Hall of Fame

Ohio residents who also are members of the Amateur Trapshooting Association may submit to the Hall of Fame Board a possible inductee for consideration.

TO SUBMIT

Submissions must be in writing and include the individual’s resume’ of qualifications and the inductee application cover sheet. (listed below). Entries must be addressed to the Hall of Fame Board Chairman, c/o OTSA Secretary Noreen Snively and postmarked by November 1.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION PROCESS

An inductee may be selected for one or both of the following: shooting ability and/or individual contributions to the sport. The candidate must be an Ohio native, spent most of his or her shooting career in Ohio, or made a major contribution to the sport as an Ohio resident.

Hall of Fame Inductee Application
Hall of Fame Bylaws

HALL OF FAME SELECTION COMMITTEE

2024
Michael Blair
Austin Jacob
Bob Caplinger
Steve Stedman
Dan Schock
Terry Mavis

2023
Chairman – Ron Arter (Past Pres)
President- Michael Blair
SE- Bob Caplinger
NE- Steve Stedman
SW- Chris Howell
NW- Terry Mavis

2022
Chairman – Past Pres. Steve Corwin
President- Ron Arter
SE- Bob Caplinger
NE- Steve Stedman
SW- Chris Howell
NW- Terry Mavis

Hall of Fame Members

2023

2023 Inductees Ron Smith and Michael Wengerd

Tara Sword accepts for her grandmother, Charlotte Wells, along with Sherry Neff and Patty Wells

Michael Wengerd with wife Caitlin, son Skylar and daughter Izabellal

Ron Smith with his wife Terri, and the Smith family

2022

2021

2021 Hall of Fame Inductee, Courtney Haning, addresses the crowd after receiving his Hall of fame certificate and pin. Courtney shared this special evening with his wife, Nina, as they were also celebrating their anniversary.

2021 Ohio Hall of Fame Inductees Frank “Lou” and Mary Hornyak.

Brothers Andy and Mike Cheney proudly accept the Hall of Fame induction certificate in honor of their deceased father, Kenneth Cheney.

2020

2020 Inductee Ross Warren shares a special moment with his family.

Ross Warren being inducted into the Ohio State Hall of Fame.

His former wife and friend, Charlotte Parsons of Wapakoneta, accepts the honors for Herb Lynn Parsons, 2020 Inductee, posthumously.

2019

2019 Hall of Fame inductees Dean Townsend, Dan Schock and John Sayle

2019 Hall of Fame Inductee Dean Townsend and 2018 Inductee, Ken Kamnikar

2018

Cam Ranzau at the 2018 Induction ceremony, accepting for her father William Jaqua.

Foundation Chairman Dennis Filo and Cam Ranzau

2018 Inductee Ron Charniga

1995 Inductee Dave Berlet with wife Sandy, and 2016 Inductee & son Dirk Meckstroth

1990 Inductee John Sternberger, 1997 Inductee Brad Dysinger, 2010 Inductee Emerson Hoblit

Dirk Meckstroth

Like many trapshooters, Dirk Meckstroth worked as a trap boy before blossoming into the highly regarded competitor he is today. In 1982 he began registered shooting and in his second year scored his first 100 in the Indiana State Shoot Singles Championship. Ten years later, he found himself standing on the 27-yard line.

Winning is a family affair, however. Dirk and his father, Dave Berlet, won the parent/child category 16 times at the Ohio State Tournament and four times at the Grand American. As a Junior, Dirk earned a spot on the All-Ohio Team and made the men’s team for 20 years.

He has amassed more than 16 Ohio state honors, including winning the Singles AA Championship with a 199 x 200 and the Singles Class Championship AA with 200 x 200 in 2014.

Dirk also has won honors in Indiana and Michigan, breaking his first 200 in the Singles Championship AA at the ARA Central Zone Shoot in Michigan. His accomplishments also include winning trophies at the Grand American. In 2003, he posted a 200 x200 to win class AAA in the Beretta Clay Target Championship. Dirk is a 27-yard, AAA shooter.

Stats:
Singles: 94,800 | Doubles:  56,350 |Handicap:  86,050


David McKinney
David won numerous honors during his trapshooting career, earning his place as a AA 27AA shooter in 1990. He was the 118th shooter to achieve the Grand Slam in 1992. David’s average from 1990 to 2000 earned him 10 consecutive years on the All-Ohio Team. In 1996, he was Ohio’s Grandest Shooter, sharing the honors with Pat McCarthy, Both men  scored a 395 x 400.

Like many of the Hall of Fame inductees, Dave enjoyed a variety of interests and was a man of many talents. He was an excellent cook who hosted gourmet wild game cookouts during the shoots. He also loved to fish and hunt. When Dave was not on the trap line or wetting a line, he relaxed in his garden or with a pool stick in his hand.

Stats:

62,750 Singles | Doubles 0,450 Handicap
36,850 Doubles


P.O. Harbage
With Ohio’s long history of great trapshooters, leaving P.O. Harbage out of the mix would be an injustice. The West Jefferson shooter was dominant throughout his shooting career. Harbage enjoyed much of his success from the 1930s to the 1950s. Winning the Grand American Clay Target Championship in 1939 was among his most cherished highlights. In 1948, he again proved a real contender for the win and finished a close second.

The Ohio State Shoot seemed to bring out the best in Harbage, who amassed five OSTA Championships in his shooting campaign. His first was a victory in the 1932 Ohio Handicap Championship, which he later followed by winning the Singles Championship in 1940. 1951 was Harbage’s best outing at the state tournament, where he claimed victorious in both the Doubles Championship and High All Around. His final Ohio trophy was the High All Around title in 1953.

With his shooting skills and love for the game, the Harbage’s was instantly recognizable not only in Ohio but also nationwide. On three occasions, he was selected to the All-American in 1939, 1949 and 1952.


Emory Moyer refused to let infantile paralysis make him an invalid. At the age of 4, polio paralyzed him below the waist. After therapy and surgeries, his right leg completely stiffened and he gained some mobility in his left leg with the aid of crutches and a brace. In 1939, despite his handicap, he pitched high school baseball by sitting on the mound and compiled a 17- 2 record. He became a star hard ball pitcher on one of Cleveland’s senior amateur clubs exhibiting an uncanny control of the ball. He even attempted bowling and golf in the sitting position. But once he took up trapshooting, it only took him 10 years to discover he could really excel in this sport. Emory Moyer was probably the 1st man in sports history to make All-American status on crutches. This building supply salesman served as President of the O.S.T.A. in 1966 after a full term as Southwest Zone Director. He made the Zone Team 12 times, All-Ohio Team 3 times, and State All-Around Champion 4 times. But beyond the list of his numerous singles and handicap championships, the thing he might be remembered for the most, is his example to all of us. His determination, his love of the sport, and his desire to excel in spite of the limitations he faced, were the hallmarks of his career.


Charles Pidcock
Millfield, Ohio

In Southeast Ohio, Charlie is somewhat of a local legend. His friends were many as he was well known for his friendly ways and his willingness to offer helpful tips to shooters, young and old. However, Charlie’s notoriety went far beyond state lines, especially when it came to his specialty, the doubles event.
He was an All-American in 1974, won numerous Grand American events, and was a regular in the winner’s circle at the Southern Grand and various state shoots from 1960 to 1980. His shooting highlights include winning the Ohio Singles Championship in 1971, and the All-Around State Champion and Doubles High Gun resident in 1972. In 1973, Charlie was the Ohio Doubles Champion and the 16-yard High Gun. He won the Virginia State Shoot Doubles in 1974. At the 1976 Tri-State Shoot, Charlie won the Singles AA Class. That same year, he also won the Ohio State Doubles Open High Gun as well as the West Virginia Doubles Open High Gun Championship. In 1979, Charlie was the Ohio State Class AA Champion. Mr. Pidcock was honored on the All-Ohio Team seven times from 1972 to 1979 and served as Captain in 1977.


Mike Dehabey
Toledo, Ohio
In 1972 after returning from serving his country in the Coast Guard, Mike was anxious to get back to hunting, in particular, pheasants. He found the birds were no longer as plentiful as they had been so he wasn’t doing much shooting. He decided to try trapshooting because you really got to pull the trigger and after winning a Calcutta for $80.00, he found you could make a few bucks as well!
Mike’s biggest inspiration in trapshooting was his friend, Frank Little. After they met, they became fishing buddies as well as often shooting together. Mike was a student in one of his early videos. Frank was always offering shooting tips even when he was running 100 straight in a handicap race in Michigan. Mike recalls that Frank stopped to whisper to him, “Don’t move your gun until you see the target.”
Mike’s list of shooting accomplishments is quite impressive. He has stood on the 27 yard-line since 1976. One of the best memories of his shooting career is of winning the Grand American Leo Harrison Doubles Championship in 1991 when he beat Leo in a shoot-off after running another 80 or so targets in overtime. He is also particularly proud of winning the Ohio State Singles Championship in 2007. As a Veteran category shooter, Mike is one tough competitor. His advice to himself as well as to others, “It’s a self-analysis thing.”


Sue Kaufman
Chippewa, Ohio

Sue has been a part of the Ohio trapshooting scene for most of her life. Sue and her beloved husband Aden, operated the Great Eastern Gun Club for 28 years from 1976-2004. It was often a family affair with her mother Jackie and step father Mac Krabill usually on hand as well. She served on the Ohio State Trapshooting Association Board of Directors for 6 years, representing the shooters of the NE Zone and continued serving an additional 4 years as the Director of Youth Shooting. Sue was instrumental in helping the O.S.T.A. make the difficult and swift move from Vandalia to the Cardinal Center. She put in long hours to be sure the Cardinal Shooting facility would be ready for its first State Shoot. She did whatever job needed to be done, even painting trap houses! Sue worked in the office at the Cardinal Center from the time it opened in 2006 until her retirement in 2012. It was Sue Kaufman who named our home grounds “The Cardinal Shooting Center.” Although Sue is a life member of the A.T.A., she found that she preferred to be behind the counter at he shoots instead of behind the gun. She did win the Ladies Ohio Handicap Championship in 1985 in Vandalia. Her dedication to the shooters, her love of the sport and especially her commitment to the SCTP youth program, will never be forgotten.



Was a member of both the National Trapshooting Hall of Fame and the Ohio State Trapshooting Hall of Fame.

Won more Grand American championships than any other person in the first 75 years of the event. Made All American 21 times and captain 5 times.

Broke 59 perfect 200’s and nine were in the same year. Shares the North American Doubles Championship top spot 4 times, and has captured the High-Over-All an unprecedented 7 times.

Won the Marshall Marathon 5 times and holds the record of 465 straight before he missed one out of the 500. The Marshall Marathon was an annual event that took place in Yorklyn, Delaware. It was the country’s first 500 bird registered 16-yard marathon-a five day tournament.

During World War II, Hiestand served as a training officer for the U.S. Army Air Corps, teaching target shooting to aerial gunners.

He was a two term Highland County commissioner before being elected to the House of Representatives.

“He was such a great competitor all of his life,” said his daughter-in-law Helen Hiestand. “He played golf well into his 90’s.”

Joe Hiestand is being inducted into the Highland County Athletic Hall of Fame because he was arguably the greatest trapshooter of all time. But he was much more than that. In a lifetime that spanned 97 years, Hiestand also found success as a politician, farmer, trapper, hunter, golfer, bowler, pilot, military instructor and even an entrepreneur.

It all started on the family farm off U.S. Route 50 at the western edge of Hillsboro when Hiestand was 8 years old. His father gave him a pellet gun and he started dropping sparrows.

By the time he was done shooting, Hiestand had amassed 20 North American Trapshooting championships and 33 American Trapshooting Association state crowns.

“Dad’s brother Paul was also a great shot,” Joe’s son, Ed Hiestand, said this week. “In fact, dad said Paul might have been a better shot. But dad had something that Paul didn’t. In the clutch, Paul would kind freeze up, where with dad, the pressure didn’t phase him.

“He’s a good example that if you have responsibilities when you’re young and see them through and you’re successful, it pays off later in life.”

Often, Ed said, Joe and his father and brother would take the dogs, hop on a train in Hillsboro, ride 12 miles out and hunt all the way back. By the time Joe was 12, he had a .22 and soon thereafter he started running traps lines.

“He ran about 25 traps a day,” Ed said. “By the end of the eighth grade had $400 worth of pelts and I think back then that was enough to buy a car.”

Joe was 17 when a Richard Ruble, later the president of Delta Airlines, took him to his first trap shoot in Danville. It cost 25 cents to enter and Joe won the grand prize turkey in a shoot-off.

