Most recent update: 03/27/2022
Biography  
–  Photos
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Jean Wilson Jr.
 
 

Jerry Stannard
 

Letha DeVries
 
 

Margaret Hartzler

Born in Boston, MA and lived in area until senior year when family
moved to suburb of Cleveland, OH.  Attended Ohio Wesleyan
getting a BA in mathematics.  Taught high school math in
Chicago area for 7 years and got a masters in mathematics.  Had
a son while there then moved to Arkansas to teach in a primarily
Black University.  There had a daughter.  From there moved
to the mountains in NC where I taught math in Community College
and worked with elementary schools with curriculum development as
well as getting a masters in psychology.  Moved to Florida so
could get a PHD in counselor education at University of Florida.
Back to NC where I worked at community mental health center for a
year then moved to MD to be with Gary.  I worked for his
computer company and taught math at community college.  After a
couple of years we started a company that focused on the differences
in personality and I got to travel the world doing training
programs.  
Moved to FL full time in 1999 and got introduced to shuffleboard. 
Started playing tournaments in 2009.  Have played in district
masters and 3 pros.  Hope to get my 200 district points next
year.  Have been treasurer for district and Bradenton
Shuffleboard club.  Besides shuffling I like to play all kinds
of card and board games, do jigsaw and book puzzles, read novels,
and play pickle ball.  Gary and I love to travel and have
pretty much been to visit every state, focusing on nature.  We
have two grandchildren who live in Australia so spend time with them
on what’s ap.
 
 

Mike Marquis
 
 

Ron NurnbergerRon
was a teacher, coach, Principal and Superintendent of Schools in
Michigan. He also hosted his own High School Sports radio show each
Saturday morning in Caro, MI for several years and did ‘play by play’
broadcasts of local high school football & basketball games. And
for two years hosted a local cable TV sports show called "Coaches
Corner." Ron was the President of the SWCD from 2014-17. He and
wife Pam feel blessed to be part of the SWCD ‘shuffleboard family.’
 
 

Terri Smith
 
 

CINDY
SLAUGHTERBECK ACCEPTING HALL OF FAME PLAQUE IN HONOR OF STEVE
SLAUGHTERBECK AS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SWCD
 
 

Wayne Walter (brother) is excepting Joan Wheeler’s plaque. 
 

 

Pam Nurnberger
 

Arlene McCague came to Florida 2002 to live in Palmetto. She played golf
for 5 years and then thanks to Emma Searcy switched to this wonderful
game of shuffleboard. She kept a record of all her partners since day
one. She thanks all her partners for helping her to be inducted into
the SWCD HOF.
 

My father introduced me to shuffleboard when we
would visit them in Florida during our times of vacation. I fell in
love with the game. Larry Mardis introduced me to tournament play by
getting me my first partner. Dave Minnich who later took me under his
wing became my mentor who taught me so much about the game. I still go
to him for advice. I’m thankful that my wife Judy who put up with me
gone so much. Now she is playing today. I am thankful for all my
partners who have helped attain this honor.

Dwayne Cross

 

Faren Vandegrift 
 

Nancy Sclafani
 

This
is Dona Dunn from Battle Creek , MI she was president of our  
Battle Creek SHUFFLE board club
for 19 straight  years.

Her
and her deceased husband Earl were instrumental  in the running
of the B.C. SHUFFLE club.  Donna is 91 yrs. young and
she and Earl were inducted into the FL. Southwest HOF this
yr.  Donna didn’t  want  a jacket or anything but
a plaque….Ron Nurnberger brought the District plaque from FL.
 

Lois Wegner – a retired teacher from Wisconsin was convinced
by her husband Al to give shuffling a try. (He said she would love the
sport and the folks even more).  Nineteen
years later she is honored to play in her 4th Masters.  She is the first shuffle player from Tri-Par to earn the
necessary 200 points necessary to be inducted into the Southwest
District Hall of Fame.
 

