NSSA - National Skeet Shooting Association

The National Skeet Shooting Association is the world's largest organization dedicated to the sport of Skeet Shooting.

Final Shots: Andrew Schusteff

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Andy SchusteffWe are saddened to report the death on November 11 of Andrew “Andy” Schusteff of Northbrook Sports Club. Andy joined Northbrook in 1991 and volunteered tirelessly as a member of the Board of Directors and as Skeet Director. He was also an NSSA Director from Illinois and friend to NSSA, often providing event coverage and other assistance to Clay Target Nation magazine.

Andy had a large and close family of sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. He was both an attorney and a CPA and was a partner with his brother-in-law in a real estate business. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and many other outdoor activities including skeet shooting. He loved to cook and bake and was especially fond of barbecue. He enjoyed helping host events at Northbrook and ensuring that everyone had a good time and ate well, and hospitality was a hallmark of his personality.

Andy’s contributions to NSSA and the sport of skeet will be irreplaceable, and his friendship will be missed.

A memorial service was held on November 12. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to your favorite charity.

 

 

CDR Cotton Talbott Passes

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We’re saddened to report that NSSA Hall of Fame and Armed Forces Hall of Fame inductee CDR Merrill Lee “Cotton” Talbott, USN Ret., passed away on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at the age of 87.

CDR Talbott was inducted into the NSSA Hall of Fame in 2014 as the Ray Boller Award recipient. He proposed the founding of the Armed Forces Skeet Association and served as one of its first officers. In addition, Cotton served on several of the AFSA officer leadership boards and committees, was inducted into the AFSA Hall of Fame in 1991, and in 2014 earned the Pletcher Award for his service to the association and skeet shooting. In 2011, Cotton was selected as one of AFSA’s Directors Emeritus and continued to provide guidance and mentorship until his passing. Although Cotton didn’t compete in many of the most recent championships, he was always in attendance and willingly offered his advice to those who sought it. 

Services at St. Timothy United Methodist Church are pending. You can view his full obituary here. NSSA extends its condolences to CDR Talbott’s many friends and family.

Final Shots: John Dinning

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John Dinning

We are saddened to report the passing of John B. Dinning, Sr., on July 27 at the age of 91. Dinning was a member of the NSSA Hall of Fame and a Life Member of Loch Raven Skeet and Trap Center in Maryland. NSSA Executive Committee Member Alessandro Vitale remembered Dinning as a true gentleman. “He was my coach when I was in high school,” said Vitale. “He taught for the love of skeet; his pay was seeing the joy of others breaking targets.”

Always an outdoorsman and avid shotgunner, he found his way to the Loch Raven Skeet and Trap Center soon after it opened in the late 1950s.

Among his survivors is his wife Kathleen “Tucky” Dinning, who is also in the NSSA Hall of Fame, as well as a son and two daughters.

You can read his full obituary here.

Final Shots: Allan Lehman

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We regret to report that Allan Lehman of Dewey, Arizona, owner of Lehman Optical Sports Glasses, passed away on July 3. Lehman was both a shooter and a friend to skeet and sporting clays shooters who bought glasses from him and socialized during his many years of attending major shoots. In addition to shooting, he had many hobbies that included hunting, fishing, horse racing, and travel.

According to NSSA Chief Instructor Ralph Aaron, Lehman taught the Level 1, 2, and 3 instructor classes for 16 years. “He was truly a subject matter expert and was always generous with his time,” said Aaron. Other shooters, including Louise Terry and Andrea Lehr, recalled being customers of Lehman’s for decades and had an appreciation for his dedication to helping shooters get just the right glasses to enhance their shooting. “In many ways, he moved his industry into the modern era with blue-blockers, polarized lenses, and new tints,” commented Lehr, “always telling you what ‘Wayne (Mayes) and Todd (Bender) are wearing’ for colors.”

A celebration of life for Lehman is being planned for the fall. You can read his full obituary here.

Final Shots: Jim Conley

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There is much as skeet shooters that we owe to the people who have led the NSSA. Their leadership and dedication have made it the premier shooting organization in the U.S. One of those, Jim Conley, was from Nebraska. He passed June 29 at the age of 81.

Jim’s shooting career started fairly late. He was 36 when he began a more than 40-year pursuit of skeet excellence. It wasn’t long before he emerged as a top shot in Nebraska. He was on the Nebraska All-State Team for 25 consecutive years, while shooting more than 210,000 registered skeet targets. He also attended 40 consecutive World Skeet Shooting Championships.

As his career progressed, he became president of North Platte’s Lincoln County Wildlife Gun Club, president of the Nebraska Skeet Association, NSSA Director, and eventually president of the National Skeet Shooting Association.  In 1994, he was inducted into the Nebraska Skeet Shooting Association Hall of Fame.

Along the way, he and his longtime two-man team partner, Bill Harder, set a World Record, shooting 200 X 200 skeet doubles. His individual wins included 22 State Shoot titles and numerous gun titles across the country, highlighted by winning the U.S. Open, which was held in Pennsylvania. He tied with All-American Dave Starrett, both shooting 399/400. Jim won the shoot-off. That year Jim was awarded All-American status.

(L-R) Robert Stack, Alex Kerr, Jim Conley

His influence on skeet shooting and skeet shooters over the years are immeasurable. Few were as well-liked in the skeet community.

Funeral services were held in North Platte on July 26. You can read more about Jim’s extraordinary life at carpentermemorial.com.

– Contributed by Bill Harder

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