Joe also worked on the family farm when he was young. One day in 1927, Joe’s father said the farm wasn’t making enough money. So, Joe put up $1,200 to bid on a state highway mowing project and eventually won a $21,000 contract, mowing all the state highways in Highland County with horse teams.

It wasn’t long after that when Joe hit the trap shooting circuit, traveling nationwide.

He started winning major championships in 1931, and 41 years later, while competing in his first Grand American as a veteran, he captured three trophies in the over-65 age group, including the high-over-allll.

Joe has been named to 21 Sports Afield All-America men’s trap teams, serving as captain from 1934-36, 1938 and later in 1947-49. He won more Grand American championships than any other person in the history of the event. He led North American Clay Target competition with five wins, shared the doubles championship top spot with Hall of Famer Mercer Tennille at four apiece, and captured the high-over-all an unprecedented seven times. From 1934 through 1936, he won the Jim Day Cup, forerunner to the All-Around. High-over-all honors were captured by Joe in ’34, ’36 ’38, ’46, ’49 and ’56. The record 977×1,000 he set in 1949 was tied twice, but not broken until 1964.

The Clay Target Championship was Hiestand’s in 1935, ’36, ’38, ’44 and ’60. The four-time doubles champion won the champion of champions honors in 1947 and 1949, and he teamed to win the brother-brother crown in 1955. Until 1972, Hiestand held the record number of 19 perfect 200s at Vandalia, where the North American Trapshooting Championships where held through 2005 before moving to Sparta, Ill.

At the 1938 Grand, Joe established a long run record of 966 registered singles and an unregistered run of 1,191, including practice and shootoff targets. After the Grand, he completed his registered run at 1,179 and finished with an unregistered string of 1,404. Those runs were not broken until 1959.

Of Joe’s 33 ATA championships, and all but one (the all-around in 1945 in Florida) were won in Ohio. He captured eight 16-yard crowns from 1931-59, three of which were with 200 straights (1937, 1939 and 1949). Until 1955, he was the only person to have accomplished such a feat. He won the Buckeye doubles 12 times and the all-around the same number.

Joe broke 59 perfect 200s in his career, nine of which were recorded in one year in the middle 1930s. His .9298 on 2,650 handicap targets led ATA yearly averages in 1935, and he headed twin-bird averages in 1941 with .9457 and two years later with an even 94 percent. Joe broke 98.7 percent of 3,000 singles targets to lead in 1942, his .9879 on 3,400 clays was tops in 1947, and he paced the 1950 standings with .9895 on 2,000 birds.

Joe was also accomplished in live pigeon shooting and made a trip to Monte Carlo in the 1950s as part of a U.S. trapshooting team. Joe was the captain of the team that won the world championship and, according to Ed, he still holds the record for hitting 58 consecutive live targets without a miss.

One of the stories from the Monte Carlo trip, Ed said, is that his father and mother – longtime Hillsboro teacher Mary Hiestand – were at a dance where Mary ended up matched with some smallish guy she didn’t know. She later found out the man was Aristotle Onasis.

In 1964, Joe won the Hillsboro Elks individual golf title, finishing runner-up the following year. He was also runner-up several years at the Snow Hill Country Club near New Vienna. Later in life, Ed said, Joe could shoot below his age. He quit golfing in 1973 after suffering a heart attack while golfing at Snow Hill.

In 1947, Joe was invited to what Ed said was the National Celebrities Golf Tournament in Washington, D.C. where he captained a four-some that included Olympian Jim Thorpe. The four-some in front of them included Bob Hope.

Joe also bowled. “I know he completed in it and was really good at it,” Ed said.

During World War II, Joe, also a pilot, was stationed in Florida as a gunnery instructor. Ed said Joe and some of his shooting buddies were assigned to teach young aerial gunners how to shoot at moving targets.

Joe completed 18 years of government service, the first 13 as a Highland County commissioner and the last five as a state representative.

It was the family farm, though, where Ed said his dad was most comfortable.

In later years, before Joe passed away in 2004, Ed said he was able to fly, campaign and travel with his dad. But he also said he’ll never forget the trapshooting days.

“It was kind of neat because Vandalia was kind of close and we got to go over the there and meet a lot of people involved in that industry, and they came to the farm a lot, too,” Ed said. “Dad was always champion in my eyes.”


John Sternberger

In 1956 at the age of 18, John Sternberger from Englewood, Ohio became the youngest shooter in history to reach the 27-yard line. He was the first shooter from Ohio and 17th in ATA history to move to the maximum yardage.

John placed on 13 straight All-America teams for 1954 through 1966, ranging from the Junior second team to a captaincy of the men’s team. He also captured 7 straight Trap & Field All-Around Average Awards, from their inception in 1959 through 19567.

In 1961 he set two records. His .9936 singles average was the highest in history on 2,500 targets or more (he shot at 3,800) and his 394×400 to win the Grand American All-Around Championship was the highest ever entered in that competition. In 1965 he led ATA yearly doubles averages with .9601 on 1780 targets.

In the three years from 1958 to 1960, Sternberger won 8 straight 500-bird marathons, an unparalleled achievement. In 1960 his win was with a record-tying 499×500.

John registered targets for the first time in 1952, 400 singles and 100 handicap. Two hundred of those were in the Clay Target Championship. A sub-junior, he hit 180-.00 Twenty years later he had registered 60,300 singles targets with a .9774 average 32,200 handicap (most from 26 yards) with an .8991 average, and 23,330 doubles with a .320 average.

13 straight All-American teams including Captain in 1962

1961 set two records .9936 singles average (highest in history on 2500 targets or more but shot at 3800)

4th in history to win both the All-Around and the High –Over-All the same year at the Grand

Set a record in 1961 with a 325-bird shoot off after perfect 200 straight in the Clay Target Championship

Set a record in 1958 shooting off 300 after 100 straight in the program with the most shot off in a single day

From 1958 to 1966 he registered five 100straights in doubles sharing a record with Dan Orlich

In the three years from 1958 to 1960, he won eight straight 500-bird marathons. One tied the record with a 499

In 1960, 1961 and 1963, he ran more than 700 straight from the 16 yard line each year. With his longest run 784 that last year.

From 1952 – 1973 he registered 128 perfect 100’s and 7 perfect 200’s

In 1956, at the age of 18, Sternberger became the youngest shooter in history to reach the 27-yard line. He was the First shooter from Ohio and the 17th in ATA history to move to the maximum yardage.


John R. Taylor

John R. Taylor, Newark, Ohio, was one of the the greatedt all-around shots in history. Taylor won the Ohio State 16-yard championship in 1904 and that year at the Indianapolis Grand American he broke 94 in the GAH, two targets behind winner Dick Guptil. He joined the industry ranks in 1906 and shot among the leaders for 29 years, topping industry averages in 1923 with .9845 on 2,250 singles clays, the highest average by either a rep or amateur to that time.

Taylor’s biggest victories came at the 1933 Grand. There he broke an all-time record by winning four industry titles, the singles, doubles, handicap with 97 from 25 yards and the H-O-A with 966×1000. Taylor topped 16-yard averages that year on 4,000 and over wit .9732 on 6,350 targets and was chosen captain of the 1933 All-American Industry Team. The Newark “ace” shot his last targets as a rep in 1934 winning the doubles high average with .9220 and placing third on 16-yard targets with .97655.

Chief Buckeye, as he was know in the Okoboji Indians, shot this last registered targets in 1959, thus terminating 57 year a the traps. He shot more than 100,000 registered targets and twice that number at club and practice shoots. Mr.Taylor was born July 24, 1878 and passed away Nov. 25, 1960.


Joe Devers

The same year he first registered trap, (1943) Joe Devers, at age 12 won the Ohio junior 16-yard championship, repeating the following year. He was only 15 and a high school sophomore in 1946 when he won the Ohio singles, doubles and all-around. Beginning with this victory he amassed seven Ohio ATA adult championships, three Ohio junior championships, and twenty-two Nevada crowns after changing his residence to that stat in 1954. In addition he earned two Western Zone titles and six Golden West Grand Championships between 1958 and 1970.

Devers broke 200 at the Grand American for the first time in 1950 finishing in a 3-way tie for the Clay Targe Championship. His perfect 25 in overtime won him the title, his fifth Grand American trophy and his first there as an adult.

Joe shared the 1969 spotlight in national singles averages with Hall of Famer Dan Orlich as they each hit 99.43%, Devers on 4,600 targets and Orlich on 2,650. The 27-yard line was established in 1955, and Joe earned his way to the maximum, in early 1956, approximately the 20th.

Joe Devers place on 11 All-America teams from 1944 to 1970. He was equally well known in flyer circles competing world-wide in that sport. His hunting feats were legend.

Dvers died at the age of 56 in 1987 survived by daughters Sue and Cathy and Son Danny. Danny’s son bears his grandfather’s name.


Lee Davidson

Lee began his shooting career in Indiana and he moved to Ohio in 1966 joining Winchester-Western as a sales representative. In the years that followed, he earned more than 35 Grand American Handicap, All Around and High-Over-All championships.

In 1975 Davidson captured all five industry trophies at the Ohio State Shoot. He also earned his category prizes during the state singles in 1971, 1974, and 1976 and in the 1976 and ’78 handicaps.

Lee was selected for men’s All-American teams in 1963 and 1964, and he was named to the industry squad 14 times from 1967 through 1980, earning two captaincies and one co-captaincy. He Captured three Trap & field All-Around Average Awards.

Prior to moving to Ohio, he won the Indiana singles championships in 1963, two years after trying for it as a first year shooter. He also collected four Grand America awards in those years including top Class AA laurels in the 1962 Clay Target Championship. Lee won the Jenkins World All-Around Championship in 1963. He Was enshrined the Indiana Trapshooting Hall of Fame. Lee Davidson passed way in 1980.


Paul Casner

Paul’s father introduced him to trapshooting in 1938. He registered his first ATA targets in 1951. He was elected Ohio’s Se Zone Director in 1972 and was re-elected in 1974. Paulwas elected O.S.T.A. Vice President in 1974 and was elected O.S.T.A President in 1975. Paul served on the O.S.T.A as Ex-Officio in 1976 and 1977. He was elected as our ATA, Alternate Delegate in 1977 and was re-elected each year through 1981.

Mr. Casner has won numerous trophies including 4th place in the Preliminary Grand American Handicap in 1954 and Veteran RU Handicap Champion at the Southern GRand in 1983.

Paul has attended the Grand American since 1954 and attended the Golden West Grand from 1965 to 1974. He was registered 257,975 targets in his lifetime and is a member of the Quarter-Million Club.

Mr. Paul Casner has been a asset to the sport of trapshooting and is well known around the country. He is a gentleman and great sportsman as well as a good friend to all. He will be greatly missed.


Leighton Long
Leighton Long began registered trapshooting in 1964 and attended his first Grand American that same year. The following year at the Grand American he won a Singles event, which was to be followed by Class A runner-up in 1971, Class A Single in 1976 and Senior Veteran Singles Champion in 1991. Mr Long won 5 Grand American trophies including one of the President’s Handicap events.

Mr. Long won four Satellite Grand American trophies including Veteran runner-up for the Southern Grand American Singles Championship in 1987, Veteran Champion in Thursday’s Handicap event with a 96 form the 26.5-yard line at the 1991 Southern Grand and runner-up Senior Veteran in the Handicap Championship event at the Dixie Grand in 1993.

During his career, ten Ohio State Shoot trophies became part of Mr.Long’s collection. He Won Singles Trophies in 1965, two in 1967 and 1969, and another in 1972. Ohio State Shoot Handicap Event Trophies were won in 1967, as a Veteran in 1989 and 1990, and Senior Veteran in 1994. Mr. Long was on the Southeastern Zone Team for four years.

Added to the Ohio trophies were non-resident trophies for six other State Shoots, including Virginia, Florida and North Carolina.

At the time of his death in 1996, Mr Long had registered 91,600 Singles Targets and 92,675 Handicap Targets. He sponsored trophies in Morgan & Perry Counties, at Airport, Great Eastern, Mariette and other gun clubs to help promote the sport of clay target shooting in Ohio.


Richard D. Smith
At the famed shooting grounds in Vandalia Mr. Smith in 2000 competed in his 42nd Grand American Handicap Tournament, The manager of the Newcomerstown Trap Club
won coveted Grand American Championship in 1971. Mr. Smith won his first Grand American trophy in the Parent/Child race in 1969 and would repeat again in 1972 and 1988. Other Grand trophies include the 178 Class AA RU Singles title, Class A Singles Championship in 1985, 1995 Dayton Homecoming Veteran’s and Singles Class Veteran RU and in 1997 the Double Class D Championship.

