By John Rossiter

Covington, Ga. — The 14th Annual Leonard L. Evans Jr. Memorial Trapshoot concluded with strong performances across three championship events, drawing dozens of competitors from Georgia and Alabama to honor a man whose vision and skill helped shape trapshooting in the Southeast.

In the Singles Championship with 41 entries, Bruce C. Swinsky of Georgia claimed the overall title, shooting a flawless 100. John N. Davis of Georgia placed at the top of the AA class with 95. In class competition, Andrew J. Cortner and John J. Rossiter both carded 99s in A class, with Cortner winning the coin toss to secure the class. Shirley Duong topped B class with 98, Dorris Hollingsworth led C class with 98, and Noah Ridgeway of Alabama won D class with 95.

The Handicap Championship with 34 entries, belonged to John N. Davis of Georgia. Shooting from the 27-yard line, Davis posted 95 to take the championship.  William E. Fahrende, Rex Alan Wells, and Keith A. Crabb all posted a 91 for short yardage with Fahrende taking the championship by forfeit.  John J. Rossiter followed with 90 for the mid yardage champion, and Joseph A. Oleary of Alabama scored 89 for the long yardage champion position. 

The Doubles Championship with 21 entries, went to Joseph A. Oleary of Alabama with a 96. John N. Davis of Georgia also shot 96 in A and was recognized as the High Overall (HOA) Champion with a combined score of 286, while topping the A class in the final standings of doubles. Class winners included Shirley Duong in B with 94, R. Michael Reed in C with 86, and Lance J. Buchanan in D with 82.

The annual memorial shoot pays tribute to Leonard L. Evans Jr. (1920–2013), a cornerstone of Georgia trapshooting whose legacy continues to inspire competitors more than a decade after his passing. Born on October 6, 1920, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Evans moved at a young age to Rayle, Georgia, and later to Decatur. With his devoted wife Mary Alice at his side, he started a small tool-and-die business in their children’s playhouse. As the business grew, it moved into the family garage, where Mary Alice delivered orders to customers — often with the children sitting in the back seat. The couple raised six children (two girls and four boys). Together, Leonard and Mary Alice built Evans Companies into one of Rockdale County’s largest private employers, with more than 90 employees and multi-million-dollar sales.

Evans began his shooting career as a rifle shooter at Atlanta’s Gate City Gun Club in 1964. He competed in skeet from 1969 to 1974. Early in 1974, at the request of the State ATA Delegate, he constructed what is now South River Gun Club to host state and zone trap shoots. The club became the scene of many charity shoots benefiting the Spina Bifida Association and the Tuberculosis Foundation, with all proceeds donated to those causes.

A prolific competitor, Evans registered nearly 250,000 targets over his career and earned lifetime memberships in both the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) and the National Rifle Association. He won more than 200 shooting trophies, including 33 ATA trophies — 18 of them Grand American Awards. He maintained a long run of 463 straight in registered singles, served multiple years on the Georgia State Trapshooting Team, and was named to the Veteran or Senior Veteran All-American Team for the final nine years of his competitive career.

On July 8, 1995, Evans was inducted into the Georgia Trapshooting Hall of Fame for both his shooting excellence and his tireless service to the sport. The annual memorial event bearing his name ensures that his contributions — founding a premier shooting facility, promoting charitable giving through the sport, and excelling at the highest levels — remain part of Georgia’s trapshooting tradition.

This year’s results highlight the continued depth of competition in the region, with veterans like John Davis shining across multiple events and other shooters claiming class titles. The L.L. Evans Jr. Memorial Trapshoot remains a fitting annual salute to a true Georgia sportsman.