Arthur Jackson (American sport shooter)
An American soldier and sharpshooter whose steady hand earned him a historic haul of Olympic and world championship medals.
1918–2015 (age 97)·American sport shooter·Birthday: May 15·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Arthur Jackson's story is one of precision forged in Brooklyn and tested on the world stage. His fascination with marksmanship began in a high school rifle club, a hobby he honed through local tournaments before World War II intervened. Serving as a bombardier in the Pacific, he later translated that discipline into a remarkable sporting career. Jackson emerged as a dominant force in small-bore rifle shooting, competing in three consecutive Summer Olympics starting in 1948. His consistency was astounding, culminating in a gold and silver medal performance at the 1952 Helsinki Games. Beyond the Olympics, he collected titles at World Championships and Pan American Games, establishing himself as one of the most decorated American shooters of his era. He balanced this with a military career, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, a title that suited his commanding presence on the range.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Arthur was born in 1918, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arthur Was Born
The biggest hits of 1918
Arthur's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1918Born
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Started school
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1931Became a teenager
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Could drive
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1936Could vote
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Turned 21
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1948Turned 30
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 40
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 50
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 60
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 70
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 80
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2015Died at 97
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Won an Olympic gold medal in the 50 meter rifle prone event and a silver in the 50 meter rifle three positions at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
- Secured multiple medals across three different Olympic appearances (1948, 1952, 1956).
- Claimed individual gold medals at the 1954 ISSF World Shooting Championships in Caracas.
- Earned gold medals at the 1951 and 1955 Pan American Games.
Did You Know?
He worked for the Sperry Corporation, a defense contractor, during World War II before active service.
He began competitive shooting on the rifle team at Brooklyn Technical High School.
He served as a bombardier on a B-29 Superfortress during the war.
After his competitive career, he served as a shooting coach for the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit.
“A perfect shot is simply a consistent process, repeated without a single error.”