Where it all began. Erika and I drove May 1961 from Detroit to
Florida on 301 or 41, (I-75 was not build yet). We  ended up  at the
Alden Hotel in St. Pete Fl. It was our honeymoon. We watched this
couple play shuffleboard on one court beside the hotel. I asked, can
we join you, they said “sure”. The rest is history. Around 1965 my
neighbor and I build one court in his backyard in Windsor On. We got
together with a few friends and neighbors formed a club and called it
“Bouffard Shuffleboard club”. (Name of our street). You had to
belong to any Shuffleboard club to be eligible to play in a Canadian
Tournament.  My neighbor
and I played in our first CNSA Singles Tournament 1983 in Tilbury On.
Glen Peltier was the Tournament Director then. (I took 2nd in the
Main). Erika at the time was
not interested in the game; she got the bug much later. We retired in
2000 after selling our Plastic Injection Mold Company. Buying a home in Imperial Lakes
we started taking the game more
serious. A shuffle friend in ILE told me to go and play in Bradenton.
He said that’s where the “big bucks are”. He read John Brown’s
article every week. I joined BSC that year and soon after Erika did
too. In 2005 I became a Pro and Erika in 2006. January 23, 2006 Erika
played with Lorena Waters in Avon Park. After winning that Tournament
Stan McCormack approached Erika and asked her: “Have you ever
considered playing at the ISA Tournaments”? She asked “what is
that”? He explained what it was and again the rest is history. We
played in 8 ISA Tournaments and one Inaugural. We had a lot of fun
playing and visiting Russia, Australia, Germany, US and Canada.
Meeting and making new friends worldwide. Erika and I are very
thankful to all the partners we had to help us reach this goal at the
SWCD HOF. 

Erika and Peter Berg
 

Anna Nuttall (no Biography available)
 

Ron was a teacher, coach,
Principal and Superintendent of Schools in Michigan. He also hosted
his own High School Sports radio show each Saturday morning in Caro,
MI for several years and did ‘play by play’ broadcasts of local high
school football & basketball games. And for two years hosted a
local cable TV sports show called "Coaches Corner." Ron was
the President of the SWCD from 2014-17. He and wife Pam feel blessed
to be part of the SWCD ‘shuffleboard family.’
 

Paul Knepper (no Biography available)
 

Larry Taylor (no Biography available)
 

Mike and JoyceMarquis are natives
of New Hampshire. They have been shuffling snowbirds since 2003. They
have been shuffleboard volunteers since then. Joyce was secretary at
Colony Cove, treasurer for the Southwest District and is currently
treasurer for the Bradenton Shuffleboard Club. Mike has been President
of Colony Cove, Southwest Coast District and is currently involved in
the Florida Southwest Coast nonprofit organization.
 

Shirley
Jones grew up in the small town of Lisbon Maine. She attended Lisbon
High School where she met her first love. They got married after High
School graduation. Shirley worked in an office while her husband
finished teachers college. Two years later their son Jim was born and
daughter Pam arrived five years later. Shirley was a stay at home mom
until both of her children were in school. Soon after she worked as
bank teller and loan officer in a local bank. She retired after 25
years when her husband of 37 years passed away. Shirley married for
the second time. Fred was also alone after losing his wife. They both
started shuffling in our district as Amateurs and consequently became
Pros. Shirley accumulated well over 200 points in our SWCD. Shirley
and Fred were both Vice Presidents of the BSC. Shirley also held the
position as President for two years. She had to stop playing
shuffleboard when Fred became legally blind and she took care of him
for 5 years. Fred passed away January 18, 2016 he will be missed by
all who knew him.
 



The attractive young woman in this photo learned
to swim at  the age of 4 in
a Spruce Pond at Allenstown while attending a 4 H Camp at the age of
10.  From this beginning
she became a lifeguard until one day her swimming ability caught the
attention of a Water Follies agent from

Boston

.  Twenty five swimmers
tried out and Ann was one of 12 selected by Sam Snyder’s Water’s
Follies. 

The 12 selected attended modeling school and
began the hectic life of a professional swimmer. 

As Ann described it at a later time: “I gave up
the serenity of Kingston for the baggage smashing life of a touring
professional swimmer.”  

By the time Ann was 18 she had traveled in excess
of 8,600 miles.  Yes, we
have every reason to believe that is Ann Hersom in the Bathing Suit!!  We are not just sure who sent her the telegram!!! lol

Congratulations Ann on your induction into the
Hall of Fame, Special Award Category.

