The SASS Museum and Cowboy Action Shooting™ Hall of Fame honors and memorializes the men and women, who through their exemplary contributions and achievements, have embodied and perpetuated the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting™ and the Single Action Shooting Society. Through these distinguished inductions, the SASS Museum and Cowboy Action Shooting™ Hall of Fame provides a generational continuity with the past, present, and future and creates a record of a game that has become a family oriented pastime and passion that preserves our Great American Culture.

Judge Roy Bean
General U.S. Grant
China Camp
Smuck
Alan Wah
Val Forgett

The men and women honored in the SASS Cowboy Action Shooting™ Hall of Fame, SASS’ highest honor, represent the heart and spirit of this truly American pastime. Sport founders, promoters, manufacturers, makers, shooters, and others whose contributions to the game helped it grow and endure, will find a home within this unique memorial.

These first year inductees are special in many ways. The founders of Cowboy Action Shooting™ and the Single Action Shooting Society, Judge Roy Bean, SASS #1, and General U.S. Grant, SASS #2, are among the most significant inductees. Each of these gentlemen made essential contributions to the shooting sports by envisioning this family oriented game and creating innovative concepts that have endured for more than 25 years.

In the history of END of TRAIL, the SASS World Championships, no two individuals have achieved more significant victories than China Camp, SASS #649, and Smuck, SASS #160. At one time it appeared China Camp could not be beaten. Over the years from 1992 through 1996, the unbeatable China Camp won the overall World Championship five consecutive years, setting a record not likely to be broken. Smuck, also known as Lucky Smucky, was the first multiple World Champion, winning three times, in 1984, 1985, and 1988 … and doing it in different categories each time. In fact, Smuck won his shooting category in every category in which he was allowed to compete (Ladies, Juniors, and Senior categories were “off limits!”).

In the final two categories, the inductees are recognized for their contributions to the industry that surrounds the game. Alan Wah, aka Wahoo, SASS #822, a clothing visionary who designed and manufactured a line of Old West Cowboy clothing with attention to authenticity enters the Hall of Fame for his important contribution to this significant sport’s staple. Not only did Wah provide important durable goods for the game, he also provided support as a long time major sponsor. Finally, a posthumous induction will be presented in recognition of the late Navy Arms Company founder, Val Forgett aka Pierre Gun Runner, SASS #6220. A visionary in the manufacture of Cowboy firearms, Forgett was an early pioneer in providing Old West reproductions that literally provided the starting point for many shooters to relive and play the Cowboy Action Shooting™ game that has become so popular over the last 25 years.

SASS finds it extremely interesting that among the distinguished individuals who will initially be inducted into the Cowboy Action Shooting™ Hall of Fame, two are of Chinese descent, further exemplifying the variety of contributions made to this Old West game as well as the founding of our Great American Western culture.

Criteria for Inductees