This gun safety instructor won the 1963 OSTA Handicap Championship. To be followed by eight other OSTA title including: the AA Singles in 1972, AA Singles RU in 1974, both the Handicap and the Budweiser RU titles in 1986, Class A Singles in 1986 and 1998, Veteran RU Singles Championship in 1996, and he was on the Championship 1971 Zone team. He was a member of the trophy winning NE Zone Team in 1971, 1974, 1986 and 1997.

He has also picked up trophies in other State Shoots. He won the Tri-state AA RU in 1968 and 1991, and in Illinois the 1997 Non-Resident Veteran in Singles and Doubles. In West Virginia in 1967 and 1971 the Open Singles, and in 1994 the Open Veteran and Doubles Open Veteran Championships. His most recent title was the West Virginia Open Singles Senior Veteran won in 2000.

Richard Smith has averaged over .9800 in Singles for 15 years and with a .9864 led the Ohio Average Men’s Singles in 1972.

2019 Inductee John Sayle with ATA Central Zone Vice President, Darryl Hayes

John Sayle is proud to admit that he hails from Greenville, Ohio – the home town of many famous trap-shooters, including Annie Oakley. John, like many young boys, began his career with a Daisy Red Rider BB gun. His interest in firearms and shooting sports was encouraged by the local sporting goods estab-lishment. John began hunting small game and pheasants and was often seen riding his bicycle down the local streets with his .22 laying across the handlebars.

Hunting with his .22 rifle eventually led to shooting trap, and in 1956 he began shooting registered tar-gets. John has won titles in numerous states including the Ohio State Doubles Championship in 1980 and the Dixie Grand American Singles Championship in 2006. He has always enjoyed traveling to states around the country to earn All-American points and he became an All-American on the senior team in 2013.

While living in New York City and working on Wall Street, John took a hiatus from trapshooting and be-came involved with action pistol shooting. John was involved in the creation of the Unites States Prac-tical Shooting Association (USPSA) and served on its first board of directors. He is also one of the founders of the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and currently serves as a director and its vice president. John was a member of four U. S. world teams and he won the senior world title at the International Practical Shooting Confederation Championship held in Adelaide, Australia. Although he no longer competes in action pistol shooting as back injuries have forced him to limit his involve-ment, he is “knee deep in trapshooting”. John’s name is frequently listed on the All-Ohio Team, often as the captain, and he is a tough competitor. His advice: “When under pressure, stick to the funda-mentals and remember to focus on the process and not the score.”


Joe’s father introduced him to the sport of trapshooting in their back yard at the age of seven. He would watch others break the orange domes with their shotguns, so he decided to use his handy slingshot and give it a try…and he was successful! He broke his first target with a gun and immediately wanted to shoot doubles. The rest, as they say, is history. Pat McCarthy encouraged Joe to attend the bigger shoots and that started his career as a registered shooter. Aden Kaufman became a major influence in his life. He was instrumental in his trapshooting as well as his personal life and he was always there for Joe. One of Joe’s best memories is the cookout at North Lawrence Fish & Game that was is memory of Aden. Joe enjoys meeting and helping young shooters, so it is no surprise that he marks another favorite memory as the day Tuff Hutchins made the 27 yard-line as a Sub-Junior last year. Joe likes to win but he says the people you meet are more important…they become your life-long friends. When it comes to advice, he says to always learn and keep open minded, but never stop enjoying yourself.


It was the Fall of 2002 that Aden Kaufman asked a father if he could take his son trapshooting with him to a local club in Coshocton. On that Tuesday night, another trapshooter was born. Every Tuesday night Michael would pack up his hunting gun and ride with Aden to the 50 -bird program. Michael switched to a BT 100 and by the Spring of 2003, he decided to try registered shooting.

In April of 2003, Michael won his first trophy at the N.E. Zone Shoot at Great Eastern Gun Club, breaking a 97 in the handicap event. That same year, he was named A.T.A. Rookie of the Year. Michael was just about to turn 15 when he made it to the 27-yard line and the very next year, he made AA 27 AA. One of his best memories would come one year later in 2006. He was shooting lead off position on a handicap squad at Cardinal Shooting Center with Aden. He broke his first 100 straight in handicap and he paused for the squad to finish. The squad did not continue but decided to stop and congratulate him, and then resume the line to finish. This handicap score completed his Grand Slam!

Michael learned from Aden that it is important to have fun, to be positive and to love life. He enjoys working with the local youth shooting team. He and wife Caitlin have a son Skyler and a daughter Izabella. At age 10, Skyler is showing an interest in trapshooting. Michael looks forward to introducing his son to a sport where he has made so many friends. The atmosphere among trapshooters is like no other sport. Trapshooting seems to draw in some of the best people. So many friends, and so much fun.

Bob and Roger Clyne
Clyne Bros. Inc., a family gun club supply business, invented and marketed the Clyne Electric Puller, which converted the cocking and release lever mechanism on trap machines from manual to electric operation. Without question, the invention revolutionized our sport.

The Clyne brothers made it possible for one person to both score and pull because the trap was released by pressing a button. This saved gun clubs time and money, and shooters began breaking better scores because their pulls were more consistent. Prior to the electric puller, traps were cocked and released manually by strenuously pulling and pushing a pipe that ran from the trap to a pull station behind the shooter.

R.E. (Bob) Clyne began registering targets in 1941. He was an ATA life member and served as a scribe for the Okoboji Indians. Aside from his job as a master machinist, Bob ran a hog farm, managed two restaurants in the Troy, Ohio area and managed the famed Camp Troy Gun Club from the mid 1940s to 1958. Under Bob’s leadership, the club became known for its night shoots during the Grand American.

To help support the trap business, brother Roger worked at Aeroproducts in Vandalia, and his wife handled the office work at their machine shop.

Robert died in 1983 and Roger not long after in 1988. Both always will be known for changing the face of trapshooting.

Stats:
Bob Clyne — 1941 to 1983
Singles: 108,025 | Doubles: 2,330 | Handicap: 39,400

Roger Clyne — 1948 to 1961
Singles: 23,125 | Handicap: 12,450


R. David Wilson
R. David Wilson loved trapshooting and he really enjoyed traveling to the many different gun clubs in Ohio as well as out west and Michigan. However, his favorite place to shoot was undoubtedly Vandalia. He would ride the tractor up and down the trap line calling out to his many friends.

Besides his many shooting accomplishments, he contributed to the sport by serving on the O.S.T.A Board of Directors and becoming President in 2002. He also volunteered as a coach in the SCTP program and served as treasurer for his hometown club for over 20 years. In the early 70’s, when Madison Gun Club was facing going broke, David stepped up and ran the club like a business. Without his assistance, Madison gun Club would not be where it is today. David won many honors in his shooting career and he had the belt buckles to prove it!


Rolla O. Heikes
Dayton, Ohio

Rolla “Pop” Heikes was born on a farm near Dayton on Christmas day in 1856. In July 1880, he broke his first 100 straight in clay targets (remarkable at that time) and later went on to become one of the most widely known shooters in the country. While living in Utah and owning a cattle ranch, he enjoyed hunting game large and small. The Ute Indians christened him “White Chief” because he was extremely accurate with rifles and shotguns. After selling his ranch, Rolla returned to Dayton and married. He became a shooting pro in 1886 and won many championships in live birds and clay targets. Rolla was the only professional shooter to win the Grand American Handicap, as it was closed to professionals after the first year. In 1901, he traveled to Europe as a member of the American team that “invaded” England, Scotland and Ireland and won everything in sight from competitors “across the pond. At one time, Rolla held more records than any other living shooter, including a breaking 100 flying targets in 2 minutes 58 seconds Rolla was known as the “Daddy of Them All “. In 1885, he took a position with LeFever Gun Co., becoming the first man to ever placed on the professional list as an exclusive shooter. He attended 25 Grand Americans and shot for 55 years. He died in Detroit on Sep. 23, 1934 at the age of 78.


Willis “Willie” Anderson
Bluffton, Ohio

Willie Anderson began his trapshooting career by attending local turkey shoots with his father. In 1957 Willie joined the ATA and registered his first targets. A few year later e purchased a lifetime membership in the ATA for $50.00 and he has not stopped shooting trap since. As you can imagine in a shooting career spanning 55 years and counting. Willie has won trophies too numerous to list. Some of Willie’s more memorable trophies from the Grand American include. 3rd Place in the 1962 Grand American Handicap, AA Winner of the 1975 Dayton Homecoming and the only shooter to break all the preliminary singles targets at the 1975 Grand, Class B runner-up in the 1976 G.A Doubles Class Championship, Champion of Champion of the 2008 Remington Nitro 27 Handicap. Willie has been on the ATA All American Team 4 times as a Senior Veteran. He was a member of the 1966 All Ohio Men’s Team as well as several times on the All Ohio Veteran and Senior Veteran teams Wilies’s commitment to the sport of registered trapshooting is evidenced by his impressive lifetime targets totals.

Total Lifetime Targets
225,925 Singles
202,625 Handicap
89,00 Doubles


Dorothy Marker

Dorothy Marker registered her first singles target in 1939 and on May 26, 1962 she became the first woman in history to fire at 100,000. Upon her retirement to Mount Dora, FL in 1969, she had accumulated 133,400 singles targets. 13 state titles, and over twice that many Grand American awards.

In 1939 she participated in her first of 289 Grands, securing a yardage trophy in the Grand American Handicap. She and husband Van won the Husband-and-Wife trophy the following year and in 1944, and then latter year she was the GAH women’s champion and placed second in the Preliminary Handicap. She topped GAH women again 1945. The Women’s Clay Target Championship became hers in 1961 in the shootoff after 198, and four years later she won it again, with a 196 that also captured veteran honors for her over all the men. She was runner-up in the Women’s Champion of Champion races in 1959 and 1964, second in the High-Over-All by one target in 1961, and second in the Doubles Championship by one in 1963.

Twice she won the women’s veteran trophy at the Grand with 100 straight while the men’, winner trailed her by one. Women’s vet trophies were hers in 1957, ’60, ’63 and ’68. She earned women’s crown in the introductory Singles in 19673 and 1965 and was second in 1960 and 1961. During that 1961 Grand, she and husband Van made ATA history by breaking 100 straight in the same race. Mrs. Marker captained the women’s All-America team in 1962 and was on the firs teams for eight year from 1958 to 1966.


Dave Schock
Beavercreek. Ohio

As a young boy, Dave began shooting when his father would give him and his brothers, his leftover shells from a Calcutta shoot. It always was, and still is, a family tradition. Dave wanted his own two sons to work on earning a trapshooting scholarship, so he began coaching them and that was the spark that started his commitment to SCTP. He is a man who truly believes in giving back to the trapshooting community and shows it in his dedication to the development of young trapshooters. When coaching, Dave stresses safety as well as technique, but he also teaches the young shooters to be responsible. He has done wonders for the growth of the sport for future generations. Dave’s dedication to the SCTP program has produced some amazing results in the youth shooting program. His long hours spent coaching, as well as serving as a Southwest Zone Director, an O.S.T.A. Vice President (2014) and President (2015), are testament to his love of the sport and the Ohio shooters.
Dave followed in the footsteps of Sue Kaufman when he took on the position as Youth Director for the O.S.T.A. He really “took the ball and ran with it!” As a coach, his kids continue to impress at local and national competitions. As a person, well, let’s just say we could use a lot more like Dave in this world.

One word describes former OSTA trapshooting member George Wagner: dedication. Throughout a career that amassed 118,775 singles targets, George enjoyed some success at the Ohio State Trapshooting Tournament. His first title was the 1944 Singles Championship, following that 10 years later with the High All Around title.

A strong supporter of the Ohio State Trapshooting Association, George served as board secretary/treasurer for an amazing 21 years. While volunteering, he also cashiered state shoots during the Great Depression, doing so without receiving monetary compensation in return.

George worked to promote the sport of trapshooting, even when times were downright dismal. His devotion to the game, both on and off the range, is second to none. George truly helped lay the foundation for what we have today.


Cliff Doughman

Cliff Doughman achieved prominence as an amateur and an industry representative, earning his was on two All-American teams while in the former category and an unprecedented 21 consecutive industry team. He was captain of industry teams 10 times. His amateur All-America placements were in 1947 and 1948, followed by industry domination from 1948 to 1968.

By 1970 he had returned to amateur status again, and this year he won the Arizona State single and All-round championships, repeating for both those and adding the doubles in 1971.

