Mr Orin "O N" Ford - Organizer of Pacific International Trapshooting Association (PITA)

Mr. Orin N. Ford
The Driving Force Behind
The Pacific International Trapshooting Association (P.I.T.A.)​

One of the most prolific figures in trap shooting during the period when control of the sport was being transferred from the manufacturers to the amateur shooters was Mr. Orin N. Ford.

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He is a member of The HistoryBuff Hall of Fame and should have been recognized decades ago with enshrinement in the Trapshooting Hall of Fame in my view. Perhaps some will agree with me after reviewing the below list of his accomplishments:

Orin Nicholas FORD
12MAR1875, Spring Grove, Linn, Iowa – 10NOV1942, Monterey, California
Central City, Iowa (1903)
Member of Iowa State Associations’ Legislative Board of Directors (1904)
\Won Elliott Target Cup (1904)
Lost Elliott Target Cup to William Clayton (1904)
Iowa State Champion (1904) 88x100
Prison Guard at Leavenworth Federal Prison (1905)
Kansas City, Missouri (1906)
Iowa State Champion 5 Consecutive Years
High Amateur at Coffeyville, KS Shoot (1906)
Missouri-Kansas League Shoot, First & Second High (1906) 197 & 196 x200
Wyeth Trophy – World Champion (1906)
Resigns Federal Prison Job to Shoot (1906)
Realtor in Portland, Oregon (1907)
National Amateur Championship of America Runner-up (1907)
Amateur Winner of Bergen Beach, NYC Event (1907)
Iowa State Champion (1907)
Iowa State High Amateur Average (1907)
Won Smith Cup at Iowa State Shoot (1907)
Promoting Live Bird Shoot at Shamokin PA GC (1908)
Rocky Mountain Preliminary Handicap Winner (1909)
Amateur World Record – 446x450 (1909)
World Amateur Record – 342 Straight (1909)
Michigan State Shoot High Amateur Average (1909) 379x400
Won Chronicle Trophy – Emblematic of Southern Amateur Championship (1910)
Manager of San Jose Gun Club
Golden, California (1911)
Professional (1909-1914)
Organized San Jose Gun Club (1913)
Denied Reinstatement to Amateur Status (1913 Dec. Mtg.)
Reinstated to Amateur Status (Dec 1914)
Manager & Secretary of Blue Rock Gun Club, San Jose, Cal. (1916)
Secretary, San Jose, (California) Gun Club (1917)
Designed and Built the Olympic Gun Club, San Francisco
Instructor and Manager of Olympic Gun Club, San Francisco (1920)
Originated the FORD Cash Purse System (January 1, 1921)
ATA Awarded Silver Card for Highest Average in Oregon (1921)
Oregon State Sportsmen’s Association Permanent Secretary (1925)
Manager of Portland, (Ore.) Gun Club (1920-01 JAN 1925)
ATA Pacific Zone Director (Vice-President) (1923- 1929)
Manager of Del Monte Gun Club (1926-1929)
ATA Pacific Zone Vice President (1927-1929)
Taught Marquis de Portago of Spain to Shoot Trap (1928)
California State Singles Champion (1929) 197x200
Organized Pacific International Trapshooting Association (1931)
California Indians Singles Runner-up (1931) 384x400
California Indians Doubles Champion (1931) 90x100
California Indians Long Run of Tournament (1931) 186
Perfected the O. N. Ford Shooting Jacket (1934)
1938 President of Pacific International Trapshooting Association (PITA)​

As you see, Mr. Ford was a very prominent trapshooter who also served our sport honorably, for many decades. Some trophies in his collection, circa 1927:

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So, what led to the establishment of the Pacific International Trapshooting Association?
There are many stories which have endured through the years. Ford’s Portland Gun Club was assured the Grand American tournament for 1926, but due to the success of the 1925 GAH, the annual championships remained at the ATA home grounds in Vandalia, Ohio. I’m pretty sure this didn’t make him “jump for joy”.

He must have gotten over it because he continued to serve several more years as Pacific Zone Vice-President.

