The First Gunnery Trophy-James L. Patterson (Class 2-58)

Seven Gunner's Trophies-234 recipients

​The Artillery OCS Gunner’s Trophy (1958-1973)

The Gunner’s Trophy was presented to the candidate with the highest overall average in gunnery. The award started with Class 2-58 and we have been able to compile a list of 234 known recipients.

​Click Here to view a PDF of the Gunner's Trophy winners 1958-1973 ​

The Gunner’s Trophy remained at the school with the name, class number and average of each awardee engraved on a 75 mm shell casing. The casing was mounted on a wooden base and topped off with a mahogany projectile. When one trophy was filled up with names a new one was started. The last trophy was a 105 mm shell casing engraved with 13 names.

There are six 75 mm trophies and one 105 mm trophy.

Trophy #1 starts with Class 3-58 and ends with 5-64. There were 53 classes during that time, but there are only 31 names engraved on the trophy. The cannister is extremely hard to read in places and we have been unable to determine the average score for five of them. The condition of the shell is a result of shallow engraving and a lot of Brasso over the years.

Trophy # 2 starts with Class 6-64 and ends with 4-66 (27 names)

Trophy # 3 has Class 5-66 through 12-67 (30 names)

Trophy # 4 has Class 13-67 through 36B-67 (40 names)

Trophy # 5 has Class 37A-67 through 6-69 (44 names)

Trophy # 6 has Class 7-69 through 3-71 (43 names)

Trophy # 7 (the 105 mm casing has the winners from Class 4-71 through 4-73) (13 names)

The first winner of the Gunner’s Trophy was James L. Patterson (Class 2-58) with an average of 87.30.

The last winner of the Gunner’s trophy was William Zekas (Class 4-73) with an average score of 94.97.

The scores ranged from 84.94 to 98.50, with the average score of 93.60.

The highest average recorded (98.50) was Robert W. Wermager, Class 3-72.

Five winners of the Gunner’s Trophy ended up in the Artillery OCS Hall of Fame.

MG (Ret) Josue Robles (Class 4-67) winner went on to be Commanding General of the First Infantry Division and later President and CEO of USAA.

Two of the winners were killed in action in Vietnam:
CPT Charles E Ferrell 20B-67 and 1LT Donald W. Sentman 46A-67. His name is incorrectly engraved on the trophy as David W. Sentman.
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Below is a short slideshow with a few award recipients and a listing of the known winners in Class Order.