Roller Derby Hall of Fame...LOS ANGELES VALENTINE!!

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Permalink Reply by John Hall on January 16, 2009 at 2:38pm

Marc,

Thank you for posting this.
I will positively attend. This will be a chance to revisit with so many Skaters and friends and also Fans. Over the years we ' get out of touch' with each other.

Thanks to Gary powers , we will have a Hall of Fame Event in Southern California. I believe that it will be well attended. I know that ' everyone ' will have a great time...just rememberring the present Skaters, the former skaters and those skaters that have left us.

It will be an honor to be at the Induction of Dave Pound into the Hall of Fame. Dave has left us , but he will never be forgotten. I am glad that Bill Griffiths is being acknowledged. Bill Griffiths and his departed former partner , jerry Hill , are the main reason that there existed a Roller Games and National skating Derby. The respect and thanks that Griffiths should have is long overdue.

I hope that everyone that are going to attend....will inform Gary Powers . gary should have a headcount , especially for the luncheon and seating, etc. Please let him know .

thanks....See you there.

John Hall

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Permalink Reply by Marc Stern, The Chicago Ace on January 16, 2009 at 4:33pm

Looking forward to seeing you there John! It truly could not be a L.A. Celebration without you.

Marc

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Permalink Reply by Cindy [McCoy ] Oneill on September 24, 2009 at 7:34pm

Dear John,
Remember me, Cindy McCoy? You made a roller derby skater out of me many years ago. I have many fond memories of the few years I did skate, and I am saddened that so many of my mentors are gone. Recently I have been in contact with a couple of people from down under who stirred by skating day memories, and I thought about you and how you got in my face in training school. You made me want to be a skater, and I made it for awhile. So, with my husbands help, I decided to find out what you were doing now, and how are you and your family? My direct email address is elegantinspect@aol.com. Hope to have an update from you on all the old timers. Thanks you and may God Bless.
Cindy

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Permalink Reply by Chuck, a.k.a. "Mr. Neato" on January 16, 2009 at 4:49pm

Downey, CA., is about 25 minutes away from me. I make my car payments out there. LOL

I would love to go there myself and take in all the atmosphere and see all the legends, and hall of famers there. According to the address that is given of the Embassy Suites, it'll more than likely be off the 710 Long Beach freeway at Firestone Bl. I'll agree with John Hall about Dave Pound being inducted into the Hall. That is a great honor for him, albeit Posthumously, but it is a great honor. There are probably more skaters out there who are just as deserving of HOF status, and I'm sure they will achieve it someday soon. I'd like to see Harold and/or Bernie Jackson in there or a Skinny Minny Gwen Miller, or many of the other veterans of the banked track that I can't recall. Maybe even Ronnie "Psycho" Rains or Honey Sanchez. Just a thought.

Either way, I'm not sure if I will be able to attend, as I will be getting ready for the new racing season at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, and there will be some open practices for my division. I'm keeping my options open on this. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Marc Stern, The Chicago Ace on January 17, 2009 at 4:06pm