One plausible theory was that of Mr. Ford’s disappointment at not being reelected to the A.T.A. Vice-president position at which he had faithfully served and patiently waited for his turn to head the Association. However, always keeping the betterment of the sport in the forefront, O. N. Ford maintained the public position you’ll read below in one of the earliest reports on the formation of P.I.T.A :

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But, some newspaper reports called it a withdrawal of Western shooters from the A.T.A.

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On a recent visit of the nicely organized P.I.T.A. website I was unable to locate even a minuscule mention of their history. If I overlooked a “History” link please feel free to let me know. If members of the Pacific International Trapshooting Association would favor of making information about the association’s early chronicles available to the public, I stand ready to assist in any way can.

Feel free to offer your own story and help record P.I.T.A.’s history right here.

Enjoy Our History

 

Thanks for posting. I hope you keep more coming. This Man should be in the Hall Of Fame. Do you know what make the gun is he shot? Looks like a model 12. Thanks again. Ed

 

The Model 12's, or should I say Model 1912's were first manufactured in 1912. There is a Model 1912 in the Trapshooting Hall of Fame Museum that was used by Emerson Clarke, the first Canadian to win the Grand American Handicap in 1958. I think in 1919 the Model 1912 name was shortened to simply Model 12.

The picture was from circa 1909 and I have a couple of old articles stating that Mr. Ford shot a Marlin in that year. In his early days he shot a Parker. At least that's what I have in my file but forgot to provide a source.

Glad you enjoyed it.

 

I'd like to clarify my statement regarding Emerson Clarke being the first Canadian to win the Grand American Handicap. He was the first shooting at clay targets. Mr. Clarke won the GAH Crown in a shoot-off of 99s. Few people know that a shooter posted a 100 straight in that event and was congratulated as the winner until later in the day when . . . . . oh but that's another story for another time.

Howard D. Bates, of Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada won the 1900 Grand American Handicap at Live Birds, held at the new Interstate Park, Queens, Long Island, NY, and was actually the first Canadian GAH winner. It was his first Grand and he was the 87th shooter to enter. He killed 25 straight in the program and another 34 straight in the shoot-off. He used a 12ga. Parker gun. I believe he went on to win the Grand Canadian Handicap in 1902 and 1907. He came from a family of market hunters who shot ducks on Rondeau Lake.

edward drumheller,

Thanks for you question. I just had to make sure my notes were correct and found a 1909 Marlin advertisement with Mr. Ford's name.

Enjoy Our History

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I thought that looked like a Mark Arie trap gun...Marlin

This just goes to show anyone that there was more than just one man with a Marlin.

Thanks HB !

And, I love that you have your own personal HB's HALL OF FAME.

That is very fitting as you know so many who should have made it in, but have not yet done so.

 

History Buff, Thanks for the info on the shot gun. You got me looking at the old Marlins now. I am going to keep my eye open for one here in my area. I am a fan of the model 12. I have 2 that i like to get out and shoot. I passed on a model 1897 that i wish i bought. I went back 2 days later and it was gone. My question to you is, was the 1897 model used for trap by a know shooter at that time like the marlin or was it the model 1912 that got Winchester in the game? Thanks Ed

 

Yes the Winchester Model 1897 was used by several trapshooters of notoriety but the only ones who come to mind was Rolla "Pop" Heikes, of Ohio and I believe J. A. R. Elliott, of Kansas City also shot one for a while.

The Trapshooting Hall of Fame has Arnold Riegger's Marlin Model 43 and Winchester 97. Rolla Heikes's Winchester 1897 is at the museum as is J. A. R. Elliott's Winchester Model 97. I'm sorry but I don't recall other notable shooters who used the 1897 without looking in my files on shooters. Hope this helps.

Enjoy Our History !

 

What a great addition to this site HB!!! Great job my friend!!

