PENNSYLVANIA STATE SPORTSMEN'S ASSOCIATION

1961-Present

    Chronology of Historical Events

The Modern Era

· Robert Machamer, Pete Menghini and Charles Todd (1911-1979) inducted into Hall of Fame.

· Charles Fritzges appointed first PSSA Manager.

· George Curran replaces Bill Shutt as PSSA Secretary; Shutt replaces Fritzges as PSSA
Treasurer and Fritzges moves to PSSA Manager.

· Pete Menghini, 1997 Hall of Fame inductee dies in auto accident several weeks after his induction.

· Cancer causes death of Bill Shutt in late 1997. He will be inducted into Hall of Fame at the 1998 State Shoot.

· Dan DeDioniso elected Pennsylvania Trapshooter of the Year.

· Andy Long, a Pennsylvania and ATA Hall of Fame inductee, dies at age 89.

· Dr. Lewis Wolf, a Pennsylvania Hall of Fame inductee, dies in November at age 89.

· Louis Carter is re-elected PSSA President for second term.

· Robert Miller and Jean Hunsberger inducted in PSSA Hall of Fame.

· Dr. Stephen Ollock of Mainesburg tops Pennsylvania Singles Averages with .9944 average.
Ken Darroch leads state Doubles shooters for third straight year.

· Dr. Stephen Ollock selected Pennsylvania Trapshooter of the Year.

· Ken Darroch leads state in Singles, Handicap & Doubles Averages for second straight year.

· Inaugural Pennsylvania Team Shoot held at PSSA Homegrounds in Elysburg.

· The Hall of Fame inducts Jim Stine, Catherine Moyer and Allen Heil.

· Louis Carter elected President of PSSA

· Anna Mae Eberle selected to 25th consecutive Women's All State Team.

· Woody Brown, former ATA president and current PSSA president, dies at age 69.

· Ken Darroch wins Pennsylvania Singles, Doubles, HAA and HOA.

· Ken Darroch leads state in Singles, Handicap & Doubles Averages.

· A record 1,363,500 targets were thrown at Pennsylvania State Shoot.

· Sonya Miller won her 7th Ladies' Singles Championship with a 200 straight, the first perfect score by a women in State Shoot History.

· Gene Anastasio, E.A. Bud Ross and Sonya Miller inducted into Hall of Fame.

· Frank Little dies at age 57.

· Charles Doll, Melvin Krepps and Ray McKissick inducted into Hall of Fame.

· Gene Anastasio, current ATA president, dies at age 57.

· Emerson Bornman became the first state shooter to break 100 straight in Doubles Championship.

· 20th Annual Pennsylvania Grand Handicap won by Billy Newton of New Haven, Kentucky.

· Anna Mae Eberle, Richard Hamilton and John Rigg inducted into Hall of Fame.

· Gene Anastasio elected President of the ATA.

· H.Y. McAllister elected Pennsylvania ATA delegate.

· The 100th annual Pennsylvania State Shoot held at PSSA Homegrounds at Elysburg.

· Inaugural Keystone Open held on PSSA Homegrounds in Elysburg.

· David George, Bill Hunsberger, Howard Lewis and John W. Miller inducted into Hall of Fame.

· Daniel Kormos of Erie wins Presidents Handicap at Vandalia with perfect 100x100.

· Elmer Shaner, Bob Diefenderfer, Herb Jones and Charles Newcomb inducted into Hall of Fame.

· David George wins Senior Vet Doubles and Clay Target crowns at Grand American.

· Elwood "Woody" Brown, George Newmaster, Rhoda Wolf, Lewis Wolf and Mahlon Schwar inducted into Hall of Fame.

· Jack Titus wins Grand American Handicap with 100x100 from 22.5 yards.

· Pennsylvania Trapshooting Hall of Fame has first induction ceremonies. This year marked a major undertaking by the PSSA, the removal of seven trap field on the corner of the old line and replacing them with 15 new ones.

· Andy Long, Walter Beaver, Steve Crothers, Orville Eberly, Frank Little and Mary Christopher inducted into   Hall of Fame.

· State Shoot extended from 5 days to 9 days.

· Tom Galligher wins Grand American Doubles crown with 100x100.

· Pennsylvania Hall of Fame concept approved at annual meeting. Richard Hamilton named first chairman.

· Frank Little leads ATA in singles averages with .9972

· John Muir breaks all 600 singles targets at State Shoot.

· Sheldon Hostetter wins Presidents Handicap at Grand American with 99x100.

· Frank Little wins Clay Target crown at Grand American.

· Art Lewis, age 99, shot the 200 target State Singles Championship.

· Gary Foster wins State Handicap title with 99x100

· Three PSSA officers stepped down from their posts, including President Lewis Wolf, Secretary Andy Long and Treasurer Anna Mae Eberle.

· Woody Brown elected President of PSSA. Will serve 9 years until his death in 1994.

· Emilie Peters became the first women in State Shoot history to win a major state title when she won the State Handicap crown.

· Lewis Wolf donated the flag pole in front of the new clubhouse in the memory of his wife Rhoda.

· The PSSA shows a balance of $158,569.41 in their treasury.

