MS 126 - Herb Parsons, 1934-2005 | McCracken Research Library

Joel Herb Parsons (1908–1959) of Somerville, Tennessee, was Winchester's "Showman Shooter" for 30 years and was Adolph Topperwein's successor. He was born on a farm in Fayette County, Tennessee, in 1908. He was raised in a family of proficient hunters, and practiced shooting to improve his skills. In 1922 or 1923 during his freshman year of high school he saw Adolph Topperwein in a shooting exhibition. And by 1929 Parsons was working for Winchester as a salesman.

By the late 1930s Adolph Topperwein was losing his eyesight, and Parsons began taking over parts of the traveling shooting exhibitions. In the 1940s, Parsons gave 238 exhibitions to soldiers at military installations.  He served as a gunnery instructor during WWII, and when hostilities ceased, he hit the circuit for Winchester, putting on thousands of demonstrations.  In 1949 and ’50 he was international duck-calling champion. In 1950 he also consulted on the film “Winchester ‘73” starring Jimmy Stewart. In 1954, a movie about his feats, “Showman Shooter,” was produced. And in the same year he won the professional division at the Grand American trapshoot.

His impressive list of honors includes: Sports Afield All-American Trap and Skeet Shooter; twice National and twice International Duck Calling Champion; and inductee to Trapshooting Hall of Fame, Cody Firearms Museum and Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. On July 19, 1959, Parsons underwent surgery for a hiatal hernia.  A blood clot developed, and he suffered a heart attack.  He died four hours later, at the age of 51.