2000 NATIONAL TROPHY AWARDS 
Presenter Information

PISTOL CEREMONY

• Distinguished Champion Presenter – Bill Blankenship

 Mr. Blankenship retired from the U.S. Army as a Sergeant Major after a military and competitive career where he was awarded the Distinguished International Shooter’s Badge, the Distinguished Rifleman Badge, the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, the President’s Hundred Tab and the Legion of Merit.  He is just one of 26 triple distinguished shooters.

Bill is a former World Champion, having won the center fire pistol gold medal in the 1966 World Shooting Championship.  His many honors include two gold medals in the Pan American Games and six national pistol championships at Camp Perry as well as numerous other national titles.  He won the National Trophy Individual Pistol Match three times and the President’s Pistol Match once.  Two highlights from Bill’s unprecedented career include averaging over 2650 for an entire year of shooting and being a shooting member of the U.S. Army National Trophy Teams in both rifle and pistol.

• Mr. Jim Land

Jim is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Officer, presently serves as the Secretary of the National Rifle Association.  He also has been an outstanding competitive shooter who holds the rare distinction of being both a Distinguished Rifleman and Distinguished Pistol Shot.  

• Col. Walter Walsh

Col. Walsh, U.S. Marine Corps Retired, was introduced during the NRA ceremony as another of the great legends in shooting.  His distinguished career in law enforcement as an FBI agent, in the Marine Corps and in marksmanship place all of us in all awe of him.

• Col. Charles Coleman

Col. Charles Coleman is the Commander of the Fort Ohio Installations.  Col. Coleman represents our host, the Ohio National Guard.  

RIFLE CEREMONY

• Distinguished Champion Presenter

  Mr. Jim Hill

  Mr. Jim Hill is one of our country’s all-time great rifle shooters.  Jim rose to prominence as a member of the United States Marine Corps Rifle Team.  He won the National Service Rifle Championship in 1956.  That same year, he was a firing member of the Marine Corps Team that won the National Trophy Team Match.  He placed his name on two National Trophies, the Shepherd Trophy and the Pershing Trophy, in 1957.

  In the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Jim rose to international prominence by winning an Olympic silver medal.  He won the National Smallbore Rifle Prone Championship here at Camp Perry in 1964.  After retiring from a distinguished Marine Corps career, Jim returned to Camp Perry many times.  He won the National Civilian Service Rifle Championship in 1983.

  Jim Hill is one of only 26 triple Distinguished Shooters, having earned the Distinguished International Shooters Badge, the Distinguished Rifleman Badge and the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge.  Jim also distinguished himself through his willingness to give outstanding service back to shooting.  Jim Hill currently serves as Match Director for the National Highpower Rifle Championship.  He deserves much of the credit for the outstanding way that your competitions have been run.

   

• Senator Robert Latta is a tremendous supporter of the National Matches and Camp Perry.  Senator Latta held a press conference on Saturday, August 5^th to announce that the State Legislature and Governor of Ohio have approved the construction of new, permanent housing at Camp Perry to support both military training and the National Matches.  Senator Latta was a competitor in the John C. Garand Match.  Throughout the year Senator Latta is a frequent visitor to Camp Perry who works, continually and effectively, to generate support for Camp Perry and the National Matches.

• Col. Charles Coleman, Commander of the Fort Ohio Installations.  Col. Coleman represents the Ohio National Guard, our host for the National Matches.

• Mr. Joe E. Wyatt Jr., son and Mr. Christopher Andrew Wyatt, Grandson of Captain Joe E. Wyatt

• Col. Arch Arnold III, Commander of the United States Army Marksmanship Unit.  In addition to producing many champion shooters, ASAMU is the lead organization in presenting the Small Arms Firing School during the National Matches.  

• Colonel Alfredo Longoria, Commander of the United States Marine Corps Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico, Virginia.  In addition to training the outstanding Marine Corps Rifle and Pistol Teams, the United States Marine Corps Rifle Team provides invaluable support for the National Matches by conducting the National Junior Highpower Service Rifle Clinic.

• Mr. Allan Cors, member of the Civilian Marksmanship Program Board of Directors.  He is also a Distinguished Rifleman, has earned the President’s Hundred Tab and competes every year in the National Matches.
  
• Mr. Richard Garand, son of the famed arms designer John C. Garand
  
• Mr. Charles Maddox, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Civilian Marksmanship Program
  
• Mrs. Nancy Pool, wife of the late Lt. Col. Tommy Pool.
  
• Col. M.S. Gilchrist, Director of the NRA Competitions Division