History of the PSSA

On August 22, 1890, the Pennsylvania State Sportsmen's Association was organized at the Crosby House in Correy, PA. This meeting was set in motion by H.A. Penrose, owner of Corry's Keystone Manufacturing Company, which made clay targets and traps.

They agreed to establish an organization dedicated to promoting wildlife conservation and enforcing game laws, as well as to regulate trapshooting in the state. H.A. Penrose elected first President of the PSSA. Elmer Shaner was elected Secretary. In 1921 Shaner would become President of the American Trapshooting Association and years later he would be one of the first individuals inducted into the ATA Trapshooting Hall of Fame. He is known as the father of modern day trapshooting.

Much of the very early history of the PSSA was devoted to game laws and game conservation and very little was devoted to trapshooting. However, they did agree to hold their first State Shoot in Williamsport in 1891 and the association was also incorporated in 1891.

In 1904, PSSA records indicate a balance of $410.21 in their treasury. H.M.F. Worden elected PSSA President, will serve three terms.

In 1905 Fred Coleman of Philadelphia won his second Wolstencroft Trophy in three years, emblematic of the State Singles Championship. He broke 47x50.

The PSSA and the Pennsylvania Game Commission continue to push state legislators to establish a $1.00 fee for a state hunting license. They continued to shoot live birds as part of the State Shoot program although that will not continue much longer. After 1907 the shooting of live birds at the Pennsylvania State Shoot would be history.

The 1912 Pennsylvania State Shoot was the Harry Kahler show. He won the DuPont Trophy, emblematic of the Pennsylvania Singles Championship with 434x450, shot over the three days of the tournament.

He also won the Wolstencroft Trophy for the Pennsylvania Doubles Championship, breaking 43 out of 25 pairs. Kahler, a former world's trapshooting champion from Philadelphia, broke 146x150 on May 22 to win the first day's event by two targets. He won the singles on the third day of the classic, breaking a 145, winning by two targets again.

Elmer Shaner was elected PSSA Vice-President, the first of two terms her would serve.

In 1911 George "Kelsey" Painter of Pittsburgh won the DuPont Trophy as the Pennsylvania State Singles Champion of 1911 by breaking 437x450. Also in 1911, Allen Heil of the North End Gun Club in Allentown, leads the Interstate Association in doubles averages with .8666 average.

Charles Newcomb, who would, during his long career, win over 1000 trophies, won his first Pennsylvania Amateur 16 yard championship. That same year, he won the Grand American Clay Target Championship in Chicago. Eighty four years later he would be inducted in to ATA Hall of Fame.

Only Steve Crothers, in 1925, was the only other Keystone gunner able to pull off the double of winning the Pennsylvania State Singles title the same year he won the Clay Target Championship.

In 1914 the membership roll of clubs in the PSSA numbered 120. In 1916, Allen Heil won the National Amateur Doubles Championship at the Grand American held in St. Louis. He was one target better than the shooting legend, Frank Troeh.

The annual Pennsylvania State Shoot was held in Pittsburgh at the Allird Gun Club. The shoot saw Steve Crothers win his first of 14 State Singles Championships with a 196 x 200.

Elmer Shaner was elected President of the American Trapshooting Association (will become the ATA in 1923).

Eight traps were installed for the State Tournament in Lancaster the following year that saw 216 entries in the State Singles Championship. Steve Crothers won the Singles Championship crown for the second year in a row, having won the big title the year before in Pittsburgh.

In 1933 York County Gun Club, located at Haines Park, east of York, PA, hosted the State Trapshoot. Later that year, John W. Eshelman of Lancaster was elected President of the ATA. He is just the second ATA President from Pennsylvania. However, four more would be elected, including Frank Dissinger of York, PA, Andy Long of Shamokin, PA, Elwood "Woody" Brown of Green Lane, PA and finally Gene Anastasio of Camp Hill, PA. Anastasio died in office.

