HLF Member Spotlight: A Family Affair

Regis Synan was born and raised in Penn Hills, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pa. He met his sweetheart, Diane, in Penn Hills High School where they fell in love and were married in 1977. Regis attended his local community college for a few years, studying law enforcement administration and accounting, before enrolling at Robert Morris University where he received a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an M.B.A. in finance.

Regis decided to continue the family legacy and began working for his father-in-law in the family business in 1978. F. Tinker and Sons, established in 1883, is a manufacturer of blades for the steel industry, dating back to 1883. Diane’s father led the business, eventually passing the torch to Regis, who has led the company since the late 1990s.

In addition to all the hours spent running the family business, Regis and Diane make time to be involved in and give back to their community. Regis was a volunteer firefighter with the Penn Hills Fire Company No. 7 for 18 years, working his way up to fire chief. In 1989 they moved from Penn Hills to the Murrysville area. Regis is currently the vice president of the Murrysville, Pa., City Council and chairman of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County. In addition, he is a board member of the Pittsburgh Foundation—one of the oldest and largest community foundations nationwide—and a charter member of the Allegheny County Hazardous Materials Response Team. With so many obligations, it takes a special couple to care enough to give back to their community.

Being from Pennsylvania almost requires an interest in hunting. Regis received his first hunting license in 1968 when he was 12 years old, hunting small game with his older brother and friends. Deer season was spent hunting with Dad and his family. Hunting was always a part of life for the Synan family.

Today Regis is primarily a bird hunter, though he occasionally hunts deer and loves to target shoot. Diane supports Regis’ hunting habit but prefers sporting clays, trap and skeet. She is also heavily involved in the NRA’s Women’s Leadership Forum, doing her part to help with the NRA’s crucial mission. However, being a good grandma is Diane’s primary focus—much to the delight of their three granddaughters. The Synans have two children, Brian and Lindsay, both NRA Life members and active shooters, with son Brian also an avid hunter.

The Synans made the critical decision to become members of the President’s Founders Club of the NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum as a way to help preserve our way of life. Regis stated, “We need to make sure that going forward, the next generation will be able to hunt like I was able to hunt. I firmly believe the Hunters’ Leadership Forum will help in that important pursuit.” So committed are the Synans to preserving this uniquely American tradition that every year Regis is involved in the Pittsburgh Safari Club’s Youth Pheasant Hunt, making sure all participants have the requisite orange vests to safely go on the hunt.

The NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum is proud to call the Synans members, and counts on Regis and Diane to give their all to help keep America’s hunting heritage alive, growing and viable for future generations.