Henry Cribbs
Henry Brown Cribbs, Jr., long-time Albertville tire dealer, is the son of H. Brown Cribbs, Sr. and Beatrice Schmitz Cribbs, who moved to Albertville in 1948 to open Cribbs Tire Service, Albertville’s oldest tire business of 62 years. Henry graduated from Albertville High School in 1960. As a Boy Scout, he earned the rank of Eagle in Troop 71. Henry graduated from The University of Alabama as a third generation graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the College of Commerce and Business Administration. Memberships in various organizations include Delta Tau Delta, accounting, statistics, and business honoraries.
At Bama, Henry received the Army’s Distinguished Military Student and Distinguished Military Graduate awards, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the US Army. Stationed three years in Nuremburg, Germany, Cribbs achieved the rank of Captain. After completing a tour of duty in the Army, Henry worked for Uniroyal Tire Company in Georgia where he was selected to the 1969 Georgia All-State Skeet Team. In Atlanta, Henry broke his 1st 100 straight clays on July 20, 1969. In 1970, Henry returned home to Albertville to become a partner in Cribbs Tire Service. This also proved to be an outstanding shooting year for Cribbs, as he won High Over-All Runner-Up at the Alabama State Shoot. In August at the World Skeet Shooting Championship in Savannah, Georgia, Cribbs tied for the World Champion (506 competitors) in the 410 and became Runner-up to the World Champion. In 1971, a Birmingham News sports writer wrote, “Out of town hot shot Henry Cribbs shot the eyes out of 100 clay birds to take top title, 12 Gauge Champion in The Iron Man Open; he won the shoot off with doubles at all stations.” Also, in 1971, Cribbs reigned as 12 Gauge Champion with a perfect score of 100 in the acclaimed Magic City Open Skeet Shoot. In San Antonio, Texas, at the World Skeet Championships, Henry placed 2nd in AA class in the 28 gauge. In 1972, Cribbs won his first Alabama State Championship title in the 12 Gauge, Runner-up 410 Champion and High Over-All Runner-up. Gaining respect and recognition from peers, Alabama shooters elected him as 1 of the 2 Alabama National Directors, serving 3 terms from 1972-1978. He earned a place on the Alabama All-State Team every year from 1973-1980, and also in 2003 and 2007. In 1974 at the lst Zone 4 (Southeastern USA) shoot in South Carolina, Cribbs won Runner-up in the 20 gauge. At the World Shoot in San Antonio, Texas, Henry and his two-man team partner, Donald Smith, won Runner-up Two-Man Team event in the 28 gauge. In 1975, Henry had another stellar year. At the Alabama State Shoot, he claimed High Over-All Champion, 12 Gauge Champion and 410 Champion. Later that year at Big Oak Gun Club in Huntsville, Cribbs blew them away winning High Over-All and gun Champion in all 4 guns.
In Chattanooga’s Rock City Open, Cribbs shot 100s in both the 28 and 12 gauge competitions and wound up with 396 X 400 to sweep the High Over-All title. FIELD AND STREAM magazine named Cribbs to their Honorable Mention All- American Five-Man Team in 1979 and 1980. Again, at the 1979 Alabama State Shoot, Cribbs won High Over-All and 12 Gauge Champion and in 1980 won High Over-All Runner-up.
After an 18-year sabbatical from shooting, Henry began shooting again in 2000 and was named to the Alabama State Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame. In 2002, the Zone 4 Championship was held in Atlanta where Cribbs ran his first 100 straight in 20 years. In a shoot-off with 17 other 100 straight shooters, Cribbs won 3rd place earning an Olympic style medal. In 2003, Cribbs earned a place on the All-Zone Senior Team and in 2006 won Runner-up Doubles Champion at the Alabama State Shoot.
Henry has been a challenging competitor, has worked for the state and national associations as a Director, served as Secretary-Treasurer for the state association, and has exhibited an excellent example of sportsmanship. He has served as President of Big Sky Skeet and Trap Club in Lacey’s Spring for the past 5 years. Henry has been married for 46 years to Gayle Plunkett Cribbs. They have two children, Dianna Adams (Jeff) and Brown Cribbs (Nina) and three granddaughters, Anna Clay and Emilie Adams and Katherine Cribbs.