Today, I had the great honor of spending a few hours with California Archery Hall of Fame recipient Roy Dill. A former member of the San Diego Field Archers, Roy reminisced for me about his time spent on the range in Balboa Park.

The following is from the Hall of Fame page at CBH/SAA. You can view it at: https://www.cbhsaa.net/HallofFame

Roy W. Dill 1926- Dedicated Archer Born in Chicago, November 8, 1926, Roy and his family moved to San Diego in 1928. In 1938 Roy bought his first lemonwood bow for $6.00. starting an involvement with archery that lasted over 34 years. Roy joined the San Diego Field Archers in 1944, shooting competitively until graduation from high school, where upon he joined the army. From 1947 through 1951 Roy was a formidable competitor throughout the state of California. Winning many local tournaments as well as several State and National Championships. 1947 Won San Diego City Championship 2nd Place California State Field Championship 2 nd Place NFAA Field Championship 1948 Won San Diego City Championship Won California State Field Championship Won NFAA Field Championship Won California Clout Championship 2nd Place California Target Championship 1949 Set New California State Broadhead Record, Score 930. Won First Professional Archery Championship, Pasadena, Shot First 900 Round ever in NFAA Competition. 3rd Place NFAA Field Championship 1950 Won California State Field Championship shooting a newly recognized style of Archery, Freestyle. This was the first State Championship Tournament recognizing, "Pro Shooters." One pin was allowed. In the period between 1948 and 1951, Roy with his brother Bob, toured the United States giving over 2,000 Archery Exhibitions. He also worked with Frank Eicholtz developing Frank's, "Composite Bow." It is said, because of his long draw, he shattered many bows during this trial and development period. In later years, Roy contributed much of his experience to both the YMCA and Boy Scouts. As late as 1981 Roy was still on the Board of Directors of the YMCA in the Sunland Area (Los Angeles). After an absence of over 30 years from major tournament archery, Roy came back to competition, recording the 3rd highest overall score at the 1981 California State Field Championship Tournament, held at Fresno, California, using a 46 pound recurve bow.

Hey Jim, what a special day and visit with a champion! Glad you got to do it.

Historic poster and historic photos. Sure hope you can find a place for them in your San Diego Archery museum. Sure hope too you were able to gather copious amounts of info on archery from back in the day. Good info to have & record & preserve for later generations. Sources such as Roy Dill are disappeearing and are taking archery history with them when they leave. It is great that folks like you appreciate archery history and are working to capture and preserve it. You must of had a great time, good for you.

Just.... Awesome.

Must have been a great day for you and Mr Dill. I remember reading about him in the 1960’s along with other greats of his time. Your smile says it all. Lance

Pretty cool!

I am curious how old Roy was after his 30 years achery competion abscence to compete in 1981 and do so well.

The nostolgic photos are timeless.Love the full draw pic.You can see that long draw at work and the beautiful form Roy exhibits.

Awesome...

Thank you for sharing this! Very nice bit of archery history.

Very Cool....

To share time with people and their memories, is a blessing of this life, a treasure of no comparison.

Wow.

That is great to see. Jawge

Wonderful. And look at all those old cars in the background.

That's wonderful Jim. We tend to focus on the biggest names and don't realize there were so many that kept the fires burning but out of the limelight. Glad to see you post that.

Did you also notice, he is gripping the bow with all fingers similar to what Howard Hill implied, and he has his face toward the target not at an angle, both eyes are seeing the same distance, that is what I am doing now and it works, it has taken a while because my neck doesn't like to turn that far, but I am getting there....Ha!Ha!

He also has an open stance allowing for that long draw and full power from that bow.

Jaz5833, thanks for posting that photo, folks can learn a lot from that stance, if you see him again tell him even today we are learning from him. He looks great for 93.

And the handsome sonofabee still has all his hair!

Sounds like time well spent :)

Jim, thanks for your efforts keeping archery history alive!

You lucky dog

Very nice to see and thanks for sharing.

Jim I'd say you been getting blessings from all this not many are able to be involved and get to see things that you have been.

Great story, thanks for sharing

There was an archery icon right here in my back yard and I waited too long and the opportunity vanished. When I found out Roy was still alive and only 2-1/2 hours from where I live, I wasn't going to let that opportunity slip by again.

Among other things, Roy showed me his Silver Arrow award along with the one his brother won as well. A VERY COOL TROPHY!

That's great, I'm glad you got to meet him!

We have a Champion here who won the Nationals in 1957 shooting barebow. He goes by 6-gold, and his name is Jay Peake, from North Huntington, Pa., Pittsburgh area. The picture is Jay in his archery shop.

Jim, it's great you got to spend time with Roy Dill. I met him in the mid 1980's when he visited Hugh Rich. He told me some funny stories and gave me permission to submit them to the California Bowmen Hunters newsletter. Wish I could have seen him and his brother, Bob, putting on one of their trick shooting shows.

There aren't many like Roy around any more. Well, there's only one Roy Dill, but you know what I mean.

Great form from a great champion!

Really cool!

I asked Roy, if he and his brother Bob, had any close-calls during their shows. He said during the show, he was to hold a large round disc that had a hole in the center. Bob was to put an arrow through that hole. This particular time, Bob accidentally put the arrow through Roy's little finger. Bob continued solo until Roy could get the bleeding stopped off stage, at which point, the show continue with them both.

Another time he said that an arrow had managed to get through one of their Saunders arrow matts. The matts protected the stage or whatever happened to be behind the show area. The arrow hit the frame of a very large paneled mirror. Slowed by the matt, the arrow did not break the mirror, saving the show from a shattering end!

I showed him the photo posted by Skookum, and Roy said the dog's name was Buddy and he didn't remember ever having taken him to the range.

In the photos he looks really tall to me with about a 40” draw! LOL! Do you know what his draw length was? Lance

I don't, but I'm guessing at least 32". He is still tall!

That's awesome Jim!

Curious, were those pictures taken when the range was in Gold Gulch? If they were, seems given the timeframe that they could of been taken not long before the "2 year hiatus" you were telling me about before the range was moved behind the Museum of Man. Also, did he know why?

The Icon you're referring to wouldn't be Harry Ross would it? I went and saw him when he was setting up to leave. I'm pretty sure he gave me forwarding info. I'll take a look for it.

John,

Yes and yes. I would appreciate that!

Hi Jim I got to shoot with Roy Dill in Wakins Glen N Y at the 1957 National field shoot, I remember being tall and drawing a long arrow, good to hear he is still going. If you would talk to him please give him my best wishes. Thank you Jay Peake

Neat!!!

Awesome. I am so jealous. >>>>-----> Ken

Great thread! Thanks for photos and historical info to OP and those that posted them.

Saw him on the range in the early 70’s-he shot sticks while many others were going to wheels

.

Terrific thread. Thanks for sharing.

Jim

Thanks for posting more California archery history. Always great to know the Champions who noved it along.

x2 Backcountry

Deno

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting pictures and history

Thank You for sharing

Thanks for sharing this story

Great information Jim. Thanks for sharing.

Awesome!!!

Great thread resurrection about a great archer.

Great thread!

Really amazing form!

Shows why good archer's wear an arm guard.

Those who do not wear arm guards bend their elbow and wrist to avoid getting slapped, and don't have that essential straight bow arm.

I shot with Roy in 1957 at the NFAA national field championship in NY.

Good stuff and thanks for posting.

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