THE SHUFFLER, 2007 01 14.   
      
 

Larry Mardis
did not winter in Florida the last 2 seasons because he took care of
his mom Nena in Ohio until she passed away. (1923-2018) Here is his story.

Nena was born
in 1923 in the Ukraine which was controlled by the Soviet Union at the
time. She was born during a severe food shortage which lasted
during her early years. Millions starved in the Ukraine and southern
Russia at that time. As a matter of fact, her mom was killed by
robbers who stole her cow on the way to market when Nena was only
11 years old. She had 1 sister and 1 brother that she adored. 

When the
Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1940, they used the Blitzkrieg
through the Ukraine. Nena  at age 16 was away from her little
country village studying in Kiev when the Germans conducted their
surprise invasion. Nena was not able to get home and was captured as
were all teenagers by the Germans to work in factories and
concentration camps. Stalin told the Ukranian youth that it was better
to die with cyanide pills than to help the enemy. Pills were passed
out in the schools. Many young Ukranians chose life instead and went
by train quickly to Germany. Nena’s favorite aunt reached her in Kiev
before Nena departed and told her to remember to pray to God daily,
and He will keep you safe and kissed her goodbye. Nena prayed everyday
before she went to sleep all through the horrible war and every night
before bed for the rest of her life.

She lived
through the bombings and killings in the camps and factories and was
safe at the end of the war. She had been moved to the Western side of
Germany where the Americans were arriving. She missed her home so much
and wanted to see her little sister and brother and father, not
knowing what had happened to them in the German invasion and again
when the Soviets pushed the Germans back out. Their home had been
shelled in the fighting. She was packing to leave for home when a kind
German officer who had befriended her warned that he had heard Stalin
was shooting all returning youth for treason. And he did, every one.
Nena then hesitated and  stayed in Germany for a few extra months
and met the love of her life. She married her husband in Germany and
stayed during his tour of duty. They came home to her husband’s home
in Alabama. and lived a short while. Jobs were few in the South at
that time, and her husband began to travel and work as a welder on
interstate bridges which were booming in the fifties and sixties.

I-75 work
brought them to West Chester in 1958. She always loved West Chester
and with her husband’s hard work and her hard work, they built their
home where she lived for close to 60 years. Nena was always ambitious
and went to Beauty School in 1959 and graduated with her broken
English. She had a beauty shop built in her house and became the first
beautician in West Chester in the  early 1960’s. She cared for
all the original families of West Chester. Her husband died when he
was only 54 years old, and she worked hard and helped her only son get
through college and become her joy.


 

She could
never send mail to the Soviet Union in the 50’s and early 60’s and
know anything about her family after the war. Then by miracle 
Soviet leader Kruschev started allowing mail to flow between the
countries and she found out that her brother and little sister and
father were alive.  The real miracle came in 1989 when the wall
came crumbling down and the Soviet Union collapsed. In 1990 she bought
tickets for her brother and sister to come and stay with her for 3
weeks. Almost 50 years had past and she thought she would never see
them. They thought she had died in the war in Germany. There have
never been so many tears of happiness shed and stories told of their
lives in those three weeks about the past 50 years of their lives.


 

She retired
from her shop but continued to care for elderly people in their homes
and up into her 80’s cared for the sick and loved to work in her
garden and yard. She enjoyed her life to the end and fought hard
everyday to live  and died at almost 95 years old.


 

Reverend…….please
use what suits your time schedule.  Don’t worry about those
troublesome allergy symptoms……we all have them this time of the
year.    Thank you so much for helping my mom.
  


 

Larry Mardis
 

Judy Taylor (no Biography available)
 

Ralph Lozano (no Biography available)
 

Shirley raised 6 children and all are
college graduates.  She owned a beauty salon for 35 years and
enjoyed talking to her customers.  Shirley’s 93 year old
sister, Rita, wanted her to make the “FSA Hall of Fame” before she
died and SHE DID IT!!  It took 14 years which might seem like a
long time, but went by real fast because she had so much fun. She also
qualified for the SWCD HOF with 272 points.  Shirley traveled to
Australia and Germany to shuffle and made many nice memories.  She
lost 2 of her best friend partners, My Becker and Faith Belott.  Marlene
Colburn, Marilyn Everettt and others helped Shirley get her points.
 She says that shuffleboard is a fun game  for seniors
because you meet so many nice people.  Shirley met her husband,
Gene, on the  courts and he encourages her.  She loves her
family and fellow shufflers.
 