HAP

 

HB... Enjoyed your information about O.N. Ford very much and agree he should be enshrined in the ATA Hall of Fame. He is, however, enshrined in the PITA Hall of Fame and was inducted in 1995. Here is the information from the PITA Hall of Fame:





1995

Home Years Inducted Contact Us

O.N. Ford (1995)

In 1911 O.N. Ford came west to California and took charge of the San Jose Gun Club for seven years, later moving to the Olympic Gun Club for two years. In 1920 he moved to Oregon and took over the Portland Gun Club at Eberding Park, where he proceeding in making shooting history.

In his stay of five years at Portland, he threw 1,500,000 (or 15 carloads) of clay targets. Mr. Ford then moved back to California taking over the Del Monte Gun Club where he was in command for twelve years.

Following a trip to the Grand American in Vandalia, Ohio, Mr. Ford felt the Pacific states were not being fairly represented by the Amateur Trapshooting Association. On October 25, 1931 Colonel Ford called a special meeting of prominent sportsmen from all western states and Canada, at Portland, Oregon and organized what is now known as the Pacific International Trapshooting Association.

O.N. Ford sponsored the first ladies trophy in the PITA and organized the Ford Cash Purse System.

Colonel O.N. Ford was elected President of the PITA on July 23, 1938 at Portland, Oregon and never was a more befitting honor bestowed upon to worthy a character. The most colorful trapshooter at that time.

OUT WHERE THE P.I.T.A. BEGINS

Out where the handclasp’s a little stronger
Out where the smile dwells a little longer
Out where the P.I.T.A. begins
Out where the sun is a little brighter
Where the snows that fall are a trifle whiter
Where the bonds of home are a wee bit tighter
That’s where the P.I.T.A. begins

Out where the skies are a trifle bluer
Out where the friendship’s a little truer
That’s where the P.I.T.A. begins
Out where the Pacific breeze is blowing
Where there’s laughter in every streamlet flowing
Where there’s more of reaping and less of sowing
That’s where the P.I.T.A. begins

Out where the world is in the making
Where fewer hearts with despair are aching
That’s where the P.I.T.A. begins
Where there’s more of giving and less signing
Where there’s more of giving and less buying
And a shooter make friends without half trying
That’s where the P.I.T.A. begins

 

Thank you Dan,

I had looked the PITA biography over and offered even more information on Mr. Ford but you probably only have so much room and if its too lengthy, perhaps some won't read it. I also offered more information on John O. Cotant, another charter member and President of P.I.T.A. As I recall, his bio did not illustrate many of his accomplishments.

The earliest mention I have on file about his Ford money option is contained in an article from April 1922. Here's the explanation.

Ford Has Money Plan​

O. N. Ford, veteran trap shooter and manager of the Portland Gun club, has originated a new play of money options for trap shooting. The proposition is started by one or several parties donating $25 to an event and they receive the honor of having it named after them. The event may be any stated number of targets on the program, for instance, the first 25 targets. Shooters will enter as an option say $1, which will be separate money from the regular entrance on the event. All of this money will be added to the original pot of $25. To illustrate, say that 50 shooters enter their $1 each added to the $25, making a total of $75.
The shooters compete in the regular manner and no doubt several ties will result. These will be carried over into the subsequent events until finally the high gun wins. The winner will receive say $15, which will be deducted from the total amount, leaving $60 in the pot. This will be placed in the bank and allowed to draw interest until the next tournament held under the auspices of this same club. At the next shoot the event will again be shot as before and $50 more added by $1 from each shooter and also the interest.

Money Draws Interest​

The winner in this second competition will receive the stipulated amount as before, or $15, providing he is a different contestant and not the man that made the first win at the first shoot. Again the money is placed in the bank to draw interest as before and this continues from year to year unless at any time the winner proves to be a shooter who has made a former win or has repeated in his performance, in which case he will take the entire money in the pot with the exception of the original $25, which is left to start another pot. If it happens that there is less than $100 in the pot the rule may be made that the entire amount is taken and the event wiped out, when it could be renewed by some other person who wished to have his name attached.
The idea of the plan is to offer an incentive for shooters to come back each year and repeat their former win. This may not happen in three or four years, in which case the pot would be attractive. If ties resulted after the program was shot they are supposed to be settled.

