Gainesville, GA – The clay-dust fields of Georgia trapshooting continue to echo with the name of John David Hiter, the eighteenth Georgian inducted into the Georgia Trapshooting Hall of Fame and a Marine whose precision under pressure defined both battlefield and trapline. Hiter, who passed away at age 72 on July 25, 2010, left behind more than a quarter-million registered targets—he left a standard of discipline, leadership, and sportsmanship that still inspires shooters today.

A proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Hiter served three years before launching a 38-year career at Kawneer Company, retiring as Chief Pilot of the flight department. But it was on the trap line where he truly soared. Joining the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) in June 1982 at age 42, he broke 500 singles and 400 handicap targets in his rookie season using a trusty Winchester Model 12 Y-gun. Over the next 23 years, he registered 107,950 singles, 92,675 handicap, and 73,250 doubles targets, claiming 94 trophies across state, zone, and Satellite Grand events. Highlights include the 1990 Georgia State Doubles Championship and High All-Around, the 1994 Alabama Open High Over All, and the 1995 Georgia Budweiser Handicap.

Entering the Veterans category in 2003, Hiter’s dominance only grew—securing 43 category trophies, including back-to-back Veterans State Singles (2003–2004) and three straight Veterans State Doubles (2003–2005). He captained the Georgia State Trap Team in 1998, 2003, and 2004 during a 16-year tenure, earned the 2005 Veteran All-American Second Team honor, and served as Georgia ATA Delegate since 1992. His 2010 memorial service, complete with Military Honors and an ATA Honorary Escort, was a fitting salute to a man who embodied duty in every facet of life.