Charles Carman

Inducted 2025

Charles Carman, Hookers Bend, Hardin County. Charles Carman was born and raised in rural West Tennessee in the small community of Hookers Bend in Hardin County. Farming, hunting and shooting were a way of life for him growing up. After graduating college, Charles married his wife of 58 years, Linda Gayle Hardy, on September 1, 1967. Charles often jokes that he killed a limit of squirrels that morning, followed by a limit of doves that evening, and still made it to the wedding on time. Charles and Gayle have three sons: Jason, Nathan and Michael. Charles took great pride in raising his sons, teaching them to shoot. Charles and Gayle, along with their three sons, have all enjoyed the shooting sports, competing in different events throughout the southeastern states for years. Charles made a name for himself shooting in the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association in the black powder shotgun events. He shot a few years and had some success, but he decided something was missing. Being a self-reliant person and a self-taught gunsmith, Charles started making shotguns, milling receivers from solid stock. He has 7 completed guns to his credit, serial numbered CBC 001-007. His pride and joy is a muzzleloading shotgun that he built based on a Remington 870 pattern. This was a game changer for his shooting career at the time. With his new gun, he proceeded to win 35 State and Levi Garrett territorial Championships across Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Kentucky over a period of 20 years. Everyone on the circuit knew of Charles and his “zip” gun. Several people requested one of his guns, but he decided not to make any for anyone outside of his family. For years Charles would win the men’s division, Gayle would win the female division, and Michael would win the youth division — all with one of his shotguns. As the muzzleloading circuit slowly declined, Charles was introduced to the ATA by a friend in 1997. He quickly started shooting registered birds and began another journey of clay target shooting. Charles has compiled over 100,000 registered ATA targets to date. Two of his favorite competitions he has won were the TSTA State “A” class championship in 2005 and an NRA National “B” class singles championship in 2010 at Sparta, IL. He has been an advocate for the sport of trapshooting for over 60 years. He always encourages younger shooters to shoot ATA registered targets and get involved in the sport. Charles and his son Michael have coached a youth shooting team for the last 23 years, adding 32 state and national championships to his resume. Charles has influenced generations of shooters through his 40-year public school teaching position where he taught Industrial Arts, Agriculture and Firearms Safety. He was instrumental in implementing TWRA’s Hunter Safety course — he was in the first class of instructors in 1972 and is still teaching some 53 years later. Charles has worn many hats over the years: shooter, coach, gunsmith, instructor, mentor, friend and so much more. He has truly dedicated a large portion of his life to the shooting sports and continues to compete today.