Southern

[Mark Conrad]

I want to thank the BOD, Carl Brandt and the others who worked all weekend for the benefit of the PGCA. The event was a huge success with the largest turnout I have seen.

I also want to thank the PGCA Foundation for the efforts in recognizing our first three Honor Roll members, Austin Hogan, Charlie Price and Charlie Green. The banquet was excellent with many old friends, the finest Parker's and outstanding food. On a sad note, we all truly wish Austin could have been there. Many thanks to Directors of the Foundation. Well done!

[Mills Morrison]

I second that. Mark, it was good to sit and visit with you and Buddy. It was good to see others, especially those I only knew online before. Hope to see all of you guys again soon. I will let one of the more talented photographers post photos of the banquet.

[John Truitt]

It was great to see Mark out shooting again. He has not lost his touch.
Well done Sir.

[Bob Jurewicz]

I really enjoyed this year's Southern. The Parker Hall of Fame Inaugural Banquet was just great, And, getting a chance to view such a spectacular collection of Parkers was an enormous treat! Another highlight of my trip was meeting many members for the first time and WATCHING BILL MURPHY SHOOT A PERFECT STATION OF CLAYS!
Bob Jurewicz

[Bill Murphy]

Thanks, Bob. The true story is that I was shooting my first round of competitive sporting clays after a few years of trying to repair some serious spinal injuries, including three surgeries in the last two years. My friend Bob Jurewicz walked up to my station at the Southern and watched me run six birds. I insisted he post the great triumph on the PGCA forum. In exchange, he showed me his new FE Grade CSMC Fox 28 gauge which will probably not be seen often in the future.

[Mark Conrad]

John, I still have to work on "the touch", but I appreciate the comment. Mills, it was nice to meet you and Julia. Buddy and I truly enjoyed sitting with you.

Bill, keep working on the shooting. We would like to see you return to the shooting venue.

[Bill Murphy]

Mark, thanks for the comment on my shooting. Mills Morrison and his wife Julia are just fine people and are the future of PGCA. It was great to see you and Buddy at the Southern and I'm sorry I missed Mills and Julia. I will see them at the Fall Southern in South Carolina.

[Mills Morrison]

Thanks for the compliment Bill. We missed seeing you too. It was a case of too much to do in too little time.

[Brian Dudley]

I too enjoyed myself a lot! I wish I got the chance to shoot more, but I just could not get away from the tent. The best part of the trip was meeting many members in person for the first time and seeing others again.

[Bruce Day]

It was fun to go to the Southern again after a hiatus of some six years. The event is bigger and better than ever. The Parker Foundation banquet was particularly enjoyable, a truly top level matter, done right. Charlie Green's guns are outstanding, just the best, and a joy to see. It is quite an accomplishment to acquire a collection of that quality. And it was wonderful to see Charlie Price again. The years fly by too quickly.

It was enjoyable to see and be around old friends again, both Parker friends and many vendor friends and to meet some of the new people. Just a few more hits and I would have made the team....maybe next time. I can shoot anytime, but shooting with so many people with fine guns makes it special.

I missed out on a fine high grade Parker, but got a lead on another, so the hunt continues. It takes a lot of effort to put on this event and we were glad to help out.

[Richard B. Hoover]

The Southern was a truly wonderful experience. The Parker Foundation Banquet was superb. The opportunity to see the collection of magnificent and rare high condition Parkers and to meet the Legends of the Parker World that I had known by name and reputation only for many years made this an evening I will never forget.

[Charlie]

Many thanks to all who put this affair together. I was flattered, and honored, to be awarded an Invincible membership in the PGCA and inducted into the Foundation's hall of fame. It was good to see many old friends and to meet new ones. I did not get to spend much time at the Deep River shoot but watched some 5 stand qualifying. I did not recognize any shooter except Bruce Day and his CHE. I was surprised at how this shooting event has grown; much larger than the last one I attended, about 4 years ago.
Hope it continues to grow. Best wishes to all, Charlie Price

[Dave Purnell]

I'm sorry I didn't make it, but who won? Smith or Parker?

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Richard, It was good to meet you and I enjoyed the conversation immensely, hope you did not get any of those tornados flying around Huntsville, and thank you for spending the time to measure some of my guns, hope to see you at the fall Southern, I have something special I will bring for you to look at, Gary Carmichael

[Mills Morrison]

LC Smith won. I normally hate blowing my own horn, but my c. 1890 Parker GH won the South Carolina Bar Sporting Clays CLE Shoot Thursday and it smoked a bunch of guns 100 years younger or more.

