James L. Mitchell

Our tenth Enshrinee became interested in shooting and guns at the early age of 14 when he used to go hunting with two of his Uncles. It wasn't until he was serving in the Army Signal Corps that his real exposure to shooting began when he started shooting skeet. Jim's induction marks the first time anyone has been honored by being inducted for both categories, his fine shooting merit and his commitment to the sport of trapshooting. 

Since shooting his first registered targets in 1965, Jim continues to prove his excellence with a shotgun and has gained national prominence. In 1998 Jim captured his first Grand American trophy when he secured the ATA Veteran Runner-up title in the Champions of Champions race with a score of 100. His second Grand American trophy came in 1999 when he earned the ATA Veteran Championship in the Dayton Homecoming, again with a perfect century. 

Jim has earned several Satellite Grand trophies, which include Veteran and Veteran Runner-up laurels at the 1996 Dixie and Spring Grands. His score of 95 from the 26.5-yard line during the 1998 Western Grand earned Jim the Veteran Handicap Championship and in 1999 he came home with the Veteran Runner-up award in the Singles Championship. His Southern Zone awards include the 1998 Veteran Handicap Championship with a score of 96 and Veteran High Over All honors that same year. 

Jim was crowned the 1972 Georgia State Doubles Champion and the 1973 High All Around Champion. He was the Veteran Singles Champion in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and in 1999 he won the State Veteran Doubles and the High All Around. He has won many Open and Non Resident State Shoot trophies in Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wyoming and Ohio. Jim has been named to the Georgia State Trap Team four times and has registered over 215,000 targets. 

Jim's dedication and unselfish commitment to the sport has spanned over 30 years and he has been on the forefront of making thing happen whether at the club level or the state level. Jim has served on the GATA Board of Directors in many official capacities through the years which include three times as the President, Vice President, 1st and 2nd ATA Alternate Delegate and has worked on countless committees. He was one of the original Trustees for the Georgia Trapshooting Hall of Fame and served a five-year term. 

Through the years Jim has always been there, willing to help and to do whatever is necessary to get the job done. He has a strong sense of duty to promote this sport in order to keep it alive, growing and strong. As a result he continually tries to encourage anyone who has any interest in shooting or guns to try our great sport. 

Jim enjoys the "game" to the fullest and with Emily, his wife of 44 years, travels to trapshoots all over the U.S. 

Enshrined September 25, 1999