Staff Bios
Meet Our Team
Our instructors are experts in firearms and they will teach you all about firearm safety. Our instructors have several years of experience in dealing with firearms. They are very credible, have an outstanding reputation, and deep commitment to their clients.
Richard Worthey
Chief Instructor
Director of Safety and Training at Golden Triangle Gun Club
Mr. Worthey has over 30 years of experience in the training and use of firearms for personal self-defense, hunting, sporting and competition events shooting pistol, rifle and shotgun.
He is a Benefactor Member of the National Rifle Association and a Life Member of the Texas State Rifle Association. He is an active member of the International Defensive Pistol Association and the United States Practical Shooting Association regularly competing in local IDPA and IPSC matches.
NRA Instructor Certifications
- Refuse To Be A Victim
- Home Firearm Safety
- Basic Pistol
- Basic Shotgun
- Basic Rifle
- Advanced Pistol
- Personal Protection Inside the Home
- Personal Protection Outside the Home
- CCW (Concealed Carry Weapons)
Other Instructor and Safety Certifications
- Texas Department of Public Safety Certified License to Carry Handgun Instructor
- Texas Department of Public Safety Certified School Safety Instructor
- Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events Trainer
- Rangemaster Certified Master Firearm Instructor
- Rangemaster Certified Defensive Shotgun Instructor
- Certified Glock Armorer
- Force-on-Force Instructor
- OC Spray Instructor
- Texas Law Shield Legal Instruction Certification
- MAG Deadly Force Instructor
- IDPA Certified Safety Officer
- NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer
- USCCA Range Safety Officer
- Education, Training and Experience
- Trauma Medical and Rangemaster Intervention from Dennis Fivecoat of AdantageTac through Highlander Readiness
- MAG-20 Classroom from Massad Ayoob of Massad Ayoob Group
- Advanced Competitive Pistol from Max Michel
- Combative Pistol I and Combative Pistol II from Tom Givens of Rangemaster
- IDPA Safety Officer Certification from Col. Phil Torres
- Vehicle Combatives from Dave Spaulding of Handgun Combatives
- Force on Force Scenario Based Training - Karl Rehn of KR Training
- Low-light Shooting - Karl Rehn of KR Training
- MAG-40 from Massad Ayoob of Massad Ayoob Group
- Rangemaster Basic, Advanced, and Master Instructor Development Course - Tom Givens of Rangemaster
- Defensive Shotgun Instructor Course - Tom Givens of Rangemaster
- Shooting with X-ray Vision (SXRV)- Tactical Anatomy_James S. Williams, M.D.
- Graduate Glock Armorer's Course - Glock
- Graduate of the Law of Self Defense Instructor Program - Law of Self Defense - Andrew Branca, Esq.
- Tactical Trauma First Aid for Gunshot Wounds - Dwayne McBryde, Texas Law Shield
- Stop the Bleed - US Department of Homeland Security
- Pat Rogers Memorial Revolver Roundup - Hardwire Tactical Shooting: Darryl Bolke, Wayne Dobbs, Tom Givens, Michael de Bethencourt
- MAG Deadly Force Instructor Course - Massad Ayoob/Marty Hayes
- Intensive Pistol Skills / Defensive Shotgun from Tom Givens of Rangemaster
- Force-on-Force Instructor Course - Karl Rehn of KR Training
- NRA Club Leadership and Development Course
- NRA Range Development and Operations Course
- Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events Trainer - Texas State University ALERRT
- NRA Basic CCW and CCW Instructor Course - Aqil Qadir & Tiffany Johnson of Citizens Safety Academy
- Adaptive Combat Pistol - Dave Spaulding of Handgun Combatives
- OC Spray Instructor Course - Chuck Haggard of Agile Training
- Kinetic Combat Pistol - Dave Spaulding of Handgun Combatives
- CCW: Street Encounter Skills & Tactics - John Murphy of FPF Training
- Image Based Decisional Drills - Brian Hill of The Complete Combatant
- He is a regular student himself attending various training courses and conferences each year including Rangemaster Tactical Conference, Rangemaster Instructor Conference, and Texas Firearms Instructor Conference, as well as those provided by Texas Law Shield.
Walter A. Haley
Senior Instructor
Junior Rifles Coach at the Golden Triangle Gun Club in Beaumont, TX
Walt is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association and the Texas State Rifle Association. He formerly served as the Head Coach of the Texas Junior Rifle Team and is currently a Director and Coach for the Golden Triangle Gun Club Junior Service Rifle Team.
A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1969 (16 months) – He served overseas in the Republic of Vietnam, receiving the USMC Combat Action Ribbon Award.
His Expert Qualifications include: M14, M16, Pistol 1911
Instructor and Safety Certifications
- NRA Training Counselor
- NRA Chief Range Safety Officer
- NRA Pistol
- NRA Shotgun
- NRA Rifle
- NRA Home Firearm Safety
- NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home
- NRA Metallic Cartridge Reloading
- NRA Shotgun Shell Reloading
- Certified CMP - USAMU Military Service Rifle Master Instructor
- CMP (GSM) Garand Springfield Master Instructor
Experience, Qualifications, & Awards
1966 – Winner of the Leatherneck Marksmanship Award for Series High Shooter (USMCRD, San Diego, CA).