· Orville Eberly dies at age 83.

· George Newmaster dies at age 75.

· Gene Anastasio elected Pennsylvania ATA delegate to ATA. Will later become ATA President.

· Woody Brown elected President of the ATA.

· When shooters arrived for the 90th renewal of the State Shoot, they found that the PSSA had finished a $43,000 paving project, blacktopping the entire parking area behind the new clubhouse and the road from the lower trapfields to the top trapfields.

· Russell Ellison shoots at 70,300 ATA singles targets during the season, a Pennsylvania record.

· William Hazlett of Sarver, PA wins Grand American Handicap with 99x100 from 22.5 yards.

· The PSSA continues to expand as the association opens a beautiful, new carpeted women's lounge.

· Carolyne Elliott dies at age 55.

· Pennsylvania State Shoot added money was $17,000 and $9,000 in trophies.

· George Cottrell dies at age 73.

· Former State Singles Champion Dale Raudenbush becomes PSSA State Shoot reporter.

· Orville Eberly donates $10,000 to ATA H/F to honor Andy Long.

· Steve Crothers died at age 89.

· A new restaurant with a 45 foot serving bar plus tables and chairs for 100 people were added to the new clubhouse.

· Frank Little wins HAA at Grand American with 394x400.

· A large, modern clubhouse was dedicated to PSSA benefactor, Orville Eberly. Through the exceptional generosity of this man, the long time dream of a PSSA Homegrounds became a reality.

· Lewis Wolf elected President of PSSA, will serve 10 years.

· Dolores Hamilton leads ATA women in singles average with .9779 on 2100 targets.

· 100 and 200 straight pins offered at State Shoot for the first time.

· 170 women shoot in the Pennsylvania State Shoot in June.

· Terrible weather conditions spoil Pennsylvania Singles Championship, 196x200 high score.

· Pennsylvania Governor Milton Shapp paid a visit to the State Shoot on June 15th and was greatly impressed  with the facilities and the number of contestants.

· First Pennsylvania Grand held at PSSA Homegrounds in Elysburg over Labor Day weekend. 490 shooters shot main handicap as three new automobiles were awarded in yardage groups.

· Jere Andrus and Connie Livingston married on trap line during first Pennsylvania Grand.

· Rain, rain, and more rain. Every day of the State Shoot. With the PSSA using 20 trapfields, the Doubles Championship and Handicap Championship on Sunday were shot in a driving rainstorm.

· Andrew Long elected President of the ATA.

· Woody Brown starts 10 year career as Pennsylvania ATA delegate.

· PSSA selects first Pennsylvania All State Team. Charles Sheckler and Dolores Hendersched named men's and women's captain's.

· At 2:00 PM on the last day of the State Shoot, the PSSA signed legal documents and purchased 44 acres of ground south of the Valley Gun Club, on the hill, for future expansion.

· Mary Christopher of Cornwell Heights, PA won her 7th and final State Women's Singles title.

· It was a State Shoot that will forever be known by the lightning bolt that struck Trap 19 (20 traps were in use).

· PSSA adds four new traps, bringing the total to 20 program and two practice.

· Bud Ross dies at age 47.

· The PSSA has entered into a long term agreement to use the Valley Gun and Country Club as their Homegrounds.

· Six new traps added for the State Shoot, bringing the total to 18. Four more would be added for 1969.

· Quaker City and Fayette host East & West zone shoots.

· John Morelli of Pittsburgh wins Preliminary Handicap at Grand American.

· After 76 Pennsylvania State Shoots spread across the state, the PSSA will move to their new Homegrounds next June.

· State shoot held in Reading, will be the last shoot off new PSSA new Homegrounds.

· Frank Dissinger, former ATA president, dies at age 71.

· West Penn holds 75th Pennsylvania State Shoot. PSSA has 56 member gun clubs.

· South End and Fayette hosted the 3rd PSSA Eastern and Western Zone Shoots. Herb Jones smashed 200 to win the Eastern Zone while Francis Kikel won the West title with 199.

· The Valley Gun & Country Club spent more than $20,000 remodeling and enlarging its clubhouse and adding walkways to the last few traps. They will host the 1965 State Shoot.

· Jim Stine won his second straight Singles Championship with a 199x200 and a remarkable 150 target shoot-off victory over R.M. Orndorff.

· Quaker City and Clairton hosted the second PSSA State Zone Shoots. Bill Hunsberger wins
second straight East title with 150x150. Owen James wins West title with 149x150.

· PSSA organizes State Zone Shoots, which were to be held on the last weekend in September.

· The State Eastern Zone shoot was held at the Rural Sportsmen's Association grounds in Trexlertown, PA on September 26th and 27th, 1964.

· Bill and Jean Hunsberger win the State Zone Singles crowns at the first State Eastern Zone shoot. There were 123 entries for Sunday's handicap, won by George Landis.

· Bob Diefenderfer wins Grand American HOA with 971x1000.

· Mary Christopher leads the ATA in women's singles average with .9680 average.

· George Jones breaks 100 straight to win State Handicap title. First 100 straight to win State Title since John Rigg broke 100 straight in 1939.

· John Rigg dies at age 73.