Marlene Coburn was born in Bay City, Michigan. She moved frequently
to various parts of Michigan. Marlene retired from General Motors in
1984 and migrated to Franklin, NC and Bradenton FL with her husband
Carson. They have been married for 34 years. Marlene started shuffling
1995 and immediately fell in love with the game. She felt that she
found her niche in life playing this game. This year, she achieved her
goal in the state to enter the FSA HOF with 200 points, and with 303
point in the SWCD HOF.     
 

Marie Hunter (no Biography available)
 

Dolores and John’s
Induction in our SWCD Hall of Fame by Jerry Stannard

FSA
HOF ACTUAL PRESENTATION REMARKS BY INDUCTOR!

Hollywood
Had the Golden Globe Awards (2007 01 15)

Shuffleboard
Had The Hall of Fame Inductions!!

Rev.
John L. Brown – FSA Hall of Fame Recipient – January 15, 2007 by 

Roy
Norman.

It
is my sincere privilege to mention some highlights about our fellow
shuffler and recipient of the FSA Hall Of Fame Award – Reverend John
Leroy Brown.

Apparently
there are many John Browns in North America. So many, that when John
attempted to establish a screen name for his new computer last year it
wasn’t sufficient to add his initial for his middle name so he tried
“Rev” John Brown and it worked. Now although there may be many
John Browns in North America, we know that none, but none, could be
like our colorful and talented John Brown.

My
first encounter with John was January 22, 1994. The evening before
driving to Trailer Estates for a Pro tournament I received a call from
my Southern District partner to tell me that he had taken his wife to
the hospital and would be unable to play on the Monday. So as I was
looking for a partner – guess who was also looking for a partner to
enter his first Pro Tournament in Florida. That’s right a very young
looking enthusiastic bubbly guy wearing a wooden cross with a smile a
mile wide named John Brown – READY TO GO! In that tournament we placed
second place in consolation, earning John one half point towards his
Amateur Status. He then completed his Amateur Status in a one-year
period. During a second one-year period year he completed his Pro
Status. His first Pro point was earned at Sebring, on February 10,
1997. This was a very slow start compared to the year 2002/2003, when
he earned 40 points, contributing to his goal which he is celebrating
tonight.

John
has been and continues to be an ACHIEVER. Be it as – a class
president; high school valedictorian; flying an airplane at age 16;
obtaining his private license for carrying passengers in an airplane
at age 17; being elected as Outstanding Farmer in Indiana at age 28;
returning to university, at age 33, and graduating as an Ordained
Minister; serving as a Chaplain of the Children’s’ Home in Berea,
Ohio.

At this time, John volunteered to offer “garden therapy”
where he had as many as 80 emotionally disturbed gardeners using up to
51/2 acres of land for vegetables. He also supervised more than 100
Big Brothers and Big Sisters for 12 years; was a teacher; and even
attended a Peace Rally in Russia with his daughter – Donna, who we are
pleased to see, is here with us tonight.

Once
you know John you soon realize that he is a “fountain of
knowledge” a walking encyclopedia a regular “Mr. Google”. Talk
about – politics, literature, history, geography, world travel, the
comics, farming, comparative religions; how to grow lima beans; and
yes ask the name of the invasive vine that is blanketing the trees in
the southern states and John has the answer – Kudzu. Also, almost any
topic mentioned reminds him of a good joke.

And
as we know John’s energy and drive to ACHIEVE did not stop when he
retired.

In
SHUFFLEBOARD – John has –

–
won the US National Amateur Singles held in Winter Haven in 1996.

–
won the FSA, State Pro Walking Singles in Leesburg in 2002.

–
played in 3 Pro Masters Tournaments

–
earned his 200 plus points by playing with many, many different
players –

With
a special big total of 34 points earned with Allan Hamilton.

But
the biggest credit by far goes to John’s Individual efforts since he
has earned one third of his total points by walking, walking, and
again walking in 12 Singles competitions.

