The 1st Annual Thumbusters Shootout was reported in the November 1979 World Fast Draw Association Newletter. I recognize some of the participants as members of the Ohio Fast Draw Association, many of them still active in the sport 27 years later. Others shooters I recognize from reading Fast Draw Association magazines and newsletters but don't know anything about them. In an effort to document the history of the OFDA, and Fast Draw in general, I thought it would be interesting to ask the OFDA membership for help in researching the story of this shoot and the people who were involved.

If you have any information regarding the people that are listed in the results fo this contest i.e. are they still active in Fast Draw, did they introduce any of you to Fast Draw, who hosted the contest and the location, and any other details of this event please email the information to admin@ohiofastdraw.org or click the "Visitor Feedback" link on the left hand column of this page to contact us through the website messaging system. With your help I am hoping to capture a little piece of OFDA history to share with new members and I will add your details to this story as I receive them.

Men’s Division

1. Dale Searls 731
Dale is still active in Fast Draw and is the current Ohio Fast Draw Association Chairman. Many of you have have known him for years but I had the pleasure of meeting and competing with him at the Gary and Joyce Tryon's Wild West Championship in 2006. He is a founding father of our association and holds our rich history in his stories. It was a highlight of my trip to hear some of them. One of the stories I tell about him was at that contest. It was the first major Championship shoot that I had ever participated in and I was so nervous I was shaking like an epileptic. I was shooting next to Dale and the more I tried to focus on not shaking the worse it got. I hit most of my shots but I just couldn't seem to get settled down. During the second round I hit my first shot and missed my second one. Dale quietly said to me "Did you finally miss one or did I finally shoot faster than you?". Somehow that one thing broke the tension and I got over the jitters. He still beat me but I definetly gave it my best.

2. Tom Blasgen 774
Tom is still active in Fast Draw and always a threat when he steps up to an OFDA, WFDA or CFDA shooting line. A die hard thumber he is machine like with the consistency of his draw. According to the numerous Fast Draw magazines and association newsletters that I have documenting the 50 year history of the sport Tom has taken leadership roles in almost every bonafide association that has represented Fast Draw. He was proactive in the Mid Western Fast Draw Association, one of the founding executive members of the Ohio Fast Draw Association and the Old Frontiers Thumbers Conference. Not only has he served Fast Draw in the business end of things he is recognized as one of the living historians of the sport. Tom's book “Fast Draw… Yesterday, Today” documented the public story of Fast Draw through magazine articles and newspaper coverage. After reading his book I was inspired to seek the personal story behind those headlines. Currently he has taken a much deserved break from leadership roles and spends his free time traveling around the Fast Draw circuit giving shooting lessons to younger upstarts like me!

3. Wayne Kiser 808
4. Jim Donaldson 863
5. Boyd Van Beber 867
6. Larry Cole 888
7. Tom Davis 954
8. Shane Van Beber 960
9. Brian Anthony 980
10. Joe Mullins 998
11. Robert Mahanna 1008
12. Harry Ballengee 1050
13. Ron Dunning 1050
14. Tim Olson 1054
15. Ron Damasco 1079
16. Jim Brooks 1113
17. Ray Olson 1122
18. Ron Mack 1124
19. Denny Tibbens 1134
20. Barry Tibbens 1165
21. Frank Mack 1205
22. Tom Crawford 1209
23. Jeff Olson 1226
24. Shaun Van Beber 1229
25. Al Miles 1262
26. Larry Kohler 1377
27. Jim Harmon 1383

Women’s Division
1. Justy Van Beber 1092
2. Shirley Mack 1389
3. Elaine Blasgen 1432

Best Series
8’ Wax
1. Tom Davis 227
2. Justy Van Beber 398

S/B/Wax
1. Boyd Van Beber 233
2. Justy Van Beber 299

S/B 4”
1. Tom Blasgen 231
2. Justy Van Beber 395

Fastest Shot
8’ Wax
1. Frank Mack .38
2. Justy Van Beber .48

S/B/Wax
1. Ron Mack .36
2. Justy Van Beber .46

S/B 4”
1. Ron Mack .38
2. Justy Van Beber .47

Best Dressed Award: Ray Olson and Justy Van Beber

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