Hays Gilstrap receives the Hill-Adams Service Award from Paul Lepor, executive committee member of the National Sporting Clays Association.
Former Arizona Game and Fish Commissioner W. Hays Gilstrap, an instrumental figure in establishing Arizona’s Scholastic Clay Target Program, has been inducted into the National Sporting Clays Association Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to youth shooting sports programs.
Gilstrap was presented with the Hill-Adams Service Award at the 2006 National Sporting Clays Hall of Fame awards banquet in San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 14.
“I’m very humbled by this honor,” says Gilstrap. “Youth programs are crucial to passing along our hunting and shooting sports heritage to future generations. A lot of people are working hard in Arizona and elsewhere to give young people more opportunity to experience the shooting sports in a safe, controlled environment.”
A life-long hunter, shooting sports enthusiast and as a member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission , Gilstrap was a key advocate for the commission’s decision to hire a statewide shooting sports coordinator and to fund a youth shotgun-shooting program supported by volunteers. Arizona’s Scholastic Clay Target program, based on the national model sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, began in 2004 and is administered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The program teaches the shotgun-shooting sports — trap, skeet and sporting clays — to youths from fifth through 12th grade, in a competitive, team-based format.
Arizona’s program is expected to have nearly 1,000 participants this year. More than 8,000 youngsters from 41 states participated nationally last year. Youths, coaches and parents are very enthusiastic about the program, touting its emphasis on safety, discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship.
Arizona youth teams have done well at the national Scholastic Clay Target program championships the past two years, taking three first-place titles and several seconds and thirds.
The Hill-Adams Service Award was established several years ago by the National Sporting Clays Association to honor two youth coaches, Brian Hill and Dave Adams, who were killed in an automobile accident while on their way to a competition.