The
finale to his achievement was when Ben Coy and John won first place in
Betmar to give John the final 5 points to make the magic total of 202
points for the FSA Hall Of Fame Award.

To
continue John –

–
was President of the South West District two years.

–
played 4 times on the US – International team

–
was State Delegate for the S W District to the FSA

–
at present serves as Regional Representative for the US National S.
Ass.

–
with Al Hamilton as his partner this Can-Am team won the CNSA Doubles

Championship
in Chatham, Ontario – not ONCE but TWICE!

-has
been very successful in summertime shuffling in Lakeside, Ohio winning
two National Doubles with Walt Wadel – and in addition to all of the
above, for the past 8 years, John has been managing to find time to
write a regular weekly article on Shuffleboard happenings which
appears in the Bradenton Newspaper, and not merely reporting results
and announcing upcoming events but giving many human interest stories
about shufflers, as a “color commentator” for shuffleboard.

– and again in addition to all of the above John has been very
active in helping players to find partners – by his sign-up sheet for
upcoming tournaments. Without a doubt John’s accomplishments
contributing to the sport of SHUFFLEBOARD IN FLORIDA have been a
demonstration of intelligence, talent and perseverance.

Not
only is it of some note what John has accomplished but there is more
that he could have accomplished with a little more cooperation.

For
example, Trailer Estates courts might now have an installed roof over
their courts if that young upstart John had got his way a few years
back. But have no fear John is still working on that idea and as usual
it is hard to keep a “good man down”.

There
is no doubt that John is a “bundle of energy and brains“. Can you
imagine living with a guy like that? Well therein lies part of the
secret for his achievements – that is, his intelligent and devoted
wife and partner for the past 50 years – one of our best Shuffleboard
Tournament Director ever – the wonderful lady Dolores Brown.
 

Ben Coy (no Biography available)
 

 Al Nuttall
graduated 1957 from the Bridgewater State College, earning his
Master’s in 1961. He enrolled for additional education at Boston
State College and Boston University. He played 3 years Varsity
basketball. He taught history at Norton High School from 1957 to 1994,
in 1964 he became Dep. Chairman. At a young age of 22 he became
President of the Norton Teachers Association, leader of the Bargaining
Committee. He also was the chairman of the Social Studies Department
and held that position for many years. He coached basketball for the
7-8 grades. He became a girls’ Varsity Coach in 1981. He won 3
League titles and  never
had a losing season. Al also coached the Golf Team, won 6 straight
titles and again never had a losing season. He was named Coach of the
Year. Al retired in 1994 at the age of 59. On a personal note. He
married Anna Daidone 1965. They
had 3 sons, 5 grandchildren. (4 boys and a little princess). Al and
Anna had to wait 45 years for that moment. Al and Anna started their
shuffleboard passion 1998. Al played in the Amateur Masters in 2002
finished in position # 4. He also played in the Pro Masters in 2007
and was the alternate in 2010. Al served as the SWCD President and the
Bradenton Club President for 3 years. He has earned the honors to be
in the SWCD Hall of Fame. 
        
 

Chuck Daidone
was born in 1928 and raised in DuQoin, IL. Sue Bowman Daidone was born
in 1935 and raised in Lancaster, PA, they met in Lancaster when
Chuck moved there to learn the photo-engraving trade from an uncle.

They met in
the summer of 1951 and married on June 26, 1954. Chuck had several
photo-engraving jobs and so they moved several times before settling
in Turnersville, NJ in 1968. Sue and Chuck have 3 children, John ( who
lives with them), Cathy (who lives across the street from them) and
Charlie. (who lives near Atlantic City, NJ.) They have 5 grandchildren
and 1 great-granddaughter. They moved to Ridgewood in 1992 and entered
into the world of shuffleboard in 1997. They made many wonderful
friends they met and played with, during their shuffling years. 

Sue has been
very active in our SWCD. She started a blog a few years ago and keeps
most of our shuffle friends up to date with all the age related
problems. 

In Sue’s
own words: 

“Hopefully
we have many more years left to play this wonderful game”.
 

