Eddie was born in Plainfield, New Jersey in April of 1922 and grew up in both New Jersey and New York State, living all his adult life in New Jersey. He resided in Cranford and ran Edward Bahr Excavating Company before retiring to Beachwood, New Jersey. His dad, Edward C. Bahr, also enjoyed hunting and shooting. Eddie soon was hunting and shooting with his dad as he grew up. Eddie was an avid trapshooter. His children remember growing up and spending many weekends at various shoots in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In May of 1950, Eddie married Edith White of Cranford. They had four children, Diane being the oldest, followed by Tom, Cindy and Barbara.

Eddie, a life member, joined the ATA in 1953. In two years of registered shooting, Eddie captured the Handicap Championship at the 1955 Westy Hogans in Asbury Park with a 98x100.

Eddie was ahead of his time in shooting doubles. Eddie liked to shoot them fast (according to an interview with Everett DeGraw, a fellow trapshooter at the time) and that was unheard of back then. In 1956, Eddie captured the New Jersey Doubles Championship and in September of the same year the Doubles Championship at the Westy Hogans. Eddie captured the New Jersey Doubles Championship in 1957 and 1958 as well.

During all this time Eddie was involved with the New Jersey State Trapshooting Association, and in 1958 was elected President of the association, serving for two years.

In 1959, Eddie branched out and shot a 198x200 to capture the New Jersey Singles Championship. Then again in September of that year attended the Westy Hogans and captured the High All Around award.
In 1960 at the State Shoot, Eddie was tied for the Handicap Championship and lost by one target in the shoot off. He was runner-up in the Doubles Championship, and was Champion in the High All Around award.

Again in 1961, Eddie shot well at the New Jersey State Shoot, shooting a 198x200 and tying Dr. Whitford and Dom Scibilia. In the shoot off, Whitford ran the 50 and Dom and Eddie had 49s. The next day Eddie went out and won the Doubles Championship with a 95x100. That September, Eddie attended the Westy Hogan and won the Doubles title with a 96x100 capturing the HAA award once again.

In 1963, Eddie won the Doubles Championship at the State Shoot and took class AA in the HAA. In 1965, Eddie once again took the New Jersey State High All Around title.

Eddie served as the New Jersey Delegate to the ATA. I started shooting back in 1965 and met Eddie at the Union County Shooting Range on Kenilworth Blvd. in Cranford. I joined the ATA in 1968 and Eddie was my Delegate. Eddie enjoyed “Flyer” shooting and would travel to Pennsylvania on Sunday to participate. He would tell stories about Flyer shooting in the clubhouse at the range. He talked my squad mates, and me back then, into trying it. It could be more addictive than clay target shooting!

Eddie passed away in 1995. During his career, Eddie shot at 37,400 singles, 26,725 handicap and 20,175 doubles targets.

Everett DeGraw
[ATA #3503520]

Everett was born in Caldwell, New Jersey in 1927. Everett was exposed to firearms at an early age. His Dad purchased a 28 gauge external hammered side-by-side for him so he could go hunting with him. Everett hunted for ducks and small game as he grew up. As he got older, it started to dawn on him that he wanted to shoot the gun more than a handful of shells, which he used while hunting, so he and best friend went over to the North Jersey Gun Club and started shooting clay targets!

Everett joined the North Jersey Gun Club back in 1952 and bought a Winchester Model 12, over the years he purchased two more; it’s still his favorite gun to shoot. He started shooting targets and quickly noticed that he had a dominant left eye! Howard Dilts told him he needed to put a spot on his left lens to block out that eye, while lining up the target. It worked just fine.

Everett joined the ATA in 1952. In 1956 Everett and his best friend went to the Eastern zone shoot, back then it was held at Pine Valley. This was Everett’s first major shoot and since his own gun broke the day before he had to share his friend’s Model 12 to shoot the Handicap Championship. The officials wanted to introduce the two contestants before the shoot off and Ev’s opponent didn’t care to know the name of his rival, this got Everett’s blood boiling, so he harnessed that energy to run the trap and win the Eastern Zone Handicap Championship.

In 1957, Everett married his first wife Lois, she used to go with Everett to North Jersey and help out in the kitchen. In September of that year, Ev went to the Westy Hogans; it was held on the board boardwalk in front of the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel in Asbury Park, NJ. The traps were set up on the sand. On Sunday, in the main handicap event, the wind was really blowing all day and Ev was leading with a 97! As the day wore on, the tide came in, and the wind died down and Dr. Harry Whitford broke a 99 to win the championship!

