Well, this photo was from around 1970, two years before the first archery Olympic contest in 1972. Archery was reinstated that year and the USA took Gold for both male and female archers.

This photo shows John Williams, subsequent Gold winner, and Larry Smith on his left. The bow is the Hoyt Pro Medalist that was winning nearly everything back then. In the Olympics, however, John was using the Hoyt Pro Medalist Takedown. Doreen Wilbur took the women's gold that year.

Both John and Larry are Pennsylvania guys. John lived in Cranesville and Larry near York.

Doreen's last name was Wilber. I miss spelled it in the OP. Sadly she passed in 2008.

John had the "nose" of a champion. A bigger schnozzle and he may have come second.

Look at his form in the photo George posted, its perfect.

Larry Smiths father Truman, owned the archery shop I spent alot of my youth in, what great memories. I remember seeing photos of Larry with USA uniforms on, that I suppose were taken at national and world level competitions. I dont ever remember meeting Larry, I suppose he was out on his own by that time. Truman was a great shot also and taught many archers in our area. Thank ya George for reminding of those days.

The string pulling tightly into his nose makes it looks bigger than it is. I'm sure John is and was quite comfortable with the size of his own nose. ;)

BTW, notice the open grip without a wrist sling. Makes me feel better about my "poor" form! Jim

Larry was from Shrewsbury and his dad had an archery shop in their home. Shot with Larry many times.

handle, I basically shoot open hand. My fingers are only around the grip area for comfort and a relaxed hand. You can see his fingers in the photo not gripping but relaxed.

Does Hoyt still do the Pro Medalist or did it fall out of favor? Y'ALL gots to remember that "Ise dumb and doan gets out much!" BLESSED BE! PS? BEE-YOU-TEE-FULL BOW!

Thanks for the post George. Giving some of us younger generations a chance to see more of the history.

-Bones

Hoyt made the Pro Medalist up until about the late 1970s as I recall. Then Earl Hoyt designed ILF system, which still rules target archery. It used the same limb profile, but now has some more modern materials. Nowadays they give a trifle higher efficiency but shoot no more sweetly or accurately, maybe a bit less . I have owned some of the more modern ones but have gone back to the Pro Medalists as the most pleasant and sweet shooting bows I have used.

I shoot the metal riser versions every week, for hundreds of thousands of arrows in my lifetime. I have only shot more from the Howard Hill longbow design. - lbg

I grew up shooting on occasion with John Williams. He lived about 40 miles from me and we "bounced our arrows off the trees" together when we were very young. His mother Marilyn shot against my mother and his dad Ed shot against my father. Eventually he converted to FITA shooting and we stayed as field archers before moving on to the P.A.A. I was in the US Navy when he won the Olympics in 1972. When he decided to turn pro in 1973, he did it at our Corry Pro-Am Archery Festival.

"Then Earl Hoyt designed ILF system, which still rules target archery."

Unless you're shooting new Hoyts, they now use their Formula limbs... Top end Hoyt bows no longer use ILF limbs...

Thanks George.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here