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Minnesota Trapshooting Hall of Fame


Phil Thielman
St. Cloud, MN

Elected: 1991
Supporting Member

During the 70 years that Phil has been shooting, he has spent many long hours teaching and helping shooters. For 15 years, he helped teach at the Florida shooting camp with both experienced and novice shooters as students. While helping teach at the NRA Junior shooting camp at St. Cloud, he was influential in getting several young shooters started on successful shooting careers.

A familiar sight at many St. Cloud shoots was Phil walking behind the firing line and suggesting an improvement to a shooter. He of course was able to teach and suggest from experience because of his years of fine shooting.

It is difficult to recall the many trophies he has won during 70 years of competition, but an example would be the New York Athletic Club trophy, dated April 1921, that he won when he was only 14 years old.

Sixty-five years later, at the age of 79, he won the Minnesota State Handicap Championship with a 99.

During the 70 years of shooting he has won several championship trophies. Phil's scores have always been at the top of the winners boards, and he has won many Veteran's trophies in addition to his championship awards.

Phil was the Secretary of the Central Minnesota Gun Club, and a Board member for 26 years. He served many years as a safety officer for league shooting, a job which he took very seriously.  Even though his health has been poor he still shoots league and practice.