John R. Taylor

John R. Taylor, Newark, 0hio, was one of the greatest all-around shots in history. Taylor won the Ohio State 16-yard championship in 1914 and that year at the Indianapolis Grand American he broke 94 in the GAH, two targets behind winner Dick Guptil. He joined the industry ranks in 1906 and shot among the leaders for 29 years. topping industry averages in 1923 with .9845 on 2,250 singles clays, the highest average by either a rep or amateur to that time.

Taylor’s biggest victories came at the 1933 Grand. He had won the Tennessee open doubles a few weeks before with 99x I 00. and his average was 97% plus when he arrived at Vandalia. There he broke an all-time record by winning four industry titles: the singles, doubles, handicap with 97 from 25 yards and the HOA with 966x1000. two targets over Ned Lilly. the amateur HOA victor. Taylor topped 16—yard averages that year on 4,000 and over with .9732 on 6,350 targets and was chosen captain of the 1933 All-America industry team.

The Newark "ace" shot his last targets as a rep in 1934, winning the doubles high average with .9220 and placing third on 16-yard targets with .9765. He was reinstated to the amateur ranks in 1935, winning the Ohio all-around that year and becoming their doubles champion the next. Taylor moved to Florida in 1937, where he won the state 16-yard championship four times, the doubles and all-around twice and the handicap in 1953.

Chief Buckeye, as he was known in the Okoboji Indians, shot his last registered targets in 1959, thus terminating 57 years at the traps. He shot at more than 100,000 registered targets and twice that number at club and practice shoots. Mr. Taylor was born July 24, 1878 and passed away Nov. 25, 1960.