Ilseng broke into big- time skeet 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,OK, with 498×500 and he was Runnerup 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 title and All Around at Indianapolis. In 1942 he took the 12 Gauge World title with 249×250 in Syracuse, NY.

During this time, Grant enlisted in the Air Corps and served three years as an aerial gunnery instructor. During his shooting career, he won numerous titles including four major titles in Las Vegas in 1948 and the Champion of Champions event with 100 straight at Dallas in 1951-1952 and 1953. Ilseng was also a member of the All American team ten times.

I was lucky to get to know Grant when he came back to Houston. Still giving lessons, I was fortunate to be introduced to him and the rest is history. Truly one of the greatest all around gun pointers in history, Grant also excelled in ATA Trap and at the end of his career was enshrined in the Pigeon Shooting Hall of Fame.

Grant’s best friend at this time was D.Lee Braun, who would also receive this prestigious honor. When you got around both of those gentlemen, the stories would be begin flowing. Both were practical jokers and among the best!!

Shooting a pump gun, Grant could do a lot of amazing things with that gun. One day at the Greater Houston GunClub , Grant said I want to teach you something that you can try in your next Doubles shootoff. We went to Station 4 and he loaded two shells to shoot a double ( high bird first). He proceeded to call for the high target and break it 20 feet out and in that same continuous motion to the right smoked the low house as it crossed over Station 8 – remember, this was done all in one movement to the right while pumping the gun. In disbelief, I asked him to do it again. Same result – absolutely incredible !!  As we walked back to the clubhouse, Grant turned to me and in his usual jovial manner said, “ Phil, I’ll pay you a $100 if at your next shoot,  you shoot Station 4 Doubles like that”. I knew he was joking but I never had the guts to try that move in a shootoff!! What a psych job that would have been for the shooter behind you.

Grant passed away in 1987. His passing was the end of a special era in Clay Target shooting. He was a gentleman and a giant on and off the shooting fields. I cannot ever express the love and admiration I had for this man and his best friend, D.Lee Braun. Both shaped by life and not only taught me to break targets, but also taught me about life.  I still think of both men often. How lucky our sport was to have them .

This past year, we invited Grant’s daughter Sallie to attend the Skeet HOF dinner in San Antonio with her two sons. What a nostalgic evening that was for everyone!! To listen to her stories about her Dad was like being there in person. Thanks for attending and we love you!

Biography By – Phil Murray