Straight Shot: Frank Addington Jr. Is Back

Frank Addington Jr.’s Straight Shot Blog is Back on Bowhunting.Net

Howdy! It’s been a while since I’ve written my regular “Straight Shot” column or conducted a “Straight Talk Celebrity Interview”. Recently I talked with Collin Cottrell and decided it was time to bring the column back and so we will resume this as a regular featured blog on Bowhunting.Net.

I can’t remember the last time I checked in, so let me catch you up on how things have been going. I hope that you and your family and friends are well. 2020 started out as my 35th year on stage doing “Frank Addington’s Amazing Archery”. For new readers, I’ve done instinctive archery shows since the 1980s. I grew up in the archery business, my parents own and operate Addington’s Bowhunter Shop in Winfield, WV. My family and I live in South Texas. Both my sons shoot archery and have been on stage with me.

My parents are both avid bowhunters. They’ve bowhunted together their entire marriage, which has now been 58 years! My mom took her 20th bear with a bow at age 72! They continue bowhunting and running the business together. They were wonderful parents and made sure I always had a bow to shoot and a place to shoot it.

I started archery in 1971 at the age of 4. I shot competition archery, bowhunted, and shot on my family’s ranges from an early age. As fate would have it a few role models came along that greatly influenced me. Rev. Stacy Groscup was a major hero, role model, and family friend. His father Baptized my father when he was born. As a kid, I tossed targets for Stacy and when I turned 18 he tossed a Pepsi can into mid-air and challenged me to hit it. I did and that very day he put me on stage.

Fred Bear was another family friend that had a big impact on me. Fred knew how to promote archery and so from him I was inspired on how to present archery to the general public and get them interested in becoming active. Fred was a great man and I learned a great deal from him.

Ann Clark was an exhibition archer that had me on stage as a teenager. She had a successful show and had me assist her on stage at a big show. That helped cement my interest in performing archery shows.

Many others also had an impact including Earl and Ann Hoyt, Joe Johnston, Jim Easton, and Hoyt factory rep Jim Wynne. All these folks helped me along the way.

Over the years I’ve performed coast to coast. Big shows, small shows, and in between. Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, Outdoor Expos, Sport Shows, Boat and RV Shows, Art Shows, Symphony events, and private shows for celebrities and well-known folks.

My show consists of about 30 minutes of “bow and arrow razzle dazzle”, down to tiny targets shot from mid-air. In 1994 I made archery history by becoming the first exhibition shooter ever to do an entire show with my recurve bow behind the back. Targets I’ve hit include lifesavers, aspirin, baby aspirin, and even mustard seeds – all behind the back.

Another unique feature of my shows is that I let the show that hires me to provide my assistant. Most exhibition shooters use one person consistently to toss targets. To me, it adds a degree of difficulty if I use a different thrower each time. No two people throw the same!

In the show, I tell my story and always give God the credit for my 20/8 eyesight and any talent that I have. I encourage the audience to spend time outdoors together as a family as I did, and less indoors on video games, computers and in front of the TV. It’s a family-oriented show and has been designed that way from day 1.

2020 started out as a busy year. January and February I was flying around the country performing and even appeared near my home at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. I had a busy year planned and then COVID hit. All my shows – 100% of them from March on were all canceled. This was a first!

So I’ve stayed busy sorting and tuning my gear, spending time with my family, and truly enjoyed the time off the road and at home. Although it’s been a tough year for us all, that aspect of more family time has been a blessing to me.

Well, that’s caught you up on my exhibitions. I look forward to bringing this column back full-time and am already working on my next column. Thank you for reading. Until next time, Adios and God Bless You.

Shoot Straight,
Frank

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Read More Straight Shot Blogs and Straight Talk Interviews from Frank Addington Jr. or visit his website www.FrankAddingtonJr.com