He was the sixth person in the ATA to break 100 straight in doubles in 1951. At the Grand American he was seventh-place finisher in the Grand American Handicap (1942), runner-up in the Doubles Championship (1946) and North American Clay Target Champion (1947). The next year he joined Winchester-Western, later becoming their shooting promotion manage, and he earned 39 major industry trophies at the Grand American in the next 14 years.

While in industry ranks he outscored the field at the 1961 Golden West Grand Handicap. breaking 98 from 26 yards. He has 54 200 straights to his credit in 67,125 singles targets registered. He led industry singles average 12 times, handicap once and doubles nine times.

PATRICK McCARTHY

Pat McCarthy started shooting registered targets in 1982 and just five years later he was named to the All-American Team. Including 1998, McCarthy has been selected to 10 teams during his career.

Pat has captured over 11 Grand American trophies, including Class AA Champion in the Class Doubles Championship at the 1993 tournament, both with 100. In addition, he has won runner-up and third-place trophies in the Trap & Field Handicap, finished 7th and 14th in the Budweiser Handicap and was 11th in the President’s Handicap.

During the 1986 Ohio State Shoot, McCarthy achieved his Grand Slam with his first 200 in Singles in the Class Singles and 100 from the 27-yard line in the Buckeye Handicap the same day. His career includes 39 200×200 in Singles, 36 100’s in Doubles and three 100’s from the 27-yard line.

Pat has won six Ohio State Championships. In 1988, he earned the Handicap and Doubles Crown and was again the Twin-Bird Champ in 1992. McCarthy captured the 1995 Singles and All-Around titles, and collected his third Doubles Crown in 1997.

In addition, Pat has garnered trophies at the Spring, Southern, Dixie, Great Lakes and Northeastern Satellite Grands. His 14 awards include three Doubles Championships and one All-Around Title.

In Central Zone competition, McCarthy won the 1990 Handicap and All-Around Titles, and added the Doubles and All-Around Crowns in 1997.


Albert R. Wells
Middletown, Ohio

“Bert” registered his first targets in 1965 at the age of 28. This was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the sport of trapshooting. During the next three Bert spent every free minute at the Middletown Sportsmen’s Club, and was hired as the full time resident manager in November 1968. Bert “live and breathed” trapshooting as the club manager for the next 23 years, along with his wife Charlotte and daughters Sherry and Patty. Bert won several Grand American trophies as well as multiple State shoot trophies over the years. His clam to fame and greatest contribution in trapshooting was his never-ending promotion of the sport. His relentless recruitment of people from all walks of life resulted in the untold hundreds of men, women, and children becoming active participants in trapshooting. Bert never met a person he didn’t like.

Total Lifetime Targets
73,000 Singles
69,050 Handicap
43,150 Doubles


MERLE V. DECKER JR.
Findlay, Ohio

Merle began shooting registered targets in 1968 at the Winchester Gun Club in Findlay, now known as Jaqua’s. He has won numerous awards and tournaments and achieved his Grand Slam in 1993 at Great Eastern Gun Club when he broke 100 straight from the 27 yard-line. Merle has shot on three 500×500 squads- one at the 1992 Ohio State Shoot, one at the 1993 Grand American, and one at Jaqua’s.

In the past few years, Merle has enjoyed being an instructor in the proper techniques of trapshooting. He has worked with young shooters at the Rogers Lake Trap Club in Sycamore and the Malinta Trap Club in Malinta.

TOTAL LIFETIME TARGETS
92,400 Singles
81,250 handicap
42,900 doubles


William D. Lawless
William D. “Bill” Lawless started his shooting career in 1959 at the Dresden Gun Club. He attended his first Grand American in 1960. In 1963 in the Grand Preliminary event he had the lone 99 of the day earning his first GAH trophy.

He has not missed an Ohio State shoot in 42 years. Bill has been selected seven times for the All-Ohio Team. He was also on the Southeast and Northeast Zone Teams or six years.

Mr. Lawless served as on OSTA Director from 1969 through 1972, Vice President in 197, OSTA President in 1972 and Director-at-Large in 1981.

His Grand American trophies include; Preliminary Handicap Champion in 1963 and RU in 1971, Double Class B-3rd in 1963, Preliminary Double Class B in 1967 & ’68m Doubles Class A in 1969 and he tied for the Clay Target Championship in both 1980 and 1984.

He has collected sixteen Ohio State Tournament awards including: Handicap 26-yard Champion and Doubles Class B in 1970, Preliminary RU in 1971, Doubles Class A in 1972, ’92 & ’94 and RU 1982, Open Doubles in 1973 and ’82, Preliminary Doubles RU in 1975, Husband/Wife in 1979, HOA Class AA in 1979, HOA Class A in 1980, Doubles Championship RU in 1981, HOA RU in 1982 and the Veteran’s Doubles Championship in 1999.

His collection also includes state trophies from West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Indiana. Mr. Lawless has eleven trophies from the Tri-State Shoots, ten Great Lakes awards and nine from the Fall Festival competition. He was been selected to the SE Zone Team five times an once to the NE Team. He won the Algonqion Indian Shoot HOA in 1978. Bill was selected to compete in 1976 US XXI Olympic Team Trials.

Drew Waller

Drew Waller won the first ofhis 13 Grand American trophies in 1979, three years after he first fired at ATA targets. He finished fifth in AA in the Class Singles that year with 200 plus 100 in shootoffand 99 in carryover. Waller netted four awards with 200’s in the Clay Target Championship at the Grafl:d. Between 1985 and ’96, he placed third three times, and in 1990 he was a member of the squad that shared State Team honors.

In Grand Handicap competition, Waller won the championship in the 1994 Vandalia race with 100, was runner-up in the ’81 George McCarty contest, and ended 13th in the 1999 GAH. Other Grand trophies include second in the ’86 HOA.

Among Waller’s five Northeastern Grand awards were the 1987 Singles title and the ’94 All-Around Crown. He also captured the 16-yard championship at the ’85 Spring Grand and won a long-yardage prize at the ’95 Great Lakes Grand. Waller has earned three ATA Central Zone titles: the Singles in 1982, plus the Doubles and All-Around in 1985.

In state competition, Waller has amassed more than 40 awards. He captured the first of
his six Ohio championships in 1982, when he won the Doubles with a record-setting 100, plus 20 extras. Since ’86 he has won one All-Around, two Doubles and two Singles titles.

Between 1983 and 1995, Waller was named to six men’s All-American teams. In 1981 he won the men’s third-place Trap & Field All-Around Average Award with .9618, and the following year he finished fourth with .9678. At the end of the 1999 target year, Waller had registered 80,950 Singles, 81,350 Handicap and 54,100 Doubles targets.



Laura Mote Christopher

Laura Mote Christopher began shooting registered targets in 1959, and attended her first Grand American in 1962. One year later, she was to win the North American Clay Target Championshop. Shew was 15 and the youngest to win the trophy. Laura was the 5th woman to ever break 200×200 and won All-Around Awards in 1969 and 1970. She was a Women’s Second Team All-American in 1967 and 1977. First Team All-American member in 1964, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’75 and ’76.

Mrs. Mote-Christopher won 12 Grand American trophies, including the Clay Target and Women’s Champion of Champions in 1970 and 1977, and then High All-Around in 1975. Laura was won numerous trophies at the Ohio State Tournament as well as in Indiana. Michigan, and at the golden West Grand. She was on the All-Ohio State Team eight times. She set a record, still in existence today. when she won Women’s Singles Championship at the Ohio State Shoot 11 times between 1968 and 1983.


Joan Sitler

Three-time state women’s champ Joan Sitler began registering targets in 1967, At the 1971 Grand American, she captured the women’s titles in the Doubles Championship and All-Around. Joan earned the ladies’ crowns in the ’74 and ’75 Dayton Homecoming. The latter year she secured category honors in a preliminary singles race.

Joan won three women’s trophies at the 1971 ATA Central Zone shoot the 16 yard title plus a singles and handicap award in the preliminary.

During the 1968 Ohio Singles Championship, Joan finished second among women, and she earned husband-wife honors with husband Guy. Three years later, she netted two awards in preliminary events and category laurels in the class 16’s. Joan won the ladies singles title in ’74 and successfully defended her crown the next year, when she picked up another husband-wife prize. She claimed her third championship in’78.

Joan has also collected awards at the Florida, Indiana and Michigan state shoots. In 1971, she won a handicap trophy at a Florida Chain competition in St. Petersburg, and she was high lady in the main singles at the Middletown Mid-American tournament, where her 191 included her first 100 straight.

Joan was named to the women’s All-American team every year from 1972 through ’79. She has registered 39,300 singles targets during her career.


Talmadge Rose

Mr. Rose registered his first amateur Trapshooting Association target in 1965. By 2002 he had registered 48,780 doubles, 99,200 handicap, and 124,050 singles targets in ATA competition.

2002 was a very good year for Talmadge at the Grand American Handicap tournament in Vandalia as he won the Veteran’s High-All-Around and the Veteran’s High-Over-All Championships. He beat all of the Veterans in the event to win the Champion of Champion title that year.

Other trophy’s won on the ATA homegrounds include a 4th place in the Budweiser Handicap in 1900 and Champion of Champions Runner-up in 1996. He was the Senior Veteran Runner-up in the 2003 Parliament Coach Handicap and was the Senior Veteran Champion in the 2003 Remington Handicap event.

He has seven major OSTA Champion trophies including the Singles in 1985 and 1987, Veteran Singles in 1996, Veteran High All-Around in 1996 and 200, and he was the Veteran Doubles Champ in bot 2000 and 2001.

His collection also includes eight additional OSTA trophies and from 1973 and 2000 an amazing 31 winds at the West Virginia State Shoot.

This Alliance, Ohio resident was named to the All-Ohio Senior Veteran Team in 2004


Dean Townsend started shooting registered trap targets in 1970 and has shot every Ohio State and Grand American since. He was introduced to the sport by his father who had a passion for hunting and shooting shotguns. During college, Dean was a member of The Ohio State University Trap & Skeet Team where he won collegiate awards in both regional and national competitions.
Dean has served the Ohio State Trapshooting Association and Foundation in many capacities. He has served on the Ohio Board of Directors, a State Tournament Director, and as an A.T.A. Delegate and Alternate Delegate for Ohio. He has also served on the Central Handicap Committee and Rules Committee for the A.T.A.

Mr. Townsend has won many trophies over the years. Some of the most notable are his eight Ohio State title trophies, the multiple Grand American trophies and countless trophies in place and category. Dean has consistently been on the All-Ohio Team, the A.T.A. All-American team and has represented Ohio in the Champion of Champions at the Grand American several times.

When not shooting, Dean has been on the pro-staff for Lujtic and Blaser. He has written articles for trapshooting magazines and helped shooters with their gun fit and fundamentals. He is always the go-to guy when a question arises at classification or with the interpretation of the A.T.A. rules.

Dean cherishes the comradery within trapshooting. While shooting all over the country, he has made many lasting friendships and seems to know everybody by name. If asked, he is always willing to advise and help fellow shooters. Some of us have had the pleasure of shooting alongside Dean. You will always find him to be a strong competitor, a gentleman and an honest shooter. Dean Townsend is a true ambassador for the sport of trapshooting.


Dan Schock discovered his passion for shooting at the age of 12 when he and his brothers rode along with their Dad to all the local gun clubs in Southwest Ohio. He also spent time as a trap boy at Greene County Fish & Game where he made many lifetime friendships. He joined the Amateur Trapshooting Association in 1983 and broke his first 100 straight singles three years later at the 1986 Grand American. In 1990, Dan reached the 27-yard line, and has been there ever since.

Dan currently has a total of nine Grand American tournament trophies. In 2003, he won the AAA class runner-up in the Clay Target Championship. In 2015, he won the Sub-Vet Super 500 Handicap. At the Ohio State Shoot, he has won over 20 State honors including six major titles. He won the Ohio State Singles Championship in 1993 and again in 2004. Dan won four State All-Around titles in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006, and also earned a place on four All-Ohio Teams.

From 2000 to 2006 Dan represented southwestern Ohio as a Zone Director with the Ohio State Trapshooting Association. During his time on the board, he was proud to be a part of the decision process to move the Ohio State Shoot from Vandalia to the present location, here at Cardinal Shooting Center.


Steve liked to hunt grouse in the mountains of Pennsylvania with his Browning over and under. He decided to go to a local club and check out trapshooting. On his first round, he missed the very first target out. However, he scored 24 and was hooked. With his same hunting gun, and a shooting buddy named Rich Long, Steve began trapshooting regularly. In 1988, he found a place at the 27 yard-line and has been there ever since. He moved to Ohio in 1990 and found trapshooting events to be readily available. It took him three more years to finally break his first 200 straight in Singles. He immediately followed with another three 200 straights, making it four in a row back to back. Steve is proud to have won the Preliminary Handicap at the 2008 Grand American. Although he has many wonderful memories of trapshooting, one of his best, is achieving the Grand Slam in 2013.



