The ACBL Hall of Fame Committee has announced the nominations of eight members for the class of 2019. The committee also has made selections for the Blackwood and von Zedtwitz awards.
Patty Tucker is the winner of the Blackwood Award, which recognizes long and outstanding contributions to bridge outside of playing ability. The recipient of the von Zedtwitz Award, which honors individuals who were top players in their time and are now either deceased or inactive, is Michael Seamon, who died in 2017.
Patty Tucker
Patty Tucker, Blackwood Award
Tucker is best known as one of the most prominent teachers in the bridge world and as the creator of Learn Bridge in a Day, which has introduced more than 5000 people to bridge in the past five years. A Grand Life Master, Tucker is a co-founder of Atlanta Junior Bridge, a coach for the Georgia Tech collegiate team and a past president of the American Bridge Teachers’ Association. She originated the Youth NABC in 2008.
Tucker won the Baldwin North American Pairs in 2000. She has previously been recognized as Honorary Member of the Year in 2016 and Goodwill Member of the Year in 2011.
Michael Seamon
Michael Seamon, von Zedtwitz Award
Before his death early last year at 57, Seamon reached 50,000 masterpoints, making him seventh on the list of all-time masterpoint holders. Seamon won 16 North American titles, including three Reisingers, six GNT Championships and one Blue Ribbon Pairs, and 10 second-place finishes. He held three gold medals in world events – the Open IMP Pairs in 1998 and the Transnational Teams in 2001 and 2003 – and a silver in the 1990 Rosenblum Cup.
Candidates
The candidates, all Grand Life Masters, are listed in alphabetical order:
Peter Boyd
, Darnestown MD – 17 North American Bridge Championships, including three Vanderbilts and a Reisinger, a gold medal in the 1986 World Open Teams and a silver in the 2011 d’Orsi Senior Teams.
Bart Bramley, Dallas TX – 17 NABC wins and a gold medal in the d’Orsi Senior Bowl in 2007, silver in the 2005 World Transnational Open Teams and a bronze in the 1998 Open Teams.
Billy Cohen
, Sherman Oaks CA – 4 NABC wins including a Reisinger, eight second-place finishes and one Canadian National Teams Championship.
Lynn Deas
, Schenectady NY – 27 NABC wins and nine world championships made up of seven Women’s team events (three in the Venice Cup, two in the World Bridge Games [formerly Olympiad], one in the McConnell Cup and one in the SportAccord World Mind Games) and two in Women’s pairs events (World Bridge Series and SportAccord World Mind Games). Many additional silver and bronze medals.
Marc Jacobus
, Las Vegas NV – 8 NABC wins including two Vanderbilts and 17 seconds, two gold medals in the 2013 d’Orsi Senior Teams and the 2018 Senior Pairs and two silvers in the 2006 World Open Teams and the 2000 Transnational Teams.
Beth Palmer
, Chevy Chase MD – 28 NABC wins and seven world titles, made up of four Women’s team titles (two in the Venice Cup, one in the McConnell Cup, one in the SportAccord World Mind Games) one in the World Mixed Teams and two Women’s pairs gold medals (World Bridge Series and SportAccord World Mind Games). Many additional silver and bronze medals.
Judi Radin
, New York City – 16 North American championships, four gold medals in world championships: three in Women’s teams (one each in the Venice Cup, McConnell Cup and World Bridge Games) and one world Women’s pairs title. Many additional silver and bronze medals.
Janice Seamon-Molson
, Hollywood FL – 18 NABC wins, six world titles (two Venice Cups, one McConnell Cup, one World Bridge Games Women’s teams and two in the SportAccord World Mind Games, one of them an individual) and five silver medals.
Ballots
Ballots will go out early next year to about 375 electors. Voting ends in February. Induction for those elected will take place at the 2019 Summer NABC in Las Vegas.