The ATA Executive Committee decided to use Mr. Ford's money purse at the 1925 Grand American Handicap tournament.

PRIZES FOR TEAMS AT G. A. H.​

A prize of $500 will be awarded the winning team in this race the first day at the Grand American; $250 to the second team, and $125 to the third team. In addition, a trophy will be given to each of the three winning teams.
The A. T. A. will contribute $150 in trophies to each approved registered state and provincial tournament, as follows:

1. A gold medal to the A. T. A. single target champion.
2. A gold medal to the double target champion.
3. A trophy to distance handicap event.
4. A trophy to all-around champion.
5. A trophy to A. T. A. contestant who has an average of 90 per cent or under.
6. A trophy to high lady contestant, provided there are two or more contestants.
   The O. N. Ford cash purse system will be a feature in the Grand American week program.
   The standard load for target shooting, effective January 1, 1926, will be 1 1/8 of shot.
   The state championship event, so long a feature at the Grand American, but which was eliminated in 1923 and 1924, will again be restored in 1925.
   Two hundred dollars will be contributed to each of the five zone tournaments.
   A new rule for handicapping and classifying shooters will be in effect, as follows:
   Class. Yards.
   97 per cent and over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AA 24-25
   94 and under 97 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A 23, 22, 21
   93 and under 94 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B 20, 19
   88 and under 94 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C 18
   86 and under 88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D 17
   86 and below . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E 16
   [ SPORTSMEN’S REVIEW, January 10, 1925, page 28 ]

Below are explanation's of the Ford Purse from 1925 and 1929.

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Enjoy Our History !

 

Great stuff Buff.... Thanks very much..

 

Living in Portland and being a member of Portland Gun Club where Mr. Ford served as president I'd like to know where he died and is buried.

Great history.
Regards,

 

Mr. Ford stayed in California and when he passed in 1942 he was interred at the Monterey City Cemetery. His son Orin Jr. is also buried there.

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Enjoy Our History !

 

Amazing HB how you know how to find the answers to so many questions !

FN GUY, great to know you are so close to this individual (Mr. Ford) with your club's history...A great honor for sure.

 

I thought perhaps readers might like to see O. N. in his younger years.

Enjoy Our History !

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While shooting a few tounds of trap at Portland Gun Club today I mentioned Mr. Ford to one of the older members.

He pointed to some of the trophys above the fireplace and mentioned that he thought O.N. Ford's name was on a couple of them.

I neeed to get some images and post them.

 

And I cannot forget to mention O. N. Ford Jr.

 

May 1934​

 

Thanks HistoryBuff,
I really found this interesting as LaGrande Oregon is hosting its first registered PITA shoot this weekend. I have shot a couple of their "multiplex" events but this will be my first actual shoot. Event is doubles, singles, and handicap, 600 bird total...... Thanks for where the PITA came from.......... Larry

 

This copy goes with the first image from June 26, 1909 Sporting Review

July 10, 1909
At the Missouri State shoot, June 12 and 13, Mr. O.N. Ford won high amateur average and established a new World’s Record by breaking 446 out of the 450 birds on the program. The most remarkable feature in this superb score is that during this two day tournament Mr. Ford broke the world’s record for a straight run by an amateur and established a new world’s record by breaking 343 straight. Mr. Ford used a Marlin trap gun. (Likely the Model 21 Trap Gun introduced in 1907 or Model 24 introduced in 1908)



San Jose Blue Rock Club May 1916 Open Championship - Right to left: A. G. Flickinger of Vallejo, Dick Reed, Harry Ogilvie of Lindsay, O. N. Ford and W. J. McKagney



Orin N. "Hold On" Ford
Arms and The Man, March 1, 1919
https://books.google.com/books?id=DI4wAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA415&lpg

 

http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1906/VOL_48_NO_11/SL4811015.pdf

 

Drew, are we sure he was shooting Marlin shotguns in 1909? By looking at the magazine tube, looks like he`s holding a Model 97 Winchester at the Missouri State Shoot

Trap3

 

I agree Randy, but that text is a direct quote.

