Frank Wright

Born on December 26, 1878 in South Wales, NY

Passed away on February 13, 1931 in Buffalo, NY

Athletic Career:

• One of the great trap shooters in the early 1900s.
• 1911, 1914, 1917 and 1919 Westy Hogans singles champion. Tourney began in 1910 and is still running today. The trophy was set up as a perpetual competition in 1910, to be won three times before it becomes the property of the shooter. Wright’s third victory in 1917 gave him permanent possession of the Atlantic City Cup, along with a gold purse.
• In 1914, led trap association doubles for the year with a .8466 on 150 targets.
• At the 1914 Canadian National Exhibition Tournament, he had the top score on the first, third, and fourth days as well as the high total score.
• Won NYS Championships in 1914, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927. His eight 16-yard crowns is a record for the state.
• In 1918 he had the singles long run of the year with 250 straight. He also ran 612 consecutive at one club, also a record. He set a record at a five-day 16-yard tournament with 990 out of 1000. In 1919 he established a one-day mark of 397 out of 400.
• 1919 National Amateur Champion
• At the 1919 Grand American Clay Target Championship, he was a member of the victorious East team in the East-West competition.
• Won Team gold and individual bronze in the Men’s Trap at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.
• Eight days after returning from an 11-day return voyage from the Antwerp 1920 Olympic games, he won the Grand American Clay Target Championship – his second in a row. He was the first person to win it twice, and the first of only three in history to earn two consecutive such crowns. His shooting record in the 1919 title stood for six years. He would win the 1920 title in overtime.
• In 1921 and 1927 Frank was the leader in New York doubles (two pigeons released at one time)
• Collected New York all around titles in 1922, 1925, and 1926.
• In the 1924 Grand American Championship, he finished second in the Doubles Championship. Two years later he finished as AA runner-up in the Singles Class.
• 1925 won the New York State amateur singles trapshooting championship in Ithaca, NY.
• He would continue to win until his timely construction related accidental death in 1931.
• Charter member of the New York State Trapshooting Hall of Fame.
• Member of the national Trapshooting Hall of Fame