Local Auxiliary Police Pistol Team Ends Brilliant Season-This Day in Norwood History-June 30, 1955

MEMBERS OF THE NORWOOD AUXILIARY POLICE PISTOL TEAM — Left to right, front row: Roger Sortevik, Coach Robert A. Baxter, Civil Defense Director George T. Mahoney, Roger Kral. Second row: Albin Johnson, Richard Clayton, Herbert Ham, Walter Phillips, and Paul Clark. Third row: Elno Gronroos, Robert Nelson, C. D. Croft, and Edward McDonough. (Photo by Laurence McDevitt of Marguerite Studio)

Norwood Civil Defense Director George T. Mahoney officially closed the 1954-55 pistol shooting season at a meeting held at the Civil Defense Office last Thursday. After praising the group for being the top Civil Defense pistol team in New England, Mr. Mahoney awarded medals to Team 1 for placing second in New England Police Revolver League competition in Series 3: a medal to Albin Johnson for being Runner-Up to the League Champion in Series 3; “100 Club” buttons to Robert Baxter, Eino Gronroos, Albin Johnson and Curtis Balduf for shooting a perfect score of 100 in a League match; and Expert

After the ceremonies, Mr. Mahoney congratulated the Auxiliary Police as a whole for its fine performance during the hurricanes and on the two search problems. lie then discussed plans for the Civil Defense Organization for the coming year.

The Pistol Team had its best season by far In the final Scries of New England Police Revolver League competition, Norwood again achieved the distinction of being Runner-Up League Champions. 7 his time with a score of 4690 of a possible 4800, they were only ten points behind the Champion Westfield Police Team and three points ahead of the Former Champion Royal Canadian Mounted Police Team. With 224 teams of Police, Auxiliary Police, and Protective Associations competing including some 1200 individual shooters, Norwood placed three men in the “TOP TEN” Albin Johnson was second with a score of 1185 of a possible 1200. Robert Baxter was fourth with a score of 1182, and Curtis Balduf, tenth with 1166. Team No. 2 placed in Class 3 with a team total of 4378 and Team No. 3 placed in Class 5 with a score of 4246. C. D. Croft with an 1130 series total led the scoring for Team No. 2 while Robert DeNormandle with a 1090 was high for Team No 3.

(All articles were originally published in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)