Can anyone identify this trophy. It was won by my grandfather in the late 40's or early 50's.

b.tic,

In all honesty, with so little information it will be near impossible to identify your trophy.

I'll give it a try if . . . . . you provide me with your grandfather's name, where you think this trophy may have been won (state shoot, state zone shoot, etc.), shoots your grandfather usually attended, makers mark on the back of the plate, any and all inscriptions on the trophy, any other known trophies your grandfather was awarded from specific competitions, names of shooters your grandfather shot with, and anything else that might give me a fighting chance of helping you. Feel free to PM me if you don't care to mention your grandfather's name in this open forum discussion.

Also know that descriptions of trophies were rarely mentioned in the sporting journals, with the exception of major awards at major competitions.

Some years ago, after an extensive search, I was fortunate to find information about two trophies with not inscriptions for the ancestors of the great Rolla O. "Pop" Heikes. I narrowed it down to the tournament shot on the roof of Madison Square Garden, NYC in 1899. I knew Mr. Heikes won two major awards but nothing was mentions about the trophies in any of the shoot reports. I finally found mention of the trophies is a small section reporting on different manufacturers of powder, guns, etc.

Needless to say Mr. Heikes' ancestors were pleased and even displayed them in the Ohio Trapshooting Hall of Fame a few years ago with the report I sent to them.

The rest of the story:

R. O. Heikes won the Sportsmen’s Association championship trophy in the trap shooting tournament held on Madison Square Garden roof, New York. Eleven days were open for "qualifying matches," and the 25 highest men shot off in final match on March 15 at 100 Blue Rocks from Magautrap. Heikes broke 91 and took the first prize, also first medal in the Continuous, as he was tied with Elliott and they agreed to shoot it off in the championship race. During the "qualifying" matches Heikes won first prize five times and the Continuous medal twice, and in the final won first in each. For 1100 shots in the championship he averaged .938 per cent. He was using a Remington gun. Schultze powder, loaded in U. M. C. Smokeless shells by the U. M. C. Co.
[ SPORTING LIFE, March 25, 1899, page 14 ]

The Remington Arms Co., 313 Broadway, New York, displayed in their front window the two prizes won by R. O. Heikes in the trap shooting tournament held in Madison Square Garden. The prize in the Continuous match was a beautiful tea set of silver, and the prize in the association championship was another tea set, but of different pattern. The large trophy won by E. D. Fulford in the Grand American Handicap last year was also exhibited. These prizes were won with Remington hammerless guns and U. M. C. factory loaded shells.
[ SPORTING LIFE, May 6, 1899, page 14 ]

The Remington Arms Co.​

Champion Rolla O. Heikes successfully defended the “E. C.” trophy, emblematic of the world’s championship at inanimate targets, using a Remington cheap grade ejector. The balance of the gun with its strong shooting qualities combined, makes it possible for a man like Mr. Heikes to win the two highest honors offered in the trap shooting world.
[ SPORTING LIFE, May 11, 1899, page 12 ]

Enjoy Our History !

HB

 

HB
Thanks for the interest. My grandfathers name was H. C. Rogers from Shreveport, LA. I suspect the shoot was
in Dallas, judging by the location of the star. The trophy has no markings at all. The center section is a ceramic tile
with no markings on the back. He had numerous trophy's and I think they all had the ATA emblem, so I don't know if this was a ATA sanctioned event. He attended numerous shoots in LA and was at the Grand Nationals more than once. The ATA has his averages from 1932 to 1952. The only other trophy I have is from the 1932 LA state shoot.
(pix enclosed). I think most of his shooting was at the Shreveport Gun Club. He loaned his gun to Mercer Tennille
the first time he shot trap.
Thanks again
b.tickell@windstream.net

 

Well, b.tic, I think you may have just given me enough information to possibly identify where, when and for what your Granddad was awarded his trophy.

It seems that your granddad H. C. Rogers was among several LA residents who traveled to shoot in TX, Mr. Tennille being one of them.

I'll venture a good guess that the trophy was won in 1948, at Dallas, during the Southwestern Zone & Texas State Shoot, held May 19-23. Your Granddad was runner-up in the S.W. Zone Handicap. He and a Texan, Luke Barnett, broke the top score of 95x100 and since there is nothing mentioned about the shoot-off, I assume Granddad lost and settled for second best.

As expected, I found no information on the description of the trophies but I think this may be where it was won.

Hope this helps. But, if you feel this might not be the shoot, let me know and I'll keep looking.

Enjoy Our History !

HB

 

OK, I too wondered why the trophy did not have the A.T.A. logo and at first thought I may be mistaken. Then I remembered that in those days, the A.T.A. didn't provide many trophies to Zones, States and Provinces.

The 1948 Southwest Zone shoot was an A.T.A. sanctioned tournament.

In 1948 the A.T.A. provided only six (6) or seven (7) trophies for each of the five (5) Zone Championships. They were:
1. 16-yard Winner
2. 16-yard Runnerup
3. Doubles Winner
4. Handicap Winner
5. Woman Winner
6. Junior Winner
7. High All Around Winner

I didn't come across an advertisement for the Southwest Zone tournament but I did find an Eastern Zone Ad which supports my claim of only 6 trophies. However, by 1949, it appears that 7 A.T.A. trophies were awarded at each Zone tournament.

​

So, a runner-up in the Handicap Championship would not have been awarded a trophy provided by the A.T.A., but rather by the State Association or host club.

I found a few target years for your Granddad that were overlooked and compiled them for you.

​

Here's the 1932 shoot report for the Louisiana State Shoot to put with your magnificent trophy.

​

Maybe you would prefer seeing your Granddad's name in bold letters in a newspaper clipping.

As reported above, H. C. Rogers was also a member of the Robson GC in Robson, LA.

In 1931 he won the Chrysler Trophy at the Robson GC.


In 1947, Mr. Rogers served as President of one of those gun clubs.

​

Enjoy Your History !

HB

 

H.B.
Man, you are good. I don’t think luck had anything to do with it.
I’ve been trying to find the info for the last 3 months. Have checked with the ATA, Texas Trapshooting Asoc, ect. with no results. Thanks so much for your help.
b.tic

 

You are very welcome b.tic.

HB

 

One thing about HB, he will go the extra 100 miles for anyone who is interested in the history of trap shooting and it's participants.

Thanks Buddy !!!