1905 Marlin Model 19



Hammerless Model 28 with a different magazine cap in the August 2, 1913 Sporting Life
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1913/VOL_61_NO_22/SL6122035.PDF



I'll do some more looking for a Marlin Model 21 & 24

 

It's probably a Marlin Model 24 with a corn cob FE

 

Drew, Thanks for the Marlin photos...

Trap3

 

Ford in 1902
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1902/VOL_38_NO_25/SL3825012.pdf
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1902/VOL_39_NO_10/SL3910029.pdf

1903
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1903/VOL_40_NO_26/SL4026011.pdf

1906 and it appears he first began competing outside Iowa/Kansas
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1906/VOL_48_NO_08/SL4808016.pdf
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1906/VOL_48_NO_09/SL4809012.pdf
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1906/VOL_48_NO_10/SL4810016.pdf

1907
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1907/VOL_49_NO_13/SL4913028.pdf

1908. He was apparently classified as an Amateur though "working for U.M.C." and I can't find mention of the gun he used
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1908/VOL_50_NO_25/SL5025012.pdf
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1908/VOL_50_NO_26/SL5026015.pdf
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1908/VOL_51_NO_11/SL5111028.pdf

May 1, 1909 Sporting Life "shooting his new Marlin trap gun"
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1909/VOL_53_NO_08/SL5308022.pdf

 

The 1909 Marlin advertisement said Mr. Ford was shooting his new Marlin. Now, does that mean the new Model or that the gun was new to him?

If it was the latest model, it could have been a Model 26. However, if it was a Marlin pump Mr. Ford bought new, it could have been a Model 21 or 24, because according to Falyerman's Guide, the Model 21 was produced from 1906 - 1909; the Model 24 from 1908-1915; and the Model 26 from 1909-1915.

All three models had visible hammers but only the 21 & 24 were take-down guns. The Model 26 was a solid frame. Another thing to look for (if possible) if it was a straight grip or pistol grip. The 21 & 26 were straight grips, whereas the 24 had a pistol grip.

Advertisements in early 1909 of the New Marlin Trap Gun depicted a straight stock. Straight stock = either Model 21 or 26. The old Marlin was a Model 21, the new Marlin was the Model 26. That's my guess but of course . . . . . I could be wrong.

Sportsmen's Review, January 9, 1909

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Sportsmen's Review, February 6, 1909

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Sportsmen's Review, May 29, 1909

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And they used the same picture of Mr. Ford at the Missouri State Shoot they did when he shot the Kansas State Shoot in mid April, 1909. Is he shooting a straight stock or a pistol grip?

HB

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HBs Ford in 1903 with a Model 97



1909 image above - Ford older, likely same gun, same sweater. Looks like the someone just used an image with his Winchester 97. I think Randy is correct.

 

Later Marlin advertisements still leave us guessing on Mr. Ford's shotgun model.

Sportsmen's Review, August 7, 1909.

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Sportsmen's Review, November 6, 1909

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If the Model 26 was introduced to the market at the end of 1909, Mr. Ford may have been using the Model 24. The May 29 advertisement said Mr. Ford had been using his new Marlin less than two months. (late Feb. 1909) when he shot the Larned, Kansas tournament April 14-16, 1909.

Sure wish I could find a shoot report identifying Mr. Ford's shotgun model.

HB

 

It is a model 97

 

If you look closely at the picture of him holding his gun and compare it to the picture of the Marlin you can clearly tell it's a Winchester model 97 by the take down push pin at the end of the mag tube and it does not have the lug from the barrel to the mag-tube the Marlin does. Also you can clearly see the bolt face side on the receiver with the gun closed which you do not see in a Model 24 as they had a side cover and it does not have the distinctive humpback bolt housing of the Model 24. The shape of the receiver alone without even looking at the mag tube end gives it away but that take down push pin in the mag tube is a dead giveaway. It is 100% a M97.

Model 97


Model 24

 

"The Iron Man" O. N. Ford... article from May 1. 1932 Trapshooter, Hunter, Angler

Trap3