shooting, firearms, and our Second-Amendment rights,” said Mitch Petrie, Vice President of Programming for Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks. “His voice was unique and powerful; we will honor Jim by carrying on in the endless fight to defend the Constitution and will support his family and team as they forge a new future for Shooting USA.”

A Franklin, Tenn. resident, Scoutten's firm but gentle voice and familiar smile were eagerly welcomed into the homes of America's shooting enthusiasts for three decades, an invitation that made him the most watched firearms reporter in industry history thanks to his knowledge of firearms, his passion for the shooting sports, and journalistic integrity that marked his long career.

A mainstream news reporter at the beginning of that career, Scoutten worked initially as a reporter for All News Radio. Upon graduation from broadcasting school, he began his career with television news stints happening in several cities across the U.S., where Scoutten would hold down spots as a reporter, anchor, producer, and news director.

READ MORE AT FIREARMS NEWS: