Wondering What Became Of Past Champions

As I stated before (in another thread), I haven't shot registered targets since 2003. I know Brad and Dave are still active (maybe not shooting trap) and I heard that Kay Ohye is retired. Very sadly we lost Leo several years ago. I see from past postings that Earl passed away. Whatever his issues, he was ALWAYS cordial to me and a helluva shooter. I see Dan Bonillas mentioned from time to time. Just curious what has become of some of the well known shooters form the past 30 years or so. Ray Stafford? Phil Kiner?

 

They got old.

 

Yep, the ones still kickin, got one foot in the grave and the other on top the grave. And when their done there's only one left...THE DWAG

 

rookieshooter, Now play nice, Dawg is still as good as he ever was. You know the old saying, the older I get, the better I was. I guess the dawg, is a reflection of little dawg, never big dawg. Roger C.

 

My body is anxiously awaiting it's second wind. Beware you fat, old, crippled and half blind formers I'll be back!

 

outliving each other is a competition in itself. no guns or ammo required, just a good medical plan.

 

I guess we need a new category for Hall of Fame inductees. This would be for, drum roll please...The ones that personally knew the greatest, shot with the greatest and even carried their shell bags. I personally nominate DAWG.
We could include an 8x10 glossy photo of himself hanging next to his 3rd place Lewis embroidered jacket

 

Heh, be nice to old people. I actually broke 125 straight over the last two weeks before returning to normal. That said, we don't shoot fairy nice targets in PA like those in OH and AZ.

 

Not too shabby for an old, miserable, has been and beaten out for first by an ATA All-American and former HOF member (we won't go into that one) So, there were over 400 shooters below me. You wannabes would belong to the also-rans.

 

I love it when dumb (oleoputz) and dumber (roger c) go at it. Just about the only entertainment this site has.

 

Well, welcome there newbs. Please feel free to make the site better with some of your own “wisdom”

I’m just kidding, with the insult of two member for starters I doubt if you could offer anything but go ahead, I’ll wait.

 

And BTW, when you have shot at as many places and as many targets as those two guys have you can take a swipe at them. You see, both of them were never “darngood”.

They were DAMN GOOD. Just sayin newbs...

 

darngood, I'm glad you can read my posts, I type very slow so members like you can understand what I'm saying. Now you have a nice day. Roger C.

 

I post this only in the interest of some of truth.

I snapped a ligament in my foot at the end of 2017 due to an antibiotic called Levaquin. This started a period of time where I fought infections & went through two surgeries to straighten my foot none of which were successful and then in 2019 my right leg was amputated.

there were some healing issues and after two types of prosthetic attachment and I finally got a prosthetic that did not bust open my stump. I have been walking successfully the last year and a half & have been doing clinics but still can’t stand & shoot.

I spent almost 5 years not walking but running around on a knee scooter and consequently all the tiny muscles that help you stand up when you shoot atrophied. I thought I could shoot the high overall at the Grand this year but the long drive to the grand flared up the muscles in my gluteus maximus and I was not able to stand up longer than the first 25. In the class singles i broke 23 x 25 & dropped out.

I tried a couple of shots the next day & still couldn’t stand & shoot - I made 2 shots!

I stayed for the Hall of Fame induction to see my friend Stacy Rehor inducted and then stayed for the Board of Directors meeting Wednesday night. I then left.

Ray is still shooting & for those of you that think he never was, consider this: He missed a 99.+ singles average last year ending his streak at 43 years. He also leads in 100’s from the 27 with 57. Top THAT!

Ask Brad if we shot “real” targets.

Thank you & adios.

 

Sitting on the bench at the Southern Grand with Phil many years ago he handed me his Trap Special and asked what I thought. Since he had the stock that high I must have seen about a ft, between the beads I asked him how'd he shoot a gun that high. He responded pretty good and proceeded to break a 100 straight from the fence. Old age takes its toll of the finest.

 

Hi Phil, hope your "adios" doesn't mean your quitting. I have enjoyed shooting and (occassionally) Squading with you for the last 50+ years. I destroyed my right shoulder and injured my left one thus ending my registered career. Still shoot for fun but not real good. Shoot sporting mostly now. Age is catching up with Ray but he is still a handfull. Easilly in the top 3 of all time in my opinion. Well deserved induction for Stacy. Hope to run across you some time in the future. John Uhl

 

Phil,

Your friends in Fairfax,Virginia are glad you are still shooting/teaching.

Still remembering how you said to SEE the target!

Be safe and healthy...

Paul in Virginia

 

Phil, glad you are still teaching-attended a clinic of yours in Pa., this week its been 1 year since my major back surgery-it seems insignificant to what you have experienced- shot 100 targets this Sun and I'm hurting really bad--looks like I joined you in shooting 23/25 and I went further down hill

The old adage "old age isn't for sissies" is getting too true-but it beats the alternative.

 

Phil I got a picture of our squad from the 1989 grand on my desk, those were fun times. Miss those days but after spending a week as the TD at this years Cardinal Classic I don't miss trap shooting one bit. It was nothing like the old days I remember. I hadn't been active as a TD for 7 or 8 years before this year and the shooters just have a different mind set even from just 8 years ago. They are not anything like we were when you, Ray, Leo, Gene, and I shot together.

I hate to say it but most of the shooters (and trap help) don't know or care about the rules. Everyone thinks they are a target setter and constantly want to set the targets to suit themselves. It was just appalling to me and that's all I'm going to say about it. I miss the old days, I don't miss the ATA but do miss the old days.

 

Just for another correction- I happen to be in 3 Halls of Fame: Wyoming Trapshooting Hall of Fame, The Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame ( unfortunately now defunct due to money) & The Trapshooting Hall of Fame.

 

Yes Brad Those were the good old days. We have some stories.

 

Glad to have had the opportunity to attend one of those past Champions clinics when I first took up the sport...
Thanks Phil Kiner for all your contributions to Trapshooting...

Trap3

 

What kind of gun is Phil holding in that picture? Couldn’t make it big enough for me to tell.

 

Perazzi...MX10, I believe...

Trap3