The trap shooting community is mourning the loss of George Snellenberger, an esteemed figure in the sport, who passed away recently. His death was announced through a social media post stating, “We are sad to report that 1983 Hall of Fame enshrinee George Snellenberger has passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jacque and family.” The circumstances surrounding George Snellenberger’s cause of death are currently unknown.
Who Was George Snellenberger?
George Snellenberger was a highly respected and accomplished trap shooter, whose career was marked by numerous accolades and achievements. Named to 11 All-America teams from 1961 to 1974, he is co-holder of the shoot-off record of 500 straight, set in 1961 when he was named Co-Champion of Champions at the Grand American. George earned 25 other Grand awards, including running all 600 championship 16-yard targets in 1960. He was the only shooter in history to win six state singles championships with 200 straight, amassing a total of 29 state and five ATA zone titles.
From Coldwater, Michigan, at the time of his induction, Snellenberger captured ATA championships in Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, and Ohio since beginning to register in 1955. In the record 1961 shoot-off, George and Hall of Fame enshrinee Dan Orlich each broke 500 straight extras for the Champion of Champions crown, eventually being declared co-champions after three days of firing. Their 500×500 has never been equaled in shoot-off history at the Grand American or elsewhere.
George Snellenberger’s Achievements
Snellenberger’s 26 Grand trophies began with four in 1960, the year he smashed all 600 singles championship targets during Grand American Week, ending as AA winner in both the Introductory Singles and the Clay Target. George also placed ninth in the Grand American Handicap after 98 from 25 yards and was runner-up in the High-Over-All with 971×1,000. He tied for the one-time Herb Parsons Trophy, awarded in memory of the great exhibition shooter, based on the total of the Clay Target Championship and the Grand American Handicap.
Snellenberger’s Co-Champion of Champions title was the lone one for him at the 1961 Grand. In 1962, he won the Special Doubles and was AA winner in the Class Singles, following a perfect score of 200. The following year, he was runner-up in the Clay Target Championship after another 200 straight, and more perfect scores won him AA awards in the Introductory and Class Singles in 1964. In 1965, he became the third amateur to smash 100 twins on the Grand grounds, leading Tuesday’s Special Doubles with an unblemished century.
A 200 won AA laurels for Snellenberger in the 1967 Introductory Singles, and a 99 the following year gave him runner-up honors in the preliminary doubles. He won the top AA award for his 100 in the 1969 Class Doubles and ended as runner-up in the championship doubles race following a 98, making him the first person in history with two 100s in doubles at Grand Americans. George and his wife Kitty set a record in the Husband-Wife competition in 1970 with a total of 395 (George missed one), placing third in AA of the Class Doubles with 98 and earning Class AA honors in the High-Over-All that year.
In 1971, another 98 won George third place in AA of the Class Doubles. In 1972, he finished as AA winner in the H-O-A, and he also ended second in the Champion of Champions race. Additionally, he was AA runner-up in the Clay Target after another perfect score of 200, earned the Zone Champion of Champions crown with 200 (leading the winning Southern quintet in the Zone Team Race), and ended second in the preliminary-day doubles with a 99. In 1974, he placed third in the Champion of Champions.
State Championships and Records
Snellenberger’s string of 29 state championships began in 1959 and included a clean sweep of all four ATA titles in Virginia in 1974. He became the initial person to win four state 16-yard titles with a perfect score of 200, the second to win five, and the only shooter to capture six with a perfect score. He earned 12 total ATA championships in Indiana, 14 in Virginia, two in Ohio, and one in Michigan, with titles spread across singles, all-around, doubles, and handicap events.
George’s perfect 200s for titles were recorded in Indiana in 1961, 1962, and 1966; in Virginia in 1973; and in Ohio in 1977 and 1978. Known for engaging in long shoot-offs, Snellenberger had 200 straight extras in winning the 1961 Indiana State singles championship after a perfect score of 200, setting a record shoot-off for the state at the time. His 397 all-around victory at the 1969 Indiana State championship tied an ATA scoring record for all resident state or provincial champions, which remained unbroken until 1982. Snellenberger was inducted into the Indiana Trapshooting Hall of Fame in 1981.
ATA and All-America Honors
Snellenberger earned the Central Zone doubles titles in 1961 and 1965 with scores of 98, and in 1968, he secured the singles crown with 200 and the all-around with 393. In 1972, he captured the Southern Zone all-around championship with a score of 393. George was named to the first-team All-America listings multiple times and received honorable mentions in other years. His impressive streak included 11 selections to All-America teams.
Snellenberger’s Shooting Records
On Monday of the 1979 Grand American, Snellenberger entered the 50th 200 straight singles score of his career. He was one of four shooters to have more than one singles run of 1,000 and over, breaking 1,012 in a row in 1960 and 1,080 two years later. He registered four yearly singles averages of 99% or higher on a minimum of 2,500 targets. His long-run record of 132 from 27 yards in August 1965 at Evansville, Indiana, stood for two years before being surpassed. At the same shoot, he became the second person in ATA history to complete a Grand Slam (100 doubles, 200 singles, and 100 from 27 yards) during his career.
George Snellenberger’s Legacy
George Snellenberger’s legacy in trap shooting is marked by his extraordinary skill, dedication, and sportsmanship. His achievements and records have set a high standard in the sport, inspiring future generations of shooters. As the community mourns his passing, they also celebrate the life of a man whose contributions to trap shooting will be remembered for years to come. His impact on the sport, both in his home state of Michigan and across the country, is immeasurable. George Snellenberger will be deeply missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire and guide those who follow in his footsteps.
Final Farewell
George Snellenberger’s death is a significant loss to the trap shooting community and all who knew him. As his family and friends come together to celebrate his life, they remember a man who was not only a phenomenal shooter but also a beloved husband, father, and friend. George’s obituary and funeral arrangements will be released by his family, providing an opportunity for the community to honor his memory and pay their respects.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jacque and the entire Snellenberger family during this difficult time. George’s legacy as a trap shooting legend will live on, and his memory will continue to inspire excellence in the sport. May his soul rest in peace.
