National Matches Highpower Match Director Jim Hill had the honor of firing the canon that signaled “colors” at the Matches one last time on 14 August as the 2007 “Camp Perry Centennial” National Matches came to a close. It was Hill’s last day as Match Director after serving in that capacity for the CMP and NRA highpower rifle championships for the past 13 years. It was a memorable ending to a great National Matches and one more special experience in one of the most remarkable careers in marksmanship.

Hill began his career as a Marine Corps marksman where he won a series of Marine Corps, national and international titles in rifle competitions. Highlights included the National Highpower Rifle Championship in 1956, an Olympic Silver Medal in 1960 and the NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championship in 1964. He is one of just 36 Triple Distinguished shooters in the history of American Marksmanship, having won his Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1956, his Distinguished International Shooters Badge in 1960 and his Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge in 1986. After his retirement from the Marine Corps he returned to Camp Perry many times where he won a series of Civilian service rifle titles. He also founded a successful shooting sports business, Creedmoor Sports Inc. in Oceanside, California. While in that business, Hill made significant contributions to the design of shooting clothing and equipment. For the last 15 years, Hill has served as an official in the National Matches, having been Highpower Match Director for the last 13 years.

The brief, but memorable ceremony that ended the 2007 National Matches began with Hill firing the canon that is fired each morning to signal colors and start the day’s firing. The USA, Ohio and Ottawa County flags were then lowered for the last time during the 2007 Matches as two buglers played taps. The Matches began on 9 July with a special First Shot Ceremony and continued for 37 days. Over 6,000 competitors participated in National Matches competitions that included Pistol and Rifle Small Arms Firing Schools, the NRA National Pistol Championship, CMP National Trophy Pistol Matches, NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championships, CMP National Rimfire Sporter Match, the CMP National Trophy Rifle and CMP Games Matches and the NRA National Highpower Rifle Championships.

The 2007 National Matches were unique because they celebrated 100 years of National Matches at Camp Perry. The Matches were established by the U. S. Congress and President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. They came to Camp Perry for the first time in 1907 after Ohio Adjutant General Ammon Critchfield founded Camp Perry and convinced the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice that what was formerly swampland along the Lake Erie shore was an ideal site for the Matches. Since then, 83 National Matches have been held at Camp Perry and it is now regarded as the permanent home of the Matches.

After the flag lowering, representatives of the three National Matches partners, Colonel Jim Chisman, Camp Perry Commander, for the Ohio National Guard; Mr. Mike Krei, NRA Competitions Director, for the NRA and Gary Anderson, Director of Civilian Marksmanship, for the CMP; unveiled a plaque commemorating the planting of a Centennial Oak tree. The tree, a swamp oak, is located just north of CMP North headquarters.

Chisman, Krei and Anderson each made brief comments on the closing of the Centennial Matches. CMP Director Anderson noted “three significant things about the Camp Perry Centennial: first, that the National Matches are still at Camp Perry after 100 years; second, that we have now evolved an effective, true partnership involving the Ohio National Guard, NRA and CMP in the conduct of the Matches and third, that so many good things are happening at Camp Perry to give us confidence that just as the Centennial Oak will grow, the National Matches also will continue to grow.”

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