🎯 Mike Jordan: 1940–2023
by Karla Harrison | Trapshooting USA
🏆 A Champion Competitor
Michael W. “Mike” Jordan was much more than a name in the record books — but his competitive achievements alone place him among the greatest in trapshooting history.
19-time ATA All-American
2012 Trapshooting Hall of Fame inductee (Illinois HOF in 1993)
22 Grand American titles across multiple categories
Seven-time All Around Average leader
Completed the ATA Grand Slam in 1985 with 100 straight from the 27-yard line
Jordan’s trophy record stretched across countless satellite grands, state and zone shoots, and local tournaments. Yet for him, the real prize was the lifelong friendships he built through the sport.
🤝 Friendships and Partnerships
Mike and his wife Mickie formed a close bond with Mike and Sandy Hampton in the early 1970s. Jordan and Hampton became inseparable squad mates, competing together at the Grand American for 50 years.
Beyond the trapline, the two Mikes became business partners in a Winchester distributorship and retail store in East Alton, Illinois. Known as the “M&M Boys”, they supplied targets to clubs and state shoots across the region, earning a reputation for offering “the sweetest deal around.”
🌍 On the World Stage
Jordan’s talents extended far beyond ATA trap. He was a formidable live bird shooter, competing internationally in Mexico, Italy, and Spain.
At the 1981 World FITASC/Live Pigeon Championships in Madrid, Jordan bested 600 shooters to claim first place, proudly standing atop the podium as the U.S. anthem played. He also joined the three-man U.S. team that won the team event.
Shooting a Winchester Super X Model 1 and Super Pigeon ammunition, Jordan proved himself against the very best in the world.
🎣 Life Beyond the Trapline
An avid hunter, fisherman, and golfer, Jordan cherished time afield as much as competition. He was known as a “gentleman hunter” — respectful, ethical, and generous with others.
Later in life, he shared fishing trips and quiet moments with his partner, Julia Vitalie, often enjoying their pontoon boat on the lake near their home.
He also spent winters at the Silver Dollar Gun Club in Florida, where his wins landed him on the cover of Trap & Field magazine in 1970.
👨‍👦 Family and Legacy
Jordan’s proudest moments were with his son, Tyler. From deer hunts to long days at the Grand, the father-son duo built memories that lasted a lifetime.
Jordan coached Tyler with a simple rule: listen to dad — unless Leo Harrison offered advice. Jordan remained close friends with Leo, even presenting him at his Hall of Fame induction in 1998.
He was also a tireless advocate for youth shooting, supporting programs like AIM to ensure the next generation carried the sport forward.
đź’¬ A Gentleman Remembered
Soft-spoken, impeccably dressed, and always willing to lend a hand, Mike Jordan embodied the very best of trapshooting. His contributions as a competitor, mentor, and ambassador left an indelible mark on the sport and the people around him.
He is survived by his partner Julia Vitalie, his son Tyler (with wife Gen), siblings Mary and Dave, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his wife Michele “Mickie” Jordan, his brother William, and Julia’s daughter Jennifer.
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