     

Pat Batdorff was
inducted with 382 points in the Ladies’ Division. The first time Pat
shuffled she was in her early twenties, on vacation from Michigan,
visiting her parents at Paradise Bay Mobile Estates, Bradenton. Her mom talked Pat into
playing in their black and red, (now yellow) pot luck. July of 1978
Pat moved from Michigan to Bradenton. She teamed up with her mom in
the district tournaments. One of the highlights of early shuffling was Pat
and her mom played in the same District Masters! I must add, many of
you know Rita Coy, she played in the District Masters that year also! 
Pat’s first win was in November 1985. After a few years Pat put
shuffling on the shelf and went back to work.  She retired from a
law firm after working there for 14 years.  Pat loves the game,
each game is so different and each player is unique. Pat is so thankful for the
great friends she has made over the years which is the best part of
shuffling! Pat deserves the honor to
be in the Hall of Fame.  Pat is currently in training to become a
Tournament Director, showing great promise to be very good at that as
well. 
 

 
DICK WAS NOT ONLY A GREAT SHUFFLER, BUT A GREAT TEACHER. MANY OF
US IN THE SWCD LISTENED CAREFULLY AS DICK WOULD EXPLAIN STRATEGY AND
THE VALUE OF GOOD PRACTICE HABITS. HE IS TIED WITH HOF PLAYER ANN
WEDEL WITH THE MOST ‘SWC DISTRICT’ POINTS EARNED AT 505. HE ALSO
EARNED 485 FSA POINTS WHILE WINNING THE FSA MENS MASTERS IN 2007. 
DICK IS REMEMBERED FOR WINNING MANY TOURNAMENTS WITH LONG-TIME
PARTNER RUSS DEHART. HE ALSO PARTNERED REGULARLY WITH HALL OF FAME
PLAYERS BEN COY AND DAVE MINNICH. I RECALL A CONVERSATION ABOUT DICK
A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH GLEN PELTIER AS I DISCUSSED HOW DICK HELPED
ME. GLEN SAID, ‘DICK WAS THE BEST 8’s SHOOTER I EVER PLAYED
AGAINST.’ 
SOMETIMES HE COULD BE A ‘TOUGH TEACHER,’ BUT HE ALSO WAS A
REMARKABLE STRATEGIST AND COMPETITOR. ALL OF US WHO HAD THAT
OPPORTUNITY WITH HIM ARE A BETTER PLAYER AND PERSON FOR KNOWING HIM.
 I HOPE YOU WILL SHARE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW. 
Ron Nurnberger, SWCD
 

Jim Bailey’s family grew
up on a farm in UP State NY. His dad was working two jobs and they
moved into to a small town near the old farm. After playing Soccer and
Baseball in High School. Living in a poor area Jim and his buddy,s
decided to see the world so they joined the USMC and off to Paris
Island, SC they all went! After 4 years of service he started working
in construction. Then he met his future wife Ninfa. They were married
on 12-31-1960 (her Birthday). 

Finally he landed a job at
Kodak and stayed there for 30 years. He retired in Dec.1st. 1991. They
then bought a motor home and left for FL. He started shuffling in
1996.

Below is a story written by
Ninfa a few years ago:

Jim Bailey grew up on a small farm in
upstate N.Y.  Upon graduating from high school Jim Sr. sold the
farm and moved into the village of Sterling.  Work in 1955 was
hard to come by so he signed on to a local contractor.  Being
seasonal work Jim was laid off.  After some coercion from a
couple of his cronies they all met at Mary’s Restaurant and there
sat a Marine Sargent in his dress blues, medals and ribbons. We all
said that’s for us.  Little did we know what lay ahead for us
in Paris Island boot camp?  Momma come down here and take us
home!!!   

Jim competed 4 years and was honorably
discharged.  Back home work was still hard to come by so he
hooked up with a company that put up farm silos; that was also
seasonal.  About that time he met a wonderful gal named Ninfa who
after a whirl wind romance became his wife on Dec. 31, 1960; that is
also Ninfa’s Birthday.  It is still going strong after 56
years.  Only God and Ninfa know why she put up with him that
long.

