Mississippi archery specialist Waldo Cleland has passed away at age 58.
Cleland, a Columbia native, was the founder and owner of Waldo’s Sports Center from 1984-2003. He joined the pro circuit of archery in the early 1990s and went on to win four national championships. Cleland was named Archer of the Year in 1995.
He served as the director of Archery in Mississippi Schools (AIMS) for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, bringing archery to schools across the Magnolia State. Cleland also founded the archery program at Mississippi College.
“He put forward many hours of hard work and dedication towards our program and will forever be remembered for the impact he has had on the Choctaw archery team,” the Mississippi College Archery team wrote on Facebook, “During practices or tournaments, Waldo was always there to offer positive feedback for the good and not-so-good shots. His emphasis rested on continual improvement for all on the team. Please join us in lifting up family and friends in your prayers during this difficult time.”
Visitation for the esteemed archer will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. this Saturday at the Columbia Academy Fine Arts Center. In lieu of flowers, Cleland’s family requests for donations to be made to AIMS.
