Writing is hard. It’s even harder when you struggle to find the words to convey the passing of a friend. It’s with a heavy heart that we let people know our dear friend and Bowhunting.com team member Dwayne Jones passed away earlier this week due to complications with an aggressive form of cancer.
It wasn’t long ago that I wrote a similar article about the passing of my friend Todd Pringnitz. As I began writing this piece, I couldn’t help but think of the similarities between Todd and Dwayne. They were both high-energy, one-of-a-kind personalities with a passion for bowhunting that is matched by few.
If you were fortunate enough to have met Dwayne, it was an experience you’ll likely never forget. From his giant smile and larger-than-life personality to his thick North Carolina accent, he was an unforgettable person that will be deeply missed.
Fun fact – we met Dwayne through the Bowhunting.com Forum, where he was a frequent contributor and his screenname was “sharpeyesam”. For a good 6 months after first meeting him, I legitimately thought his name was Sam.
Dwayne attended several ATA shows with our team, spending as much time gathering information about new products as he did taking pictures with all of the hunting celebrities he tirelessly followed on social media.
He also spent time promoting Bowhunting.com and Bowhunt or Die at local events on the East coast including several at Lancaster Archery Supply, among others. No bowhunter ever met Dwayne and didn’t leave with a handful of Bowhunting.com decals, wristbands and a smile on their face.
A few years back, a group of us got together and headed out for an early season Wyoming antelope hunt. We met up with Dwayne at the Denver airport and we sat next to each other on the flight to Gillette. I can tell you with 100% confidence that Dwayne started talking to the minute we sat down and didn’t stop until we got off the plane. And I only understood about 50% of what he said. But man, we had some laughs!
Please join us in saying a prayer for his family and loved ones. At just 53 years old, Dwayne was taken from us far too soon.