Ronnie Rains is already in the Hall of Fame! The roll call of skaters of the hall of fame include First Womens Captain of the Thunderbirds, Terri Lynch, Former T-Bird Coaches, Ralph Valladares and George Copeland. T-Bird Managers Red Smartt (first GM) and Shirley Hardman. Also Judy Sowinski, Julie "Ace" Patrick. The complete list follows
The Hall of Fame Members are as follows:
> Inducted 1952
> Johnny Rosasco
> Ma Bogash
>
> 1953
> Billy Bogash
> Was Aronson
> Peggy O'Neal
> Ivy King
> Sammy Skobel
>
> 1956
> Midge "Toughie" Brasuhn
> Gerry Murray
>
> 1959
> Gene Gammon
> Charlie "Spec" Saunders
>
> 1960
> Bert Wall
> Russ Baker
> Annis Jensen
> Tommie Atkinson
>
> 1963
> Ken Monte
>
> 1965
> Buddy Atkinson Sr.
> "Wild" Bill Reynolds
>
> 1967
> Charlie O'Connell
>
> 1968
> Ann Calvello
>
> 2004
> Judy Arnold
> Annabelle "Slugger" Kealey
> Julie "Ace" Patrick
> Judy Sowinski
> Joan Weston
> Elmer Anderson
> Mike Gammon
> Johnny Karp
> Ronnie Robinson
> Ralph Valladares
>
> 2005
> Shirley Hardman
> Bobbie Johnstone
> Monta Jean Payne
> Gene Vizena
> Mary Youpelle
> Buddy Atkinson Jr.
> George Copeland
> Toddy Geffinger
> Joe Nygra
> Carl "Moose" Payne
> Jerry Seltzer
> Leo Seltzer
>
> 2006
> Terri Lynch
> Bobbi Mateer
> Carol "Peanuts" Meyer
> Kitty Neahls
> Jan Vallow
> Sid Harknesk
> Russ Massro
> Freddie Noa
> Ronnie Rains
> Tony Roman
> Ken Nydell
> Walt Harris
>
> 2007
> Judi McGuire
> Mary Lou Palermo
> Jean Porter
> Richard Brown
> Red Smartt
> Bob Woodberry
> Jerry Hill
> Bill Morrissey
>
> 2008
> Darlene Anderson
> Billy Lyons
> Mary Gardner
> Paul Milane
> Gertie Scholl
> Dave Pound
> Bill Griffiths Sr.
> Dick Lane

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Permalink Reply by Chuck, a.k.a. "Mr. Neato" on January 17, 2009 at 5:27pm

Thanks, Marc! I wasn't aware that the "psycho" was already in the Hall.

There must not have been any Hall of Fame inductions between 1968 and 2004, otherwise, there would probably be a lot more skaters there.

It's a great list of people in the Hall. I congratulate all the newest inductees listed. :-)

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Permalink Reply by CookyMonzta on March 6, 2010 at 2:27pm

No. They strictly elect Hall-of-Famers. As far as I know, Leo Seltzer's Roller Derby and Bill Griffiths' Roller Games used to vote rookies of the year.

It remains to be seen if the Hall is still inducting members. From what I know, they didn't have any inductions late last year. The Web site still displays the 2008 inductees on its front page.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Toledo on March 6, 2010 at 5:22pm

My aunt TERRY TOLEDO skated from the late 60's well into the 70's she even became a ref after how can she get inot the hall of fame?

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Permalink Reply by Chuck, a.k.a. "Mr. Neato" on March 6, 2010 at 7:10pm

I've met your aunt. Very nice lady. I see her still being a ref at the games here in Pomona, and did a game in Vegas last year. I saw her skate on TV in the mid 70's, just before she made the transition to being a Ref., and joining Don Lastra and Johnny Lopez as ref's. She was a good skater back in the day....and could giver her opponent a good arse kicking if needed. LOL

Not sure how she can get into the H.O.F. I'm not sure if the members get ballots and pick who goes in, or maybe like they do in baseball or Football and get nominated to go in. Maybe there are more knowlegeable people on this subject than myself that can suggest things. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Marc Stern, The Chicago Ace on March 7, 2010 at 7:27pm

The members of the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame, have the only votes in membership. Ballots have been compiled by historians and the members of the Hall of Fame. The ballots are in the process of being put together. The ballot includes historical information and then mailed to the voting membership. The announcement of the next inductees will be within the next two months.

Marc Stern
Director of Communications
National Roller Derby Hall of Fame

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Permalink Reply by Chuck, a.k.a. "Mr. Neato" on January 16, 2009 at 5:12pm

I just checked the location of the Embassy Suites in Downey, it is closer to the 605 freeway, and it is located at the corner of Firestone and Dolan St. It's roughly about 1 mile west of the 605 freeway, and not close to the 710 as I first thought. Sorry about that! :-)

Chuck

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Permalink Reply by Marc Stern, The Chicago Ace on January 18, 2009 at 2:05pm

In the list of the HALL OF FAME there are 22 members with a close association with the Los Angeles Thunderbirds! Can anyone name them??

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