[Eric Eis]

The Southern was a truly wonderful experience. The Parker Foundation Banquet was superb. The opportunity to see the collection of magnificent and rare high condition Parkers and to meet the Legends of the Parker World that I had known by name and reputation only for many years made this an evening I will never forget.

I am very sorry for missing the Banquet I really wanted to go but things came up :cuss:. It was great seeing everyone and we can't complain the weather was (except Friday afternoon) overall it was a great weekend and a lot of fun to meet new and old friends. Hope everyone had a safe trip home.

[Dave Purnell]

How about hammer gun sunday?

[John Truitt]

Mr Purnell,

LC Smith won both the challenge event and the hammer event.

4 bird margin in the challenge on Saturday and a 15 bird or 14 bird margin in the hammer event on Sunday.

We will get them next year :)

[John Liles]

Smoothebore, LC Smith won a very exciting hammerless challenge event by 4 birds, and LC Smith won the hammer-gun event by 13 birds. Strange that no one has asked before you, but it is what it is. Carl usually posts an in depth summary as soon as he gets a chance, which I'm sure we'll see directly.
Thanks,
John

[Larry Frey]

As it has been for the past eleven years it was a long ride home but so very worth it. This years Southern was as big, or bigger than ever and the Parker/Smith shoot drew one of, if not the largest number of shooters ever.

The PGCA can not thank Carl Brant enough for all the work he dose in organizing and running this great event. Nothing good ever happens in a group like ours without the hard work of its members and a large number of them pitched in to lend a hand where needed and the result was another great Challenge Cup.

As a result of our combined efforts the PGCA and LCSC were able to donate another $1,240.00 to the North Carolina Youth Shooting Association to support scholarships to its members who otherwise would not be able to attend collage. This is something we should all feel very good about and look forward to next year and for many years to come.

[Mark Conrad]

Many thanks to all who put this affair together. I was flattered, and honored, to be awarded an Invincible membership in the PGCA and inducted into the Foundation's hall of fame. It was good to see many old friends and to meet new ones. I did not get to spend much time at the Deep River shoot but watched some 5 stand qualifying. I did not recognize any shooter except Bruce Day and his CHE. I was surprised at how this shooting event has grown; much larger than the last one I attended, about 4 years ago.
Hope it continues to grow. Best wishes to all, Charlie Price

Charlie, it was really nice to see you and congratulations on your awards. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us over the years. We are all better for your many efforts. You are a true gentleman. Thanks

[Richard B. Hoover]

Richard, It was good to meet you and I enjoyed the conversation immensely, hope you did not get any of those tornados flying around Huntsville, and thank you for spending the time to measure some of my guns, hope to see you at the fall Southern, I have something special I will bring for you to look at, Gary Carmichael

Gary,

It was a great pleasure to meet you in person and to have the wonderful opportunity to measure your fine hammer guns. I was in hog heaven surrounded by so many wonderful old original barrels. I learned a great deal and appreciate the time and knowledge that you, Chuck, Brian gave to me. Thanks --- now I suppose that I have to come to the Fall Southern to find out what the surprise is!:shock:

Thanks,

Richard

[Mills Morrison]

Richard, If you come to the Fall Southern, I should have my lifter that may be an 11 gauge back by then.

[Steve Cambria]

Interesting. 1200+ onlookers and not one comment on that 800lb mass of black, matted fur, hunkered down in the far corner of the room. Granted, my vision often plays tricks on me, especially in the wee small hours, but I swear it looks an awful lot like a GORILLA. :corn:
CONGRATULATIONS to the VICTORS! WELL DONE!

[Kevin McCormack]

Steve, I heard he wanted to buy a ticket for the fly fishing trip raffle , but exceeded the weight limit for the fly-in aircraft, so was disqualified!

[ForrestArmstrong]

I did not attend but reads like a great event. What were some of the more interesting Parkers and other doubles? Anyone buy or trade for something special they care to talk about?

[chuckfoster]

Good to see all you guys again;
It's a hoot for me too!
Chuck Foster
NSCA Certified Level II Instructor
NRA Life Member
Deep River Sporting Clays

[Mark Conrad]

Chuck, it was nice talking to you. Please convey our thanks to Bill for his hospitality.