In 1973, Ron Smith was in his first shoot-off at age twelve at the Grand American in Vandalia. He was tied for the Ohio Handicap on Tuesday for the Sub-Junior category. That would be his first Grand American trophy. The win was so memorable for Ron, that he chose to commemorate that day by selecting the photo from that day to be framed in the Ohio Hall of Fame. Ron had started shooting registered targets only one year earlier. He was inspired by Richard F. Smith, his older brother by 7 years who was an All- American as a Sub-Junior, and his father who had just won the Clay Target Championship in 1971. Richard D. Smith was inducted into the Ohio Hall of Fame in 2001 and was without a doubt, Ron’s biggest influence.

It was through trapshooting that Ron met his wife Terri. It was at a Friday night shoot at Pineview/East Holmes Gun Club where her father was shooting. Ron and Terri will be married 37 years. They have a son and a daughter and two grandchildren.

Ron’s first registered shoot was at Brewster. His favorite place to shoot was always Vandalia, but he is also fond of Sparta. When he recalls his favorite memories, they include 1988 when he won the Parent/Child with his Dad, as well as the Brother/Brother category (3rd time). Ron is proud of winning the High All Around at the Ohio State Shoot in 2013 with a 397- which stands as the current record.

Like most kids, Ron would be so excited the week before the Grand that he had trouble sleeping. His advice to the young shooters is to not take themselves too serious. Ron may look serious when he is out there shooting, but he is doing what he loves…he is having fun!

CHARLES A. BOGERT
One could easily write a book about  Charles “Pink” Bogert. He was a sporting goods dealer, owned a jewelry store and a bowling alley, and was a member of the Okoboji Indians tribe (Chief Sandusky). Charlie also served as chairman of the grounds at Cedar Point, where their tournaments were once held. He was a 32nd-degree Mason, and was active in the Shrine and the Lodge of Elks. He was an extremely talented football and basketball player, a competitive bowler and was equally impressive with a trap gun. In January 1928, Charlie was crowned the Trapshooting Champion of America by compiling a remarkable average of .9775 on a total of 6,850 targets. That same year his team won the Ohio State Team Shoot race and took top honors at the Grand American. His shooting career was not without controversy as a competitor in the 1937 Grand National, however. Typically a AA shooter, a stenographer incorrectly filled out his score card, placing him in Class A. Charlie broke 200, earning him first place, but the executive committee ruled that he must remain in Class A for the day. They also ordered all the 199’s to a shoot-off for AA. With Charlie relegated to class A, he would have tied with a 17-year-old national Junior champ from Des Moines. Instead, Charlie refused to  jeopardize the young man’s title and forfeited. A three time All-American, his colorful trapshooting career ended with his death in 1945. He was 65.

HOWARD WILKIN

In 1953, Don borrowed an old .37 single barrel Winchester and used it to win a turkey. After that, he was hooked. Two years later, he got involved with a little gun club in Marstown and started shooting registered targets.

Renowned trapshooter (and future Hall of Famer) Joe Hiestand lived 10 miles from where Don grew up, and Don set his sights on becoming a good shooter like Joe. Later, he was squadded with Joe on several occasions, and they became good friends. Don is proud of the fact that he has shot in every Grand American and Ohio State Shoot since 1955. He is one tough competitor, who is still at it today.


James Forsbach
This farm boy from Plain City began shooting trap in the mid 60’s. He was working for Westinghouse and shooting their rifle team; back then it was common for factories to have industrial shooting leagues and soft ball teams. When the company newspaper reported his wins as a rifle shooter, human resources suggested a trapshooting team and asked Jim to recruit employees. the targets were pigeon shaped and glided like a plane – not round like Frisbee. He borrowed a Remington TX yellow pump gun and gathered his team for 25- 16yd targets. Most of the men broke 10 or 11 targets and one broke 16. Jim, as team captain, scored a zero.

Later, Jim would pattern that gun discovered that it shot 6-7 feet to the left! Jim convinced his wife to let him purchase a trap gun. Together, they scraped up $79 for the gun and, using a hand thrower, he did much better.

In the late 60’s, he joined the A.T.A and began shooting registered targets at Sportsman Acres in Marysville. His first big trophy and check came at Mid American Handicap in 1971 at Middletown. This is where Jim finally understood how to shoot competitively.

While traveling with his job, he was able to shoot sporting clays and bunker trap. However, he always found trap to be the most fun and most social. “The best people I’ve ever met in life, I met trapshooting.” Jim loves to hear the gun go bang, to load shells and to see a target smoked! He has wonderful memories of the good, trustworthy people he has met and shot with over the years.


Jack & Karen Fishburn

Six years ago, the Ohio State Trapshooting Association was looking for a new home. Jack Fishburn had just acquired an old, rundown campground and owned the land nearby, so he as approached about building a gun club. Jack made a quick trip to Vandalia to see what “one of these trapshoots” looked like. He agreed to take on the project and even make some improvements. Jack’s main goal – to bring new jobs to Morrow County and as they say, the rest is history! With 52 trap fields, over 500 campsites and continual new construction, Jack Fishburn has certainly fulfilled his promise. Ohio State Trapshooters have a wonderful new facility to enjoy.

Family involvement has always been instrumental to Jack’s success. His wife Karen, has continually been supportive and by his side throughout this as well as many other family businesses. At a trapshoot you will see Karen organizing the lunch counter and then at the end of the day, heading to the Farmstead Restaurant to ensure the shooters enjoy their dining experience there as well. Together, Jack and Karen Fishburn have created an opportunity for the Ohio State Trapshooting Association that far exceeds – and continues to go beyond our expectations. It is a great honor for the Ohio State Trapshooting Association to bestow this special Hall of Fame recognition to Jack and Karen Fishburn. It is a small token of our appreciation, from the shooters of Ohio. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Fishburn!


Kenneth Berger
London, Ohio

In 1951, Ken shot his first trap targets at the Reminton Club in Stratford, Connecticut. Two years later, he began registered shooting, He went to work for Remington Arms in New York in 1961 and two years later, he came to Ohio as a Remington Field Representative. In August of 1969, Ken entered the manufacturer’s representative business for an independent firm, which eventually led him to open his own firm 20 years later. Ken retired in 2005 after spending over 55 years in the business of shooting sports. During that time, he attended 46 Grand Americans and worked at the Grand American for several different companies. Ken earned a place on several of the Southwest Zone Teams. He has been on numerous All-Ohio Teams in the Men’s, Veteran and Senior Veterans categories. He is the Captain of this year’s All-Ohio Senior Veteran Team, Ken was also on 4 Industry All-American Teams, Not only has Ken had a remarkable shooting career, winning numerous trophies across the Midwest and at the Grand American…he has been a great ambassador for our sport as well.

Total Lifetime Targets
117,675 Singles
81,150 Handicap
64,624 Doubles


LARRY SOWERS

Larry took up trap around 1973 to improve his skills at shooting quail, pheasants, grouse and rabbits. His “first love” is the doubles competition because Larry considers himself a hunter and says that doubles simulate field hunting. The Ohio weather isn’t always perfect for trapshooting, but shooting in bad weather comes naturally to Larry because, well, it just feels like hunting.

Larry has won many events throughout his long career. His walls are covered with trophies, and hutches and curio cabinets are full of ribbons and prizes. His love for the sport shines unselfishly when he mentors shooters of all ages and lends his time and talents to local gun clubs.


Mary Thompson
In late 1960 Mary was working at the Cleveland Winchester Gun Club with her mother. She wasn’t shooting because she never had the time as the club kept her very busy.
Later, Mary began shooting on a skeet league and eventually shooting trap at the Wingfoot Lake Goodyear Club in Akron. Mary immediately loved the sport. She and husband Bob, joined the A.T.A. during a registered shoot at Great Eastern Gun Club. While walking down the trap line, the both became intimidated… no one was missing. Their nerves got the best of them and they did not shoot that day. However, Mary discovered the she had a competitive spirit and in 1986 and began her registered career.

At her very first Ohio State Shoot, she shot the preliminary days to get the required targets. She tried for runner-up in the singles was petrified to find herself in shoot-off! As fate would have it, her competition became ill and she won by forfeit. Mary admits that shooting did not come naturally for her and required lots of practice. Even today, with her extraordinary records of wins, she still says that it isn’t easy and she continues to shoots lots of practice… which she enjoys!

Besides all of the great people you meet, her favorite part of trapshooting is actually the competition itself. Mary says that the tournaments are the gift, a chance to show what you have accomplished – the real payoff for all the hard work.

Mary has earned a position on the Ladies’ All American Team eight times. At the 2011 Grand American, Mary won the Doubles Championship Ladies’ title and the Ladies’ High All Around with 392 to finish out an outstanding year of trapshooting.

Emerson G. Hoblit
Brookville, Ohio

“Jerry” registered his first targets in 1937 but soon turned his attention to tool making. In 1961, after establishing a successful tool company in Clayton, Ohio, he returned to registered competition. This led to a 35-year history of entering local and major trapshooting events. He had an outstanding career that included winning 27 trophies at Ohio State Shoots and 2 trophies at the Grand American. Jerry was a pioneer in developing release triggers for auto-loading trap guns. In addition to his work on the Remington 1100, he developed the first and most sought after release trigger for the Winchester Super X.

TOTAL LIFETIME TARGETS:
Singles: 121,525 Singles | Handicap: 50,200 | Doubles: 55,950

Dallas W. Maynard
Etna, Ohio

Dallas starting trapshooting competitions in 1967 and registered his first target in 1968. Since that time, he has earned countless trophies. Dallas served as a member of the Southeast Zone Team at least 30 times and the All-Ohio Team eight times. He was All-American Veteran and Senior Veteran six times and was honored to be the Senior Veteran Team Captain in 2004. While his shooting accomplishments are numerous, Dallas also is known for his honesty, ethics and true love of trapshooting. He is proud to say “I have shot with the best of them”.

TOTAL LIFETIME TARGETS:
Singles: 110,350 | Handicap: 108,450 | 52,800 Doubles

Vivian was an inner-city schoolteacher in Columbus for 30 years. She took up trapshooting around 1980 after watching her husband shoot and thinking that it “didn’t look that hard”. Two years later, she decided to try registered shooting. Vivian found herself in her first big shoot-off after breaking a score of 98 in a handicap event at the Middletown Fall Festival, which she won. Her goal had always been to someday see her name on the “big board” and to break 100 straight. Herb Orr believed in Vivian and placed a 100 straight pin inside her gun case. Eventually, she wore hat pin after shooting a score of 80 on her first 100 of a 200-bird event at the Ohio State Shoot, following it up with her first 100 straight. Vivian has won numerous events at the Ohio State shoot, including the Championship Doubles in 1996. She has served on the All–Ohio Team six times, been a a Southeast Zone Director for two terms, the OSTA vice president in 1991-1992, and its secretary/treasurer from 1993-2006. Vivian also served as the group’s first woman president from in 1992-1993. Her dream to be on the “big board” came true when she won the Ohio Handicap at the Grand in 1989, the President’s Handicap in 1996 and the Vandalia Handicap in 1998. With many wins at the Southern Grand, and Middletown, she attained the 27-yard line on May 26, 2005.


Fred Waldock Jr.

Fred Waldock first register targets in 1945, and the following two years captured the junior title in the Clay Target Championship at the Grand American.

During his career, Fred has collected over 15 trophies at the Grand, including the Clay Target Championship in 1953 and Class AA winner in the 1952 race. In 1957, he finished first in the Dayton Homecoming and introductory Singles races, and the next year he was the AA victor in the Dayton Homecoming and Class Single in addition to winning the Champion oh Champions title.

Fred was named to the Junior All-American teams in 1946 and’47 plus the men’s team in 1949. He was on eight consecutive teams beginning in 1954.

Waldock was the junior singles champion at the 1947 Ohio State Shoot. He won the singles titles in ’55, ’58, and 1960, when he also earned the doubles crown. Fred collected the all-around championship in 1959.

At the 1959 Central Zone tournament, Fred captured the singles and all-around titles.

Hugh was 13 years old when he began registering trap targets in 1929. During the seven decades since, the former school teacher and farmer was the General Manager of the ATA for 10 years; he served as president, director and longtime secretary-treasurer of the OSTA: he won the Grand American Doubles crown; and he was named to All-America traps teams in 1952 and 1956.