Jim and Ninfa moved to Rochester where she
was from, where he started working in a paint factory to help pay the
bills. 18 months later Kodak called (the big yellow box) and there he
stayed for 30 years. Moving up the ranks Jim was in charge of a 400
million dollar coating machine that produces movie and Kodacolor film.
This machine ran 24-7.

In 1991 Kodak wanted to down size and they
offered a retirement package that he could not refuse.  Therein
began a new chapter in their lives.  In Dec. Ninfa and Jim bought
a Motor Home and were on their way to Fl. settling in Palmetto where
Jim’s Parents lived.  Jim’s Dad was 86 and his health was
starting to fail.

That first winter in Florida Jim started
doing his first love and that was fishing and playing a little golf. 
Jim’s Dad died in June of 1992 and he cherished the time he spent
with him.  Time marches on and Jim & Ninfa moved into an RV
park where Jim ran into Dan Sullivan a new friend who in 1996
talked him into playing shuffleboard, (I hate him to
this day HA HA). Jim’s first tournament was at Bradenton Tropical
Palms in the Senior Games not knowing rules or any procedures of the
game.  Jim brought his cooler of beer and found out that was a
big NO-NO.  At the Senior Games Jim ran into a lady who became a
lifelong friend who was cheering for him to win in the singles event
“Betty Downing”.  Jim played against Sam Barnett and others
who were Pro‘s, not knowing what a Pro or a drift card was AND
you’re not supposed to beat a pro!! He did.  Jim went on to win
the tournament and Betty placed the gold medal around his neck and
gave him a hug.  Wow this was fun!!!

Dan Sullivan talked Jim into going to
Tucson, AZ where they competed in the National Senior games.  Jim
went on to win the gold medal in singles and Dan won the
Bronze.

In the fall of 1997 Jim joined the Bradenton
Shuffle Board Club.  By this time Jim was feeling his oats until
he ran into people at the club who knew how to play the game.  He
listened and practiced and took his lumps and some butt chewing by his
friend Walt Wedel.  Wherein he ran into a lady and declared “I
love this game”, she replied “oh know we have created another
monster”.  That lady was Ann Hersom. God Bless her.

Jim started up the ladder of success and in
the fall of 1999 he was approached by Dave Minnick and asked if he
would be interested in running for the State Board as 3rd vice (Jim
was already on three Boards in the district)  After much soul
searching he agreed.  Ninfa hates Dave to this day.  JUST
KIDDING.

Jim owes his success to many, too many to
name because he would leave someone out so to them he says God Bless
he loves you all.

Ninfa is no stranger to the “cue”!! She
and Jim qualified for the Senior Games in three States in 1998;
Florida, Kentucky and New York.  They went on to win gold at the
National Senior games in Kissimmee.  Ninfa has also shuffled in
International Events!

As
explained by Jim and Beth Allen, Jim (Bailey) made the shot that
was heard around the world, the shot that won him the World Singles in
2009 in Betmar, FL. (He needed a 10 on his last shot to beat Ken
Offenther).

Jim
is a Past President of the FSA and also a member of the FSA HOF.
 

 Marilyn and Jerry
Everett are from Northern Maine, 30 minutes from the Canadian border.
They retired in 2000 and moved to Paradise Bay. They have two married
daughters and three grandchildren attending college. Along the way,
she and Jerry worked for 30 years as professional Ski instructors and
race coaches in Maine and New Hampshire. Marilyn played in 11 Open/Pro
Master Tournaments and won 5 of them. Her first one was the Amateur
Masters in 2001. Jerry is already in the FSA HOF and Marilyn is well
on her way with 172 points currently. They are both very active in our
district as Tournament organizers and teachers for new referees. They
both earned the honor to be in our SWCD HOF. On a personal note,
Marilyn expressed that shuffleboard is a wonderful way to meet new
people, make friends and exercise both mind and body, while partnering
with many terrific ladies and men along the way.       
 

On
Thursday, January 14, at Golf Lakes at the Opening  Ceremonies of SWCD D-12, Bett Pitts of Ontario and Golf Lakes
was inducted into the SWCD Hall of Fame.  Bett reportedly placed in a tournament for the first time on
December 18, 1993.  Her
first time to win first place was February 8, 1994.  She now has more than the 200 points to qualify for induction.  Bett has over the years spent much time and effort encouraging
novices to learn to play better. Bett and her husband, the late John
Pitts were regulars in district tournaments for many years and this
column salutes Bett as having worked hard to earn the honors.  Bett’s comment, “I had good partners”.
 

