CAPTAIN "CAP" FRANK GREGORY
1890-1965
A DEDICATED ARCHER
"Cap" Gregory was a Captain in the U. S. Army in WW-l. He was a member of the
USA Military Shooting Team and was well known as an expert marksman with both
pistol and rifle. When he left the service Remington asked Cap if he would use
Remington firearms in a traveling trick shooting show. This was in the early
days of vaudeville. In I939 a good friend of "Cap's", Fred Bear, suggested that
the bow arid arrow would fit very nicely in the act. It did.
"Cap's" trick shooting act took him around the world performing in many
countries for many people including heads of state. Gaining worldwide
recognition, "Cap" Gregory inspired young and old to take up the sport of
archery. "Cap" hobnobbed with the likes of Iron Eye Cody, Roy Rogers and Dale
Evans, and Audie Murphy who he taught how to shoot the bow. He also taught many
others, including his daughter, Gladys Ripple who became a two time California
State archery champion and two time national archery champion. "Cap" was an
outstanding instructor and coach.
"Cap" was instrumental in starting the Sierra Field Archers and the Sagittarius
Archery clubs. "Cap's" shooting partners consisted of many famous archers
including Fred Bear, Roy Hoff, Babe Bitzenberger, Nubby Pate, the Wilhelm
Brothers and many more who are in the Archery Hall of Fame,
"Cap" was also an excellent bowyer and made many of his own bows. He was
instrumental in the development of the Falcon broadhead in concert with Pete
Warneki. "Cap" shot the long bow and the recurve, which were made mostly from
yew or orange osage backed with sinew. In tournaments "Cap" shot two bows, one
for short and one for long distance which he called his "artillery model". In
those days you could shoot as many bows as you could carry.
"Cap" Gregory's love of archery inspired him to promote the sport around the
world. And the sport of archery today is all the better for having "Cap" Gregory
as part of its history.
Captain Frank "Cap" Gregory, a dedicated archer, more than worthy of membership
in the California Archery Hall of Fame.
Inducted 1996