A yearly participant at the Golden West Grand in Reno, Hugh was also a frequent competitor during the heyday of the New York Athletic Club’s North American Champions, winning the 1952 doubles. In 1964 he broke 195 to capture the singles by three targets, and he had that same margin in leagin the doubles again, with his 98 second only to Walter Beaver’s 99 entered in 1938. He annexed the 1964 all – around award with 371×400.

McKinley captured two husband-wife awards with Bess during the Ohio state shoots, and he nailed down veteran doubles trophies in 1981, 1983 and 1985. In 1995 he will be inducted into the ATA Trapshooting Hall of Fame.

Hiram Bradley

Hiram Bradley, a Kentuckian by birth, was a high school English teacher in Greenville, Ohio when he began registered trapshooting in 1963, When he retired from the sport 17 seasons later, he had collected 21 Grand American trophies, won 16 State Championships, captured four zone titles, been named to 13 Al-American teams, amassed eight seasons of 99% or higher Singles averages, set a 16 yard long run record, shot on a 500×500 squad, earned two Trap & Field All-Around Average Awards and led men’s or industry yearly average standings on five occasions.

Bradley registered 400 Singles and 400 Handicap targets in 1963, and from late March 1964 to the Grand American of the Year, he went from 20 to 26 yards, ending his first full season with a .9817 Singles average on 4,150 targets, .9272 on 2,500 Handicap and .9133 on 900 Doubles. he was just 700 targets into 1965 target year before reaching the maximum 27-yard line.

In 1966 Bradley, won the first shoot-off held under lights at the Grand American. In a 19-way tie on 100’s for the top honors during Saturday’s Preliminary Singles, he prevailed with 150-23. This same year his .9638 All-Around average set a Trap & Field average award record.

During the 1967 Grabd, he ended a record Dingles run of 1,469, eclipsing by 35 the eight-year mark held by Arnold Reigger. This record held until 1975.


Helen Urban Cone
Helen Urban Cone began shooting trap in 1954. She was in Ohio Ladies Singles Champion in 1956 and 1979. Helen won Women’s Handicap, Doubles and High-Over-All Honers at the state shoots several times. She and Eli Cone earned the Ohio Husband/Wife Award in 1973 and 1979.

Helen was Women’s Clay Target Champion at the 1959 and 1960 Grand Americans. She secured the Femme All-Around title 1958 and High-Over-All trophies that year and again in 1959 and 1961. She was Ladies’ Dayton Homecoming Champion in 1060. She and Dick Urban won the Husband/Wife Crown in 1959 and 1960. Helen earned 10 additional trophies at the Grand American.

By the end of the 1992 season, she had registered 115,325 Singles Targets. For four years she served as the Northeast Zone Director of the OSTA.

RICHARD “PAT” NEFF

Richard Neff won four major OSTA Championships. Three of them were in Singles in 1997, 1999 and 2000. One HAA in 1997. Richard won two major Grand Championships’ HAA in 1989 and the important Grand American Handicap in 1990. Other OSTA trophies include Loctite in 1991, AA Singles, HAA, Husband/Wife in 1993, Class A Doubles RU in 1996, Doubles RU in 1997, Doubles Class A in 2001 and the Class A Doubles in 2002.

Other Grand trophies include: Clay Target Class A 3rct place in 1987, Class A RUin 1988, the Budweiser Handicap Championship and Grand American Past Winner Trophy in 1993. He also won trophies in the Clay Target Class AA RU in 1994, Doubles Class A in 1995, Handicap 81 place in 1997, Singles Class A Champion in 2001 and the President’s Handicap 151 place in 2001.

Richard was the Central Zone Doubles Champion in 1991 and the Open Preliminary Handicap Champion in Indiana in 2001. He was on the All-Ohio Team for a year.

Mr. Richard Neff was the 1351 shooter in the ATA to ever break a Grand Slam.


Dave Berlet

Dave began shooting in 1957 at the age of 15. He won the ATA Junior 16-yard Crown and also his age group’s Handicap Trophy in 1959. He has tied for the Singles Championship nine times, finishing with runner-up honors in 1967, ’73, ’78, ’80 and ’89. He has earned four AA awards in the Class Championships and secured AA Laurels in the 1944 16-yard title race.

Dave has captured 24 Grand American trophies since earning his first of six Brother­ Brother Championships with Ned in 1958. Thirty-one years later he earned the Parent­ Child title with stepson Dirk Meckstroth. A lone 99 was posted in the 1961 Grand American Handicap and Dave bested five others with 98 for runner-up laurels. He has broken 200 straight four times in the Clay Target Championship, ending third in the 1969 race and as Class AA victor in 1993.

During Central Division competition, Dave snared the. Singles Crowns in ’83 and ’85, and in 1987 he won the Handicap Championship. In a battle for the 1988 16-yard title, Dave took part in the longest shoot-off in ATA history, hitting 723×725.

Dave was named to the 1959 and 1960 Junior All-American Teams and secured a place on the 1968 Men’s Squad (plus honorable mention the following year). He has been selected for 25 All-Ohio Teams.

Berlet has recorded fifty-five 200 straights and 412 Perfect Centuries while registering 139,000 Singles Targets, with a lifetime average of .9810. In 1975 Berlet made the Guinness Book of World Records for hitting 1,572 clay targets out of 1,659 in one hour’s time.


Eileen Bichsel

Ms. Bichsel started shooting registered targets in October 1975. Since that time she has won 12 major OSTA championships in Singles and Doubles, as well as High-Over-All twice and High-All-Around three times. She has also won 14 other OSTA trophies, including the Class Doubles Championship and runner-up, Husband/Wife (4 times) and runner-up in the Championship Singles in 1995.

Eileen has won Grand American trophies including class A Doubles in 1991 and Husband/Wife (in ’91 and ’94). Numerous other trophies have been won at Satellite Grand American events in New York, Michigan a11d Arizona as well as ATA Central Zone trophies. She has won multiple trophies at other State Shoots including Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan.

Eileen has made the All Ohio Team 19 times from 1983 through 2003 and has been a member of the All-American Team 7 times. She was a Director of the OSTA for six years and served as President of the Association in 1998 and ’99. She was instrumental in initiating the ‘iS price targets for sub-junior and junior shooters and the Championship Doubles Ladies runner-up trophy at the Ohio State Trapshooting Championships. Further, Eileen was influential in starting the ‘l4 Million Club (total combined targets) with the ATA. She has helped with both youth and ladies shoots in Ohio and Michigan, as well as donating many of her formerly won trophies for the youth shoots.

Ms. Bichsel became a 27-yard-line shooter on May 21, 1994. As of August 31,2003 Eileen has shot at 112,800 Singles targets, 128,200 Handicap targets and 83,500 Doubles targets, for a combined total of 324,500 targets.


Carl N. Chadwell

Mr. Chadwell who completed his Grad Slam in 1995 became the 13th Buckeye to join this exclusive club. He has registered over 300,000 targets of all disciplines. On July 11, 2005, he celebrated 25 years on the 27-yard line without ever receiving a reduction. Carl and his father are believed to be the 1st Parent/Child in ATA history to be in the Quarter Million Registered Target Club.

He has attended 39 Grand American Tournaments and has taken home 10 championship awards. He has been named to the All-American Team seven times. 21 Satellite Grand Championship Awards have been added to his collection.

From 1977 to 2006 Mr. Chadwell has won over 100 State Championship Awards in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. During this period he also earned 23 Central Zone Awards. In 2002 he had the highest handicap average east of the Mississippi in the entire ATA with .9442 on 5900 targets. This award winner has been selected to All-State Teams for ten years each in Ohio and Michigan.

Residing in Columbus, Carl is the only man on the Ohio State Men’s Team to be in the top five every year from 1999 to 2007. He was named Ohio’s Greatest Shooter in 2006 with his Grand American All-Around 397×400.

Louie Morgan

Louie Morgan has quietly become one of the nation’s best trapshooters. This Ohio competitor has been selected six times to the Amateur Trapshooting Association’s All­ American Team. In his home state he has received the honor of being a member of the All-Ohio Team for fourteen years.

At the Grand American Tournament Louie has tied for the Clay Target Championship six times with 200 straight. In 1995 he won the runner-up trophy in the event. In 1997 he became the High-All-Around AAA Champion. In 1998 he collected the Preliminary Doubles AA trophy and finished fourth in the Preliminary Handicap. The following year Mr. Morgan was the AAA Champion in the Clay Target Championship and finished twelfth in the President’s Handicap. 2000 was another good year as he claimed the AAA Singles Class Championship and was the Dayton Homecoming Champion.

He has won ten major Ohio State Championships including the Handicap in 1987, the Doubles Championship in 1989 and 1995, the High-Over-All in 1991, ’93, ’94 and ’95 and three High-All-Around titles in 1987, ’89 and ’90.

Other OSTA Championships: Loctite Handicap in 1994 and third place in 1995, AA Doubles in 1997, third place in the Preliminary Handicap in 1998, MachOne Handicap 25 in 1998, Singles AA RU in 1998, McKinley Singles Champion in 2000, Class Singles AA Champion in 2000 and Singles Champion AA RU in 2000.


Gerald Christman

Gerald Christman, who completed his Grand Slam in 1989, has been selected to the All-Ohio Team 13 times in his shooting career. He has acquired five major Ohio State Trapshooting Tournament Championships including the Doubles and the High-Over-All in 1991, the Singles in 1994, the High All-Around in 1997, and the High-Over-All once again in 2004.

Other O.S.T.A trophies include handicap wins in 199, 1993, and 2003. In Doubles he has won the Preliminary event in 1988 and the Doubles Class AA Championship in 2003. The AA Class Class Singles Championship was added in 2001. The year 2003 brought the runner-upp trophies in both the High-All-Around and the High-Over-All events.

Mr. Christman was the proud winner of the Grand American Clay Target Championship in 1990. Other Grand Titles include the Ohio Handicap in 1988, Fredrick Kaschek Handicap in 1992, Doubles Class AA Runner-up in 1993, High-All-Around Runner-up for 1994 and the Ohye Doubles Class AA Champion in 2004.

Six trophies have come from the ATA Satellite Grand Americans in 1994 he won the Dixie Grand Singles, at the Southern Grand he picked up 1994 Singles Championship and followed with the Doubles Class AAA title in 2005. Singles Championship and the High-All-Around were won at the Spring Grand in 1995. In 2001 the Southwestern Grand Federal Handicap 27 yard Runner-up trophy was added. An additional six trophies have been won at the Golden West Grand in the years 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1995.

Gerald Christman has been selected twice as Ohio’s Grandest Shooter, on the All-Ohio Team 13 times, and has been chosen to the All-American Team in 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1997.

David Brusman
Mr. Brusman started shooting registered targets in the 1960’s. Since that time he has won seven major OSTA Championships, those being: HOA Class AA (1994), HOA Veteran (1996, 2001 and 2003), HAA Veteran (2001 and 2003) and the Doubles Veteran Championship(2003). Other OSTA trophies have been won in Singles and Doubles.

Dave has won many Grand American trophies including the 2002 Trap and Field Handicap Veteran’s, Preliminary HOA Veteran’s, Singles Class Veteran third place and the Doubles Class Veteran’s Championship. He finished third in the Clay Target Veteran’s event in 2003. Numerous other trophies have been won at satellite Grand American events. He was won multiple trophies at other State Shoots including Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and South Carolina.

Dave has made the All-Ohio Team six times from 1991 through 2002 and has been a member of the All-American Team three time; additionally, he was named Captain of the Veterans Team in 2003. Dave was a Director of the OSTA for six years and served as President of the Association in 1997.

As of August 31, 2003, Dave Brusman has shot at 140,800 Singles targets, 129,550 Handicap targets and 76,300 Doubles targets for a combined total of 345,650 targets. For 17 years Dave has held a 98% average of better.


Ross Warren was introduced to trapshooting by his father when he was 11 years old. He learned to set targets, pull and score to earn money for shooting. In 1970, he registered his first targets and became a very accomplished Junior competitor. During college in 1977-1978, he taught trapshooting at Ohio University and started their trapshooting club. After completing his education, Dr. Ross Warren returned to registered shooting to continue his devotion to the sport. Over the years, he has had much success winning championships at both the state and national level.
In 1992, Dr. Warren earned 30 honorary yards in one season from the 27 yard-line. In 1993, he became the 10th Ohio shooter and the 141st A.T.A. shooter to obtain a Grand Slam. Ross has 7 Grand American trophies as well as many from Satellite Grands and numerous State Shoots. Every Spring, he looks forward to reconnecting with his trapshooting friends, making new friends, sharing memories, and making new ones.

