1975
1975
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Clair Lantz, 66 year old St. Cloud optician, started shooting clay pigeons in 1933. He took part in numerous merchandise shoots around St. Cloud and won so many chickens and turkeys he considered opening up a poultry farm. Then he was barred. Lantz then shot for many years at Dan McInnis' St. Anthony GC at Minneapolis. "I would let Clair win one prize then shoot for targets only," said Dan. McInnis continued, "Lantz was a good shot, my best tipper and one of my best customers for many years." Clair shot his first registered targets in 1948 and wound up the season with a .8741 average. He skyrocketed in the following year by finishing with a .9671 average to take fourth rating in the state. He also had a .9164 average on 800 handicap targets, but was nosed out for the state high average by R. J. Peterson who averaged .9180
Clair won his first two trophies at Austin that year by breaking 197X200 (Howard Dirlam won the state championship after a shoot off with Junior Dick, both had 198) for third place and he won a handicap trophy. Lantz won the Minnesota State Championship in 1952 with 199X200, broke his last 100 straight to defeat Junior Dick and Ed Scherer, Waukesha, Wis., the non-resident winner. Clair won the Minnesota State high average that year with .9704 on 2400 targets. He averaged .9850 in 1957 and 98% in 1959 and 1961 but did not shoot the required number of targets to qualify for the state high average.
"My biggest thrill in trapshooting was the year before Castro took over in Cuba when I won the Pan American Championship at Havana with 199X200 after shoot-off," said Clair. Lantz who has won countless championships on clay targets and live pigeons organized the St. John's College trapshooting team with Dave Yaeger. They won the National championship in 1970 and 1971.
Lantz, who has hunted, fished and shot live pigeons in many states, Canada and Central America is an avid boat racer. He raced (outboard hydroplane) from 1929 to 1939 winning the Mid-West championship at Madison, Wis. and the Minnesota State several times. Clair shot in seven Grand Americans and was President of the Minnesota State Association in 1954-55.
Lantz, who was born Feb. 23, 1908 in Hannah, N.D., and later pitched ball for the Lakota ball club moved to St. Cloud in 1925. He is owner and president of Lantz Lenses, Inc. and Lantz Optical Company in St. Cloud.