Walter Beaver of Conshohocken wins Grand American Handicap in Vandalia, Ohio, the first Keystone gunner to snare the big title.

In 1934 the Pennsylvania State Shoot returned to the South End Gun Club for the first time since 1909. But the big news of 1934 came out of Vandalia, Ohio in August when L.G. Dana of Derrick City won Grand American Handicap and Walter Beaver of Conshohocken won Amateur Clay Target crown.

In 1935, the Quaker City Gun Club, established in Philadelphia in 1924, hosted the 45th annual Pennsylvania State Shoot.

In 1939, Elmer Shaner died in Elizabethtown, PA at age of 77. He was regarded as the "Father of Modern Day Trapshooting". It has been said that he never shot a clay target. George Neubling of Reading, begins 15 year career as Secretary of the PSSA. John Rigg of Conshohocken breaks 97 x 100 for Doubles Championship at Vandalia.

In 1940, Roxborough Gun Club in Philadelphia plays host to 50th Pennsylvania State Shoot. The scores that won the Singles, Handicap, Doubles, and HAA remain the lowest scores to ever win these titles over the 107 years of the state shoot. Walter Beaver leads the ATA in doubles averages for the third time. He led last year and also in 1935.

In 1941 with America about to enter World War II in less than 6 months, a dark shadow was cast over the State Shoot. The war had already begun in Europe. Steve Crothers won final State Singles title in epic 175 target shoot-off over Walter Beaver. It was his 14th title and he would never win another. Walter Beaver won his second Clay Target crown at Vandalia.

In 1942, the first year of the war, Andy Long was elected President of the PSSA, his first elected office in the PSSA.

In 1943, the State Shoot was only two days long due to WW II restrictions of shell and travel. Ralph Grove of York, PA, won the Singles Championship when a topped the record field with the only 100 straight.

Ruffsdale hosted the 1944 State Shoot, the first time since 1929 that a Western Pennsylvania club hosted the shoot. Again, the lack of ammunition, travel restrictions, defense jobs, shooters in the armed service, tire rationing, gasoline rationing, etc. would play a major part in the 200 target shoot of 1943, 1944 and the cancellation in 1945. The State shoots were only two days long and consisted of 100 singles, 50 handicap and 25 pair of doubles.

Frank Dissinger's Pleasant Hill Gun Club of Lebanon, PA was selected for the 1945 State Shoot, but the shoot was canceled. This was the only cancellation in PSSA history. Again, the lack of ammunition, travel restrictions, defense jobs, shooters in the armed service, tire rationing, gasoline rationing, etc. would play a major part in the cancellation of this shoot. No shoot was ever cancelled before or since.

For the first time since 1941, the classic Pennsylvania Singles Championship was contested at 200 targets. With World War II now history, large crowds again began to attend the Pennsylvania State Shoot.

Walter Beaver, one of the greatest trapshooters in state history, won his final Singles Championship. The legendary Steve Crothers, now 60 years old, competed in three events and broke 195 in the Singles Championship. The high level competitive careers of these two shooting immortals were drawing to a close. A new era of great Pennsylvania shooters was about to begin.

In 1952, twenty four year old Robert Diefenderfer of Reading, while on his honeymoon, won his first of 5 career State Singles Championships. Howard Lewis, Andy Long, George Newmaster and others would continue the great shooting tradition of Beaver and Crothers. It was the beginning of the era of the great women shooters who replaced Emma Fairchild and Irene Hess, Rhoda Wolf and Mary Christopher cane on the scene in the early 1950 and dominated their sport for 3 decades.

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.

The PSSA organized the East and West Zone shoots in 1964. Bill Hunsberger wins second straight East title with 150x150. Owen James wins West title with 149x150. The era of changing the site for state shoots between clubs every year is drawing to a close. The dream of a PSSA Homegrounds is fast approaching.

The PSSA has begun the most important 5 year stretch in their history.

In 1968 they entered into a long term agreement to use the Valley Gun and Country Club as their Homegrounds. Six new traps were added for the State Shoot, bringing the total to 18. Four more would be added for 1969. It was their first shoot at their new Homegrounds.