Bellbrook, Ohio
141,900 Singles
145,900 Handicap
80,350 Doubles


James N. Corbett


Like many trapshooters, Todd took up trapshooting after hunting with his father. His father was left- handed so Todd mimicked his dad and shot left-handed even though he was right eye dominant. Eventually, it was Lester Handwork, an insurance agent, who took Todd to a trap shoot and got him hooked on the competition. Eventually Todd was nicknamed “Pow Pow” by many of his friends when he started shooting a pull release. When he was in the Army, his proficiency with the rifle got him the nickname “Slick”. Todd qualified as a rifle shooter for the Olympic final try outs but was unable to afford the expensive trip without a sponsor. Todd won the Ohio State Shoot Singles Championship three times and hoped to win it one more time in 2013. However, it was not to be as his illness caused his passing late that summer. As far back as 1989, Todd had the dream of making it into the Ohio Hall of Fame. His wife, Phyllis, also known as “Coach”, says he was a perfectionist with a goal to always win.


Charlotte Wells was born in Amonate, Virginia in 1939. She later moved to Ohio where she met her husband, Bert Wells (O.S.T.A. Hall of Fame Inductee 2011). The two married in 1958 and had two daughters, Sherry and Patty.

Bert developed his love of trapshooting in 1965, and in 1968, an opportunity presented itself for Bert to become the manager of Middletown Sportsmen’s Club. With Charlotte and his daughters by his side, they managed the Sportsmen’s Club together until 1991. Charlotte was steadfast in her commitment to Bert’s dream. She poured her heart and soul into supporting the growth and maintenance of the Sportsmen’s Club. Bert and Charlotte ushered Middletown into the glory days of trapshooting, skeet shooting, and the introduction of sporting clays. During their management of Middletown Sportsmen’s Club, the club grew to host two multi-day tournaments, DIAA and Armco events, the O.S.T.A. Southwest Zone Shoot, and even hosted the Ohio State Shoot.

Charlotte began shooting trap in 1969. Her most notable accomplishment came in 1972 when she became the first woman to ever tie to win the Grand American Handicap with a score of 99×100 in the program. She missed her 54th target. She shot a 19 in the shoot-off. As the story goes, Charlotte had not shot well the day before and Bert had her fired up when she took the line for the championship event. She had even told him not to watch her that day. It was not long before news traveled to Bert that she was on quite the score. When everything was said and done, her 99 became the highest score recorded by a woman in that event in A.T.A. history. She earned High Lady honors and 4th place overall for the Grand American Handicap that year.

While Charlotte never graced the cover of Trap & Field, she dedicated nearly her entire adult life to the advancement of shooting sports in the state of Ohio and the growth of Middletown Sportsmen’s Club. Charlotte died in 1991 at the age of 52.
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Dennis Filo
Dennis is a familiar face to many of us, and a familiar voice, as well. He became a Southwest Zone Director in 1995 and in 2001, he was chosen as President of the OSTA.  In addition, he served 11 years as the Ohio Delegate of the Amateur Trapshooting Association. Dennis was determined to establish the Ohio State Trapshooting Foundation, spending many hours doing the due diligence of incorporation. His efforts paid off and the dream of a Foundation became  reality in February of 1997. Shortly thereafter, the Articles of Incorporation were completed in March and the Code of Regulations were adopted. Dennis is one of the forefathers of our Foundation — a project that remains close to his heart. He served as Foundation chairman and holds that position today. His passion has resulted in more than 80 deserving high school students receiving over $93,000 in scholarships. Through the years, Dennis has participated and trophied in many tournaments around the country, but he will always be known for his contribution to the Ohio State Trapshooting Association and Foundation. The Ohio Foundation stands out among all of the other state associations as it continues to grow. This charitable organization strives to improve trapshooting in Ohio through scholarships, trophies and programs aimed at increasing youth participation. Assets and earnings of the Foundation help to fund youth projects, and establish and maintain the Ohio Trapshooting Hall of Fame, of which Dennis is a deserved member.

TOTAL LIFETIME TARGETS

79,950 Singles
81,775 Handicap
48,050 Doubles


Annie Oakley was born Annie Moses on Aug. 13, 1860, near Greenville, Ohio. She learned to shoot at the age of 8 with her father’s old cap and ball Kentucky rifle. At 15 in the fall of 1875, Annie shot in Cincinnati against Frank Butler, a champion marksman. She beat him fair and square and a year later, in private life, became Mrs. Frank Butler. Annie joined Frank’s shooting act and became Annie Oakley.

She met the great Sioux Chief, Sitting Bull, was adopted into the tribe and given the name, “Little Miss Sure Shot”. Annie traveled with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show for 17 years. She broke 100 straight in a match race in London in 1887, setting a club record. Annie performed her magic with guns before seven crowned heads of Europe. The Prince of Wales presented her with a solid silver cup bearing the inscription, “You are the best shot I have ever seen.”

After retiring from traveling, Annie taught hundreds to shoot while in Pinehurst, N.C.. She also participated in many trapshoots in the area, including the Grand American.

During her 30 years of shooting, Annie won more than $100,000 and numerous trophies, and fired more than a million shells. She died in Greenville, Ohio on Nov. 3, 1926


Brad Dysinger

Brad Dysinger started shooting registered targets in 1974 at age 19 and won the Ohio State Handicap Championship just one year later in 1975. Brad won the Ohio State Singles Championship in 1982 and was the Doubles Champion in 1979 and 1981. He has taken the High All Around title at the Ohio State Shoot in 1979, ’80, ’81, ’85 and ’94. He was the fust Ohio shooter to win all three major championships at the Ohio State Shoot.

Brad has won Central Zone Trophies in the Doubles in 1980 and 1982, and won the High-All-Around in 1976.

Thus far, Brad has claimed Major Grand American Championship Events in the Clay Target Championship in 1978 and 1989, as well as the High-Over-All in 1988. He was the champion in the Dayton Homecoming in 1985 and 1994 and the Budweiser Handicap Champion with a 99 from the 27-yard line in 1989. He has gathered over 50 Grand American trophies. He set a record in 1983 for winning 14 trophies during the Grand that year and has broken 200 straight at the Grand 21 times (six times in the Clay Target Championship).

On August 28, 1977 Brad became the 1ih shooter in ATA history to register a “Grand Slam,” perfect score in Singles, Handicap and Doubles events.

Brad has been named to the All-Ohio Team eight times and has been on the All-America Team sixteen times. He also had the honor ofbeing the High All-Around Average Award recipient in 1979.


ADEN KAUFMAN

Aden has shot trap for more than 40 some years. Many seasoned shooters know him from his 25 years at the Great Eastern Gun Club. Newer enthusiasts will associate him with the Cardinal Shooting Center. Aden’s devotion to the sport is evident by his service to the shooters of Ohio, and he is recognized is for his lifetime of commitment, his career of excellence, and his love of the sport. Aden is truly committed to the future of trapshooting. He has taken young shooters “under his wing,” pointed them in the right direction and encouraged them every step along the way.


Kenneth Kamnikar
Lorain, Ohio

72,100 singles 48,850 handicap 40,450 doubles

June 21st, 2018 is a special day for Ken. Not only will he be inducted into the Ohio Trapshooting Hall of Fame, it is also his father’s birthday. Louis Kamnikar, the man who introduced Ken to trapshooting, would be 122 years old. In 1930, Ken’s father helped to build the Lorain Rifle and Hunting Club in their Slovenian community.

In 1962, Ken started shooting in the Army pistol team. When he returned home there weren’t many places to shoot pistol, so in 1989 he seriously took up trapshooting. In 1998 at the Grand American, Ken shot his first 100 straight in handicap – a day he remembers well. His second 100 score in handicap was at the 2001 Grand American, which soon became his favorite place to trapshoot. Ken’s shooting record from then to now, has been quite impressive.

Ken has enjoyed his many years of trapshooting and the many friendships made along the way. “Trapshooters are great people.” Ken wants to help the future of the sport, which means supporting our youth shooters. Ken’s advice to the up-and-coming shooters, “Do your best and God will do the
rest” – a motto Ken recites every time he takes the line.

Philippians 4:13

Ron Charniga
Bowling Green, Ohio

235,400 Singles 234,750 Handicap 158,150 Doubles

Ron used to spend his spare time hunting pheasants and shooting crows with his
Model 12- no rib, field gun. In 1975 he decided to try protector shooting at Lowellville Gun Club with his good friend, Lou Hornyak. It didn’t take Ron long to learn that he needed to add a rib and a trap stock on that gun to stop the kicking! A year later, he had discovered registered trapshooting and as they say, “the rest is history”.

He shot his very first registered shoot while living in Michigan and working at Ford. He remembers that February snowstorm at the old Winchester Gun Club with the cold winds blowing off of Lake Erie and the nearby swamp. The bad weather conditions did not discourage him from working at the sport as he was on the 27-yard line in less than 2 years, and has remained there since the early 1980’s. He had to overcome flinching so he
switched to a release trigger and moved up to a Perazzi, his current gun of choice.

Ron loves to shoot which is evident in the amount of registered targets he has logged over the years. His 100,000 singles target was shot at Great Eastern Gun Club in Sugar Creek and his 200,000 singles target was shot at Jaqua’s in Findlay. In 2007, Ron was especially proud to win both the High Over All and the High All Around at the Ohio State Tournament. Ron advises shooters to have fun and enjoy yourself when you are out there on the trap line.

William Jaqua
Findlay, Ohio

Bill started Jaqua’s Sports Marine in 1947 with the typical small sporting goods store and an even smaller inventory of guns. As his sporting goods business grew, so did his love of firearms. Bill started going to the Ohio State Shoot and the Grand American in Vandalia, long before the days of vendor buildings and sold his trap guns out of a tent. In August of 1973, he bought his first building, which at the time was considered to be at the heart of vendors row. The business moved once more down the trap line to the west, and remained there until the closing of the Vandalia shooting grounds.

In the late 70’s, Bill leased the Fisher Brothers Gun Club from Bud and Bill Fisher and eventually purchased the property we all knew as Jaqua’s Gun Club. In 1982, he built a gun store on the property that offered shooters the ability to “try before you buy”. Shooters shopped and purchased their guns while actually standing inside the gun safe! Jaqua’s Gun Club had many years of big and small, fun and serious registered shoots.

In 1943, Bill entered the Air Force to serve our country. He flew 35 missions as a bombardier-navigator on a B-17. During his career as a gun dealer, he shot 106,550 singles, 112,350 handicap and 88,450 doubles registered targets.

Bill Jaqua loved the shooters, loved making gun deals, always had a smile, and wished happiness for everyone he met. He passed away last year on December 31st, one day after his 94th birthday. Bill was aware that he had been selected for the Ohio State Trapshooting Hall of Fame and was honored to know he was to be inducted at the State Tournament.


Pat Dawson

Pat Dawson, from Massillon, began shooting registerd targets in 1970. Since that time, she has won 26 trophies at the Ohio State Shoot. Included in these are the Ladies Ohio Singles Championship 4 times, the Ladies Doubles Championship 7 times, the Ladies HAA 8 times and HOA 5 times. Pat has won 4 Grand American trophies, including twice Class Doubles Ladies RU, Champ of Champs Ladies RU in 1991, and Ladies Clay Target Champion in 1981. Mrs. Dawson won the Ladies Central Zone Singles Championship in 1988.

Pat Dawson has been named to the All-American Team 3 times and the All-Ohio Team for 17 years, serving as captain or ranked first in the ladies division 13 out of the last 16 years. She is the 52nd woman in ATA history to reach the 27 yard line. Pat became the first Ohio woman to reach the AA27AA classification.


Dwight Williams

Dwight H. Williams started registered competition in 1939 and won many trophies in Ohio and Florida. He shot his 52nd Ohio State Shoot and Grand American in 1993. Dwight won three trophies at the Grand American, including Senior Vetaran honors in the 1988 Dayton Homecoming. He captured nine awards at various Spring, Southern, Dixie and Golden West Grand Americans since 1990.

Mr. Williams was a member of the All-Ohio State Team as a Senior Veteran five times. He was the ATA Central Division Senior Vet Champion in 1992, and was named to ATA Senior Vet All-American Teams in 1989, 1992, and 1993. Dwight was notified in January (prior to his death February 1, 1994) the he would be inducted into Ohio Hall of Fame this summer. He had a career total on nearly 300,000 targets of all three trapshooting disciplines, including 167,125 singles.


George Ligowsky

The target and trap invented by George Ligowsky of Cincinnati are credited with giving the modern-day trapshooting its start. He invented a practical clay target in 1880. It was while watching youngsters skip shells across the water at the seashore that Ligowsky conceived his idea for the clay pigeon. He presumably picked some shells and recognized the fact that the invented saucer shape was what gave the shell its stability in flight. He reasoned that a perfectly circular saucer would have even greater stability.