1967 – Member, MAG-14 Pistol Team
1982 to 1998 – Active competitor in the International Defensive Pistol Association and the International Practical Shooting pistol competitions.
1998 – Return to actively competing in the NRA/CMP High Power Rifle matches for Service Rifle.
1999 to Present – He continues to compete in rifle and pistol shooting at the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.
2004 – He received the Governor’s 20 Award at the Texas State Service Rifle Championship
2006 to 2011 – Served as a U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Civilian Instructor for the military service rifle with assignments at various U.S. Army Post locations.
2008 – He received the Civilian Marksmanship Program Distinguished Rifleman Award #1910.
2008 to Present – U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Civilian Instructor for National Matches Pistol and Rifle Small Arms Firing School.
2010 to 2015 – Head Coach for Gulf Coach Rifles NTIT and NTT teams.
Heather Y. Avery
Staff Instructor
Director of Women’s Programs at the Golden Triangle Gun Club in Beaumont, TX
Heather is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association and a Life Member of the Texas State Rifle Association. She is an active member of the International Defensive Pistol Association and the United States Practical Shooting Association regularly competing in local IDPA and IPSC matches.
Heather is a Member of the Golden Triangle Gun Club and serves as the Director of Women’s Programs. She is also a Member of the ‘A Girl and A Gun’ women’s shooting league. She competes in a 3-gun competition at AG&AG and other similar events throughout the year.
While Heather provides instruction to both men and women, her focus is on helping women become comfortable with the safe use of firearms for sporting and personal protection. She then guides students to the next level with further skill development opportunities.
- Education
University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas
- M.B.A. Organizational Development , Suma Cum Laude
- Bachelors of Organizational Development, Suma Cum Laude
Christ for the Nations, Dallas, Texas
- Bachelors in Theology
Odessa College, Odessa, Texas
- Associates in General Education
Instructor and Safety Certifications
- NRA Training Counselor
- NRA Chief Range Safety Officer
- NRA Refuse To Be A Victim
- NRA Pistol
- NRA Shotgun
- NRA Rifle
- NRA CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon)
- Texas Department of Public Safety Certified License to Carry Handgun Instructor
- Stop the Bleed from Craig Smith of American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma
- Force-on-Force Instructor - Karl Rehn of KR Training
- Defensive Shotgun Instructor - Tom Givens of Rangemaster
Additional Firearms Training and Experience
- Kinetic Combat Pistol, Dave Spaulding of Handgun Combatives
- Adaptive Combat Pistol, Dave Spaulding of Handgun Combatives
- Force-on-Force Instructor Course, Karl Rehn of KR Training
- Defensive Shotgun, Tom Givens of Rangemaster
- Intensive Pistol Skills, Tom Givens of Rangemaster
- Defensive Pistol Skills 2 & 3, Karl Rehn of KR Training
- Handgun Draw, Pakieser & Penzel
- Correcting Shooting Errors, Karl Rehn, KR Training
- All About Optics, Skubis
- Close Quarter Carbine Skills, John Hearne
- A-Team Range Training, Heather Eckert, A Gun & A Girl
- Conceal to Prevail, Anna Taylor, Dean Adams
- AWIB Carry, Spencer Keepers
- Precision Rifle Shooting, Tina Martin, Handmaiden Defense
- Weapon Transitions, Brian Quick
- Practical Pistol Performance - Tim Herron of Tim Herron Shooting
- Image Based Decisional Drills - Brian Hill of The Complete Combatant
- Heather regularly attends various training conferences eachyear including A Gun & A Girl National Conference, A Gun & A Girl Fall Fest, Rangemaster Tactical Conference, as well as her pursuit of continuing educational through various national instructors.
Matthew Godfrey
Staff Instructor
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Matthew grew up in the urban inner city environment and learned many lessons of the street at an early age. Having lived in Washington, D.C., he eventually moved to Texas and settled in Beaumont in 2014.
Matthew has a passion for civilian development in personal self defense by utilizing key points in firearm safety, firearm knowledge and continued skill building. Giving ALL students a foundation where they can feel comfortable about learning how to own and operate their firearms confidently. Helping the community to achieve the right mindset and understanding firearm safety is paramount.
Most Recent Training Include
- AR-15 Rifle Essentials Course - Tatiana Whitlock
- Handgun Accuracy Course - Tatiana Whitlock
- CCW: Street Encounter Skills & Tactics - John Murphy
- RDS Pistol Course - Scott Jedlinski
- Pistol Essentials and Beyond - Brian Hill
- Image Based Decisional Drills - Brian Hill
Instructor Certifications Include
- NRA Range Safety Officer
- NRA Pistol Instructor
- NRA Refuse to Be A Victim Instructor
Courses Offered
Basic Pistol, Handgun Skills, AR-15 Carbine Skills, Personal Self Defense Skills