GRANT ILSENG
Grant Ilseng was born in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1907. He moved to California in 1934 and shot his first skeet targets the following year. While operating Alex Kerr’s Santa Monica Gun Club, he instructed hundreds of shooters including numerous film stars, directors, and other famous people ‑ ‑ among them were Clark Gable, Gary and Rocky Cooper, Joan Bennett, Carol Lombard, Howard Hughes, Ginger Rogers, John Wayne, Fred McMurray, Robert Taylor and John Barrymore.
Ilseng broke into big‑time shooting in 1936 when he attended the World Championships at St. Louis. Two years later he teamed up with Alex Kerr to win the World two‑man team race at Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 498×500, and he was runner‑up in the 12 gauge with 249×250. In 1940 Ilseng moved to Chicago where he became a professional shooter with Montgomery Ward. The following year he won the World .410 and all‑around titles at Indianapolis. In 1942 he won the 12 gauge with 249×250 at Syracuse, New York. Other wins included four major titles at Las Vegas in 1948 and Champion of Champions event with 100 straight at Dallas, Texas, in 1950, 1951 and 1952. Ilseng was a member of the All‑America squad nine times.