    

Paul Miller of Pinecraft  has
played shuffleboard for about three decades and was inducted into the
Florida Shuffleboard Hall of Fame in 2010.  Paul and Mary live in Pinecraft  and Paul has won many District tournaments as well as state
tournaments.  A native of
Iowa, Paul became an Instant Pro before gaining much experience in the
District.  Back then one
had to accept Pro Status if you earned it.  Players today sometimes reject becoming instant pro as it is
now optional to wait until next season.  Paul Miller is a gentleman and a sportsman, and he has earned
this honor.
 

    

Jim and Jo Miller also live in Pinecraft in
season and have a home in Northern Indiana as well.  They have three adult children and several grandchildren.  Jo is a great cook, sometimes favoring others with delicious
foods.  She is also a great
tournament director and has ten years’ experience at keeping
everything fair and smooth at local tournaments.  Jim and Jo together have sparked many improvements at Bradenton
Shuffle Club, including remodel of the office, tables and chairs in
the hall and keeping up the courts, discs and restrooms.

     Jim not only is already in Florida Shuffleboard Hall of Fame,
and has won many State and District tournaments, but he also has
resurfaced many of the district clubs’ courts.  We all thank Jim for most of the recent court improvements
around here and for inspiring many of us to play better.  Jim has won top honors in Florida and SWCD Masters many times
and he continues to play most of the tournaments offered and does it
in first class style.
 

THESE FARMERS FROM THE MIDWEST HAVE LIVED IN BRADENTON FOR OVER
30 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR ABOUT 60!!. THEY SYMBOLIZE GREAT
VALUES FOR SHUFFLEBOARD PLAYERS— HUMILITY, GOOD NATURES AND THE
DESIRE TO GIVE BACK IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
 

MEMBERS OF THE F.S.A.NATIONAL AND S.W. DISTRICT HALLs OF FAME, WALT AND ANN
WEDEL HAVE PLAYED ALL OVER THE WORLD – AND DURING THE SUMMER
THEY PLAY IN MICHIGAN.  THEY SPONSOR TOURNAMENTS,OFFICIATE
TOURNAMENTS AND HAVE HELD EXECUTIVE POSITIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY!
ANN WEDEL IS A THREE TIME MICHIGAN HORSESHOE CHAMPION AND
IN THEIR HALL OF FAME.
IT IS AN HONOR TO PRESENT M.V. PERSON PINS TO TWO VERY FINE
PEOPLE, KALAMAZOO’S OWN WALT AND ANN  WEDEL.

From: The
Celebration Is Over! The Adventure Begins
Date: 6/7/2018 10:15:11 PM
To: ptrberg7@gmail.com
Subject: [New post] Obituary of Walt Wedel. Sent
Along by Ron Nurnberger 2018 06 07
 
stanistheman posted: "
With a journey that spanned times of war and times of peace, times
of plenty and times of want, Walter “Walt” Wedel lived a life of
purpose while holding his loved ones near. He loved the Lord, which
was easy to see, and his zest for life made him such a"

Jerry Stannard welcomes Mel Erb as the
first member into the
newly formed District Hall of Fame

MEL
ERB INDUCTED INTO DISTRICT HALL OF FAME

 Spring
of 2015 the Southwest Coast District voted to establish a long-awaited
Southwest Coast District Hall of Fame under the leadership of a committee
chaired by Jerry Stannard.  The first official act of the new Hall of
Fame occurred Thursday, October 22-2015 at SWCD Tournament D-3 at
Bradenton.  Mel Erb of Ohio and Pinecraft, a top player the past two
decades became the first inductee.  Mel wishes to thank all those who
made this honor possible, including the SWCD Board, all his partners over
the years and his many friends and well-wishers.  Mrs. Anne Erb and
Mel received a standing ovation from the players and officials at the
tournament.

Bradenton
Shuffle Club has become the site of the Southwest Coast District Hall of
Fame. Wall space in our main meeting room has artifacts and
pictures of inductees.