Ron Hassler can't remember a time when he didn't throw horseshoes.
Hassler, who was recently inducted into the Missouri Horseshoe Pitchers Association Hall of Fame in Wentzville, was a charter member of the Capital City Horseshoe Club in Jefferson City.
"It was probably before I was 10 years old," he said. "My older brothers pitched and I took one of their horseshoes and I took a leg of chair, drove it in the ground, and I backed up and I threw a horseshoe at it until I learned to throw ringers."
By the time he was a teenager, Hassler said, he could beat almost anybody.
"I relished going up against anybody," Hassler said. "The better the competition, the better it makes you. You have to go against good people to get better."
He participated in competitive tournaments for 50 years. Over the years, Hassler played in the men's state championship class 11 times and finished as high as third in 1999. He represented the state at the Team World Games on 19 occasions, finishing third in 2009.
Ron Hassler
[]"In some games I had over 100 shoots," Hassler said. "From 40 feet away I had a 65 percent ringer percentage, and from 30 feet away that got up to 78 percent.
"I've belonged to the state association for 33 years and and it's as competitive as you can get when you're pitching in the state tournament, you're pitching against all the best."
Hassler, who for many years was the only member of the state association in Jefferson City, said the secret to his success was simply practicing as much as possible.
"A friend of mine - Steve Johnson, of Jefferson City - as I was competing against him I discovered he was the best in Jefferson City besides me," Hassler said. "I would invite him over to the house, and we would pitch in the backyard two or three times a week for 20 years. You know how the pupil and the teacher story goes - the teacher starts out beating the pupil, and then the pupil gets more competitive. Now, Steve Johnson has been the state champion, twice. I feel like I had something to do with that, and so does he."
In Hassler's Hall of Fame nomination, Mel Bruemmer of the Capital City Horseshoe Club said: "Ron's nomination comes from the respect he receives from all who know him. Ron has given demonstrations to groups and helped teach many individuals. Ron is always willing to share his knowledge."
Hassler said it was a big surprise to be voted into the Hall of Fame.
"It's an honor, I'm telling you," he said. "I admit, I was a good horseshoe pitcher, but I never thought I'd make the Hall of Fame."