In 1969, the PSSA adds four new traps, bringing the total to 20 program and two practice for the 1970 State Shoot.

In 1970, the State Shoot that will forever be known by the lightning bolt that struck Trap 19. The PSSA used 20 program traps for the shoot.

At 2:00 PM on the last day of the 1971 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.

Rain, rain, and more rain. Every day of the 1972 State Shoot. With the PSSA using 20 trapfields, the Doubles Championship and Handicap Championship on Sunday were shot in a driving rainstorm. That August, Andrew Long elected President of the ATA, and Woody Brown starts 10 year career as Pennsylvania ATA delegate. The PSSA selects their first Pennsylvania All State Team. Charles Sheckler and Dolores Hendersched named men's and women's captain's.

In 1973 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. The first Pennsylvania Grand held at the PSSA Homegrounds in Elysburg was held over the Labor Day weekend. 490 shooters shot the main handicap as three new automobiles were awarded in yardage groups.

In 1974, the PSSA awarded 100 and 200 straight pins at State Shoot for the first time. 170 women shoot in the Pennsylvania State Shoot in June as terrible weather conditions spoil the Pennsylvania State Singles Championship. One of the lowest scores in shoot history won the title when four gunners broke 196x200.

In 1975, a large, modern clubhouse was dedicated to the 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.

In 1976, Steve Crothers died at age 89 and a new restaurant with a 45 foot serving bar plus tables and chairs for 100 people were added to the new Orville Eberly clubhouse.

In 1977, Eberly donates $10,000 to the ATA Hall of Fame to honor Andy Long.

In 1980, William Hazlett of Sarver, PA wins Grand American Handicap with 99x100 from 22.5 yards.

In 1981 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.

In 1982 Woody Brown was elected President of the ATA and Gene Anastasio was elected Pennsylvania ATA delegate to ATA. He will later become ATA President.

In 1983 two Pennsylvania legends die. Orville Eberly dies at age 83 and George Newmaster dies at age 75. In 1984 the PSSA shows a balance of $158,569.41 in their treasury. Three PSSA officers stepped down from their posts, including President Lewis Wolf, Secretary Andy Long and Treasurer Anna Mae Eberle. Woody Brown was elected President of PSSA and will serve 9 years until his death in 1994. In 1987 the idea for a state Hall of Fame was adapted by the club delegates. In 1988 the first induction's will take place.

In 1988 the Pennsylvania Trapshooting Hall of Fame has first induction ceremonies. Andy Long, Walter Beaver, Steve Crothers, Orville Eberly, Frank Little and Mary Christopher inducted into the State Hall of Fame. 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. The State Shoot was extended from 5 days to 9 days and Tom Galligher won the Grand American Doubles crown with 100x100. He was only the third Pennsylvania shooter to win the title. The last was John Rigg 49 years earlier.

Woody Brown, former ATA president and current PSSA president, dies at age 69. Ken Darroch wins Pennsylvania Singles, Doubles, HAA and HOA and leads the 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. Anastasio died two years earlier while serving as ATA President. Trapshooting legend Frank Little died at age 57 in 1993.

In 1995 Ken Darroch leads state in Singles, Handicap & Doubles Averages for second straight year. The inaugural Pennsylvania Team Shoot was 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 was selected to 25th consecutive Women's All State Team.

In 1996 Andy Long, a Pennsylvania and ATA Hall of Fame inductee, died at age of 89. Dr. Lewis Wolf, a Pennsylvania Hall of Fame inductee, died in November at the age of 89.

In 1997 Charles Fritzges was appointed the first PSSA Manager. George Curran replaced 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.

In 1998 Bruce Murphy was elected 26th PSSA President, Mike Schuler elected to replace the deceased Bill Shutt. George Curran, PSSA Secretary also dies. PSSA terminates State Team Shoot after a three year run. Lack of shooter support cited as the main reason.