A Brief History of John D. Hiter

John D. Hiter's remarkable journey in trapshooting began in 1982 when he joined the American Trapshooting Association (ATA). Over his 28-year career, he shattered an astonishing 344,025 targets, including 133,725 in Singles (96.21% average), 115,150 in Handicap (86.73%), and 95,150 in Doubles (90.58%), before his passing in 2010.

Starting with his trusty Winchester Model 12—Y variant—he competed in every event, from Singles to Doubles, amassing countless trophies and victories too numerous to catalog.

Hiter's leadership shone brightly: He earned a spot on the Georgia State Trap Team for sixteen straight years, captaining the squad in 1998, 2003, and 2004.  In 2004 he received the prestigious AA-27-AA pin, followed by the Quarter Million Target pin in 2004. In 2005, he was honored as a member of the Veteran All-American Second Team and enshrined in the Georgia Trap Hall of Fame. 

His service to the sport extended beyond the shooting line. Elected as Second Alternate Delegate in 1990 and Alternate Delegate in 1991, he proudly represented Georgia as ATA Delegate from 1992 onward. Tragically, just two weeks before he was set to assume the presidency of the ATA in 2010, John passed away, leaving a profound void.

A longtime pillar of the Cherokee Gun Club, John held numerous roles and generously mentored newcomers to trapshooting in the early 2000s, inspiring a new generation with his passion and expertise.