PAUL F. O’BRIEN. JR.

LOUISIANA TRAPSHOOTING HALL OF FAME

2000 INDUCTEE

Paul F. O’Brien, Jr. won the 1961 Vandalia Handicap with 99 plus shootoff at his first Grand American.  “After that, he was hooked for life,” according to 1993 ATA President Jim Bradford, Jr., and Paul subsequently never missed a Grand until his death.

Paul began competitive trapshooting at the Shreveport Gun Club.  He immediately became friends with 1972 ATA Trapshooting Hall of Fame inductee Mercer Tennille, who made Paul “his unofficial shooting protégé.”  Paul captured a Class A award at the 1967 Grand American in the Preliminary Friday Singles with 100.  He won trophies at Southwestern Zone and Texas and Louisiana State shoots and also frequently attended the Spring, Southwestern and Midwestern Grand Americans as well as the Golden West Grand.

Born in Chicago, Paul lived most of his life in Shreveport.  He was elected as Louisiana ATA Delegate in 1962, Southwestern Zone Vice President for the 1966 term, and President of the ATA in 1970.

Following his years on the ATA Executive Committee, Paul continued to be actively involved in ATA matters.  For many years he was secretary of the Past Presidents’ Organization, serving as the group’s representative and communicating its recommendations in Executive Committee sessions during the Grand American.

He was also a member of the ATA’s Site Selection Committee.

Paul attended Louisiana State University, and he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in geology.  He was affiliated with the Kappa Alpha Order, a founder of the university’s Energy Center, a donor and active member of the Sooner Club, and an avid supporter of the university’s athletic programs.

He began his career in the oil and gas business with Hunt Oil Company.  For 13 years he was president of Jones-O’Brien Incorporated, and he was a board member of Aeropres Corporation, First Corinth Corp. and Warrior International.

He was a charter member of the Petroleum Club of Shreveport and a member of the Shreveport Geological Society and the Shreveport Club.  A benefactor of Ducks Unlimited, he was a major contributor to its Pathlow North Conservation Project built in Saskatchewan in 1983.

Paul passed away December 26, 1999, in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 72.

LTA Hall of Fame Committee

April 25, 2000