Ev’s next major win was in 1967 when he broke a 98 in Sunday’s handicap to become the New Jersey Handicap Champion. During this time Ev was involved with running North Jersey Gun Club and served as President a couple of terms, and eventually a director in the State organization. In 1971 being the first vice-president, the president Gerald Litteral died, so Ev moved up to fill the President’s position. The following year Ev was elected President and served an additional 2-year term.

Another memorable time, Ev and Barry Allen (a long time shooting buddy of Ev’s) went out to Elysburg to shoot in the 1975 Eastern Zone. Ev shot a 197 and tied NJ’s Billy Comly for B-class. In the carry over, Ev ran the 100 in the morning, to win the previous day’s class trophy; now in A-class he shoots a 98 in the afternoon for a 198. Now he’s tied for A-class. As the shoot off progressed, and they were eventually down to Ev and another opponent, darkness closed in, Ev peeked at a target, and lost by one, to settle for A-runner-up.

Throughout this time Everett continued to win awards primarily in the handicap events. Everett also won the state’s Open High Southern Zone Handicap award, as well as, the Northern Zone Handicap Championship. Everett was on his way to the “back fence,” until working on a car in 1980, he was hit in the right eye, when the wrench slipped. Since then, he’s had to learn to shoot using his left shoulder and left eye, which stopped him short of reaching his goal. He had to settle for reaching the 26.5-yard line. Needless to say it hasn’t been easy for him. Ev’s last Grand trophy was in 1995 where he took runner-up in his class.

Sadly, Ev’s wife, Lois, lost her battle with cancer in 1983. Ev remained a widower till he met Virginia, and in 1998 they were married. Ev and Ginny live in West Caldwell. Ev is a car mechanic and owned his own shop behind his home (at 83, he still maintains cars for four of his best customers).

During Ev’s career he shot at 69,700 singles, 32,950 handicap and 14,280 doubles targets.

Rudolph L. Torlini
[ATA #35-13204]

Rudy was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1930. Now residing in Yardville with his wife Mary Lou. Rudy and Mary Lou have 2 daughters, Lisa and Lori and 2 grandchildren, Nicole and John.

Rudy worked at the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles starting in 1948 as a clerk and with hard work and dedication retired as an Assistant Director after 43 years. Obviously, the same hard working ambitious Rudy we all know and appreciate.

After years of bird, small game and deer hunting, Rudy started shooting trap with his friends at the local Italian American Club in 1966. He later served as President, Secretary and Treasurer of the club and was instrumental in the rebuilding of the trap facilities at the club. In 1974, a group of members of the club including Rudy went to Pine Belt Sportsman’s Club to shoot ATA registered targets where he went on to break 90/100 of his first registered targets.

In 1997, with the passing of Toots Tindall, Rudy was asked to assume the position of secretary/treasurer of the NJSTA. Thankfully, Rudy accepted the job. Since becoming secretary/treasurer, and serving with 5 presidents, his hard work and never ending enthusiasm has been the true existence of the organization. His job is not only maintaining the records of the organization and financials, but also producing, one of the best state shoot programs year after year. Rudy is also the driving force in ordering and purchasing the large number of trophies for all of the NJSTA competitions every year. Competitors have nothing but good things to say about our trophy offerings year after year. No one during this period of time has worked as tirelessly nonstop for the shooters of NJ.

Eight years ago, Rudy wanted the NJSTA to become involved with a charitable event. Verdon Skipper suggested the Masonic Learning Centers for children, who through donations teach dyslexic children to reach and function, at no charge to the children. Since that time, the NJSTA has raised over $100,000 dollars with the Teddy Bear Charity shoots, led by Rudy.

On the trap field, Rudy is no slouch either. Winning the Veteran award at the NJ State shoot in 1999, and going on to win Veteran runner up breaking a 98 at the 100th Grand American in the Champion of Champion event in Vandalia, OH. Rudy shot at the Grand American a total of 4 times. Rudy also won the Cavalier Rose Bowl and the Paul Plumly Award at his first Cavalier shoot in 1994.

Rudy is a life member of both Pine Belt Sportsman’s Club and Pine Valley Gun Club. Rudy is an ATA Life member and NRA Life Member. Also, he is a member and secretary/treasurer of the Cavaliers. Rudy is the most recent recipient of the A. W. Buchanan Award for Service to the Cavaliers. With anything Rudy is involved with, he is the “go-to” guy to get things done and many are just proud to call him a friend. So far during Rudy’s career, he’s shot at 106,850 singles, 42,000 handicap and 30,550 doubles targets.

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