His first targets were made entirely of clay, baked like bricks. They were extremely hard and almost impossible to break. He eventually gave up using clay and tried limestone and pitch, but the misnomer “clay Pigeon” stuck.

The first public appearance of the Ligowsky targets was at the New York State live-bird championships at Coney Island in 1880. Ligowsky was instrumental in the staging of the first national trapshooting tournament at New Orleans on February 11, 1885. The first traps produced by Ligowsky sold for $20, and the targets cost $20 per thousand.


Herbe Orre

It has been said the Herb Orre was once responsibel for braking more targets than anyone in trapshooting…not through his on shooting prowess, but because he spent his life perfecting guns for the sport’s champions.

Son of a world renowned shot manufacture near Stockholm, he followed through in his childhood dreams to come to the United States. His tremendous knowledge of firearms and mathematics landed him work at Winchester Arms Company. During his years there changed the hammer design and the firing pin on the Model 12. As assembly room foreman he developed the technique for assembling a news side-by-side shotgun. He was 21 years old and the patentees with whom he had worked selected Model 21 as the name for this new gun.

Herb attended his first Grand American in 1932 and seventeen years afterwards he left Wincheste and set up his own shop. “I wanted to give shooter something to think about,” he remarked. He gave them what became the famous Orre Super-Choke.

A testimonial once described him as “one of the masterminds that vastly improved gun technology, and therefore scores”. His Super-Choke opened the shotgun pattern quickly for better advantage in 16-yard shooting. Many who availed themselves of his expertise shot to stardom and eventually Hall of Fame honors. In 1963 Herb was appointed to a 10-year term on the All-America Selection Committee.

Peggy Ann Wise


Robert Mieczkowski

Mr. Mieczkowski registered he first Amateur Trapshooting Association targets in 1968. In 1972 he won his first Grand American Trapshooting Tournament trophy with a score of 198 to take home the Junior Clay Target Championship. Wins in the Junior class HOA, Saturday’s Doubles, Champion of Champions and NACT followed the same year.

Other Grand American trophy wins include the Junior Class AA Doubles in 1973, Class AA Doubles Runner-up in 1974 and the Class AA Doubles Championship in 1998. He was the Singles Class AA Runner-up at the 1996 Spring Grand American.

He won a Class D open event at the North Carolina State Shoot in 1970. As a Junior shooter he made it to the 27-yard line for the first time at 14 July 14, 1971, Finishing second in 1972 he won the Trap & Field All-Around Average Award in 1973. Bob was the youngest to break 100 in doubles on July 15, 1972: 15 years, 10 months and 10 days. He also brought home five junior trophies from the 1974 Golden West Grand along with a preliminary doubles win. He has been selected for five All-American Teams in hi career.

His Ohio State Tournament win list includes 15 trophies from 1970 through 200. They include Junior Singles Championship wins in 1970 and 1974. Doubles and All-Around Championships in 1975. Preliminary Doubles win in 1976 and a runner-up in 1986. 1991 was a good year with resident winds in Class AA Doubles, HOA, Singles and was the ATA All-Around Champion. In 1993 he was the ATA Doubles Champion, 1994 rbought a third palce in the Presidents Handicap, a win Wednesday’s Handicap in 1998 and in 200 he won the Director’s Handicap.

Mr. Mieczkowski has served on the O.S.T.A Board of Directos and was named president of the Association in 2000.


William Gerber

Veteran trapshooter William Gerber won the first of his 12 Grand American trophies in 1991, the Veteran Clay Target Championship. He would later claim the Sr. Vet’s trophy in 1996. 1992 saw Bill win the Veteran’s Doubles title followed shortly by the Veteran’s High-All-Around Championship. !993’s tournament provided a great week of shooting as he picked up both the Veteran’s High-All-Around title once again and also the High-Over-All trophy.

The good shooting continued in Vandalia in 1995 with his winning the Veteran’s President’s Handicap. The Sr. Veteran’s HOA was his again in 1996. The next year three more Grand American trophies , the Class Sr. Vet., Clay Target Sr. Vet, and the Sr. Vet’s Champion of Champions RU, were added to his collection.

He has won 13 major OSTA Championships, including the Handicap, HAA, and HOA in 1984. As a Veteran he was won the Singles title in 1992-93-94-95. Then as a Senior Veteran in 1997 he picked up the Singles and Doubles titles. The Doubles trophy once again in 1998. The Sr. Vet HOA in 1997-98 along with the HAA in 1998 trophies reside in his Lorain, Ohio home.

Other OSTA trophies include the Handicap Sr.Vet RU in 1998, Double Class Sr. Vet. and Singles Championship Sr. Vet. RU in 1999. 2000 was a great year as he won seven additional OSTA Senior Veteran trophies.

This Vice President of the Dover Bay & Sportsman Gun & Reel Club has been selected 12 times for the All-Ohio Team. Four Times as a Veteran, three times as a Senior Veteran, and a All-American Veteran five times.


Dale F. Millar

Mr. Millar joined the ATA in 1952 and began his career as a registered trap shooter. He has six major Ohio State Trapshooting Championships and seven Grand American trophies.

His list of Ohio trophies include in 1958 the Class A Singles Championship, Runner-ups in the Doubles and Preliminary Doubles, High All-Around and High Over All Championships. In 1960 he was the champion in the Class AA Singles and Doubles, Preliminary Doubles, High Over All, and High All Around. 1961 found him as the Ohio State Doubles champion and he was runner-up in the Singles Championship. Then later in 1966 he finished third in the Doubles and was the High All Around Runner-up. The Singles Championship was his in 1970 and in 1973 he finished second in the High All Around.

AT in the 1958 Grand American he won the Doubles Championship Class C Runner-up and next year he was the Class B winner in the same event. In 1960 he became the Preliminary Doubles runner-up. He was the Grand American Doubles Champion with a score of 99×100 with a combined score that broke a Grand record. Other Vandalia trophies include: 1961 Doubles Championship Class A Runner-up, 1962 Doubles Class A Champ, 1964 Doubles Class A champ again, 1970 Doubles Championship Class A winner, and the 1973 Singles Championship Class A Runner-up.

Mr.Millar has won trophies at the 1961 Michigan Doubles Championship and the 1961 the Indiana Doubles Championship High Score. He Also has other wins at the Winchester Club, Stein Trophy Shoot and the Tri-State Shoot. In 1960 Jimmy Robinson wrote a latter proclaiming Mr. Millar as the best Doubles shooter in the nation. He won the National High Average award that year and the following was named to the 1960 All American Team.

Kathy Cherubini Laurisky


LYNN PARSONS was born the son of legendary exhibition shooter, Herb Parsons, on December 23, 1942, in Somerville, Tennessee. He graduated valedictorian of his class in 1961 and graduated Cum Laude from Rhodes University, Memphis, Tennessee. In 1969, he graduated from the Tulane School of Medicine. Major Lynn Parsons served as Chief of Surgery and Chief of Hospital Services at the Air Force Hospital in Columbus, Mississippi. He was a surgeon in Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. Dr. Parsons worked at Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine until his death on May 11, 2012.

Lynn spent untold hours documenting the career and preserving the history of his father. He also spent much time documenting and making DVD’s from recovered home 8mm films of many other exhibition shooters. He also served many years on the National Trapshooting Hall of Fame Committee.

In his own right, Lynn was a very good shooter as shown in the Showman Shooter VHS tape he put together in 1984. He stepped out of the audience at age 12 and broke 5 hand-thrown clay targets with a model 12 shotgun before they hit the ground. He not only loved trapshooting, but also skeet, sporting clays, and bird hunting. Wherever he went, he was always promoting trapshooting. Dr. Parsons was a great ambassador for our sport.

Bellefontaine, Ohio
31,050 Singles
19,250 Handicap
13,950 Doubles


RANDY WILHELM used to accompany his father to the local gun club and watch him shoot all day, just waiting for his chance to shoot 10 or 20 targets with his Model 12. When he was around seven, his father bought him a 20-gauge 1100 and that became his first trap and hunting gun. Randy registered his first targets in 1977 at age 11. He credits his entire trapshooting career to his father, his grandfather, and the late Ken Ester.
Randy has earned a position in over 20 All-Ohio Teams and won numerous Ohio State competitions and awards. He has Grand American wins as a Sub Junior as well as those earned in the 80’s, 90’s and 2005-2013. The win that means the most to him, is the HOA he won in Las Vegas at the 1994 Fall Shoot. He is also especially proud of his two 500 straights.
“Trapshooting has been a big part of my life since I was six years old. I have made a lot of good friends.”

Sunbury, Ohio
92,250 Singles
74,875 Handicap
39,350 Doubles


Courtneybegan trapshooting after being invited to his local gun club by a well-seasoned shooter, “Butch” Sayre. Sometimes that’s all it takes, and you are hooked. Richard Sayre (Ohio handicap champion in 1973 and President of the O.S.T.A. in 1989) worked with Courtney and his hunting gun. He watched him break about eight targets out of his first 25 and gave him the encouragement he needed. The more Courtney shot, the more he wanted to be out there on the trapline.

He began shooting at Lancaster Gun Club and Great Eastern, registering his first targets in 1994. His wife, Nina, enjoyed shopping at the Amish stores so whenever he went to Great Eastern Gun Club, they would often plan a weekend get-away. It was at Middletown in the mid 90’s that Courtney met his long-time shooting friends, Peggy and Larry Wise. He became a member at their Morgan County Gun Club as well as serving as Vice President and as a Trustee. By 1998, he was standing on the 27-yard line.

Courtney has always enjoyed shooting State tournaments and meeting new people. One of his favorite State Shoots was West Virginia -he won the Non-Resident Singles Championship there in the 90’s. Another favorite memory is winning the long yardage handicap at the 2002 Ohio State Shoot in Vandalia- after losing the handicap championship by one target.

Courtney will always be remembered for his service to the Ohio State Trapshooting Association and the Foundation. He was the Treasurer from 2007 to 2019 and remained as financial advisor to the Foundation for an additional year. One of his greatest contributions and one of his best experiences as Treasurer, was working with Jack Fishburn to successfully negotiate our contracts to benefit both parties.


“Lou” and Mary met when they were in their teens. In November, they will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! For them, trapshooters are their extended family. They have wonderful memories of Great Eastern, Vandalia and Jaqua’s. Unfortunately, the younger shooters will never experience these gun clubs. Lou always fit the shooting into his work schedule- it was their vacation as it was, and is, for many shooters. They would shoot every chance they could. Mary says, “We were only home when no one was shooting!”

Lou went from shooting pheasants and crows, to orange targets on a bet. After a co-worker challenged him, he met him at his club and beat him at his own game. This led Lou to shooting protector shoots in Northeast Ohio. In 1975, he began A.T.A. registered shooting with his childhood friend Ron Charniga, and the rest is history. He is proud of his numerous trophies from State Shoots and the Grand American. He was on the All-Ohio Men’s Team in 1990, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Mary was a spectator for many years. She noticed more women were shooting so she decided to give it a try. In 1986, she began shooting registered targets and credits trapshooting for bringing her “out of her shell.” In 2006, she began vending at Cardinal Shooting Center selling coats and shirts and business was booming! Mary found she really enjoyed the contact with the shooters through her business. When Dave Schock approached her to help him with the SCTP program, she hesitated. However, because of her interest in trapshooting and her dedication to the young shooters, she was more than happy to assist with the youth program. This year will be her 9th year of service with SCTP. “I do it to contribute to our sport and the young shooters. They are the future of our sport, and it is fun! God bless them all.”


Kenneth Chaney was born in Middletown, Ohio. He was an active life member of the Middletown Sportsmen’s Club for 30 years and President from 1977-1980. From 2007 until his passing in 2013, he primarily shot skeet and sporting clays at Middletown. He also made an occasional gunstock from the walnut trees cut from his family farm.

Ken was a Zone Director from 1987-1990 and the O.S.T.A. President in 1990. As President, he helped develop the Hall of Fame selection process.

He enjoyed many years of traveling the country attending trapshoots with his wife Geri and two sons. He attended the Grand American 45 consecutive years. He shot the Ohio State Shoot 45 consecutive years and 39 consecutive State Shoots in Indiana. He participated in 41 consecutive State Shoots in Kentucky. He shot in the Florida State Shoot 25 years, Michigan 5 years, Illinois and Tennessee 3 years each, and Iowa and Pennsylvania 2 years each. He also shot the State Shoots in Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. During his 46 years of registered shooting, they made many friends that became an important part of their lives.