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| Margaret Wagar 1983 | Edgar Gay 1984 | Lou Bluhm 1989 | |
| Richard Freeman 1991 | Jack Feagin 1996 | Randy Pettit 2003 | Mike Kovacich 2009 |
See below for Eligibility and Induction Process
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Wagar's impressive record spans three decades. Her 33 National titles include wins in Women's and open competition: Women's Teams in 1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1964 and 1965; Chicago (now the Reisinger) in1941; Spingold in1946 and 1948; Women's Pairs in 1944,1955, 1956, 1957 and1958; Master Mixed Teams in1942, 1945, 1948, 1954 and 1964; Open Pairs in1947 and 1948; Mixed Pairs in1948 and 1949, and Life Master Women's Pairs in1962. She was non-playing captain of the U.S. World Women's Teams in 1968 and 1972. Wagar served on the ACBL Board of Directors from 1960 to 1972 and was named ACBL Honorary Member in 1979, an award given for meritorious service. During her term in office, she coined the saying "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice." On August 31, 1982, a dinner was held at the Cherokee Town Club in Atlanta to honor Margaret Wagar, "Pride of the South." Excerpts from several of the speakers follow: Richard Goldberg: "She has been described as the "Epitome of a Southern Lady and the personification of graciousness. Few people know that Margaret is a culinary artist and has been known to serve grits under glass, grits and truffles, and grits almondine to name a few of her specialties. This earned Margaret earned Margaret the title of 'grittiest person in Atlanta'." Carol Sanders: "To know Margaret is to love her. Her demeanor with partner makes you so confident. Comfort is the key word." Tommy Sanders: "A catalyst that set her apart from others - kindness, consideration, courtesy, charm and humor. Does it sound as if the ledger is in balance? The ledger is not in balance; we owe you. Carol and I are grateful to honor you for just being there and being you. That's the reason we are here tonight. I'd like to toast a lady who has had a positive affect on all our lives." Former world champion Carol Sanders considers Wagar one of her role models. "She gave me such opportunities when I first started playing bridge. She was so dear to me." Sanders tells this story about Wagar's table presence and sense of humor: "Margaret was playing at an NABC against someone who was known to try to get a look at your hand. Margaret was having none of this, so while declarer was studying the hand, she pretended to have a coughing fit. "She opened her purse and took out her handkerchief. Then she detached the card--- a queen --- that declarer was looking for and folded it into the handkerchief and put it in her purse. "If he could get a look at her hand, he wouldn't find the queen there. "Sure enough, declarer took the finesse into Margaret. She opened her purse, produced the queen and won the trick. "She wasn't going to let him read her." Margaret Wagar was inducted to the Georgia Bridge Hall of Fame in 1983 and to the ACBL Hall of Fame in 1999. She died in 1990 at the age of 88. |
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He placed 3rd in the World Mixed Pairs in 1978 and won the Cavendish Invitational Pairs in 1981. He was the first recipient of the ACBL's Distinguished Player Award (an award that was originated for him). He won the Reisinger in 1972, the Spingold in 1974 and 1977; the Vanderbilt in 1979 and 1989; the Blue Ribbon Pairs and Men's Teams in 1977; the Open Pairs in 1984, and the Life Master Men's Pairs in 1987. He placed 2nd in the Vanderbilt in 1978 and 1986; the Spingold in 1988, the Men's Teams in 1973 and the Grand National Open Teams and the Men's B-A-M Teams in 1983; the Men's B-A-M Teams in 1987. In total, Lou won 9 NABC titles, including all the major team events and the Blue Ribbon Pairs. When Lou received the ACBL's Distinguished Player Award in 1989 -- an award originated just for him -- it was a fitting culmination. At that time Frank Stewart wrote "Lou Bluhm has always the perfect embodiment of of expert excellence; the quiet aura of competence; the pride and determination that never let him be satisfied with second place; the constant tinkering to improve his system; the high standards of ethics and deportment." Lou met his final opponent, pancreatic cancer, with the same stolid strength of mind he brought to bridge. Only two weeks before his death, his team reached the semifinals of of the Vanderbilt Teams, where they were defending champions. By the time Lou got to Fort Worth, the decline in his elephantine build and face belied his illness; still in each match he got in his two quarters in a wheelchair, and everyone marveled at his outstanding play in what proved to be his last event. Here's what long time partner Tom Sanders had to say about Lou: As Lou Bluhm's long time partner and longer time friend, it is an honor and a privilege for me to be a part of this ceremony tonight. I've thought a lot about Lou in the past 10 years. Sometimes fantasizing how things might have turned out had he not been taken from us at 50 years old in the prime of his life and with no- telling- how- many-bridge- tournaments yet to be won. Other times, like tonight, thinking about what it was that set him apart from other bridge players. I could never imagine a more perfect partner. Have you ever had a partner who seemed to always make the right play? I remember so many times on defense thinking, Lou, if you have such-and-such card, you better play it now or they're going to make this hand. Then I'd glance down at the table and there would be that very card, just played, looking up at me, seeming to say, you knew if he had me, he was going to play me. . Yes, I suppose I did. He played the game with aplomb and self-assurance, and with the imagination of a skillful novelist. When things went wrong, and they invariably do, Lou was unflappable. This trait re-enforced partnership confidence and not only served him well in bridge as well as life...but later during his ordeal. He was always known for his high standard of deportment and ethics. These outstanding characteristics are the essence of class and the epitome of the consummate expert. In 1989, he was, and remains, the only recipient of ACBL's Distinguished Player Award. Lou was happy with his relatively simple lifestyle and moderate surroundings. Besides a few lady friends from time to time, his passion was bridge, poker and gin rummy. He made his living playing cards. His near addiction was sports. He was a true sports fan and an authority on most. It pains me he missed out on so many sport milestones that he would have enjoyed, like: the Braves of the 90s; the Atlanta Olympics; the Falcons in the Super Bowl; and, since he was a golfer, the phenomenon of Tiger Woods. He faced the awful dilemma that fate dealt him in the Summer of 89 like it was a tough bridge match. Lou moved to Tennessee and started a series of experimental protocols designed to improve his chances. All told, he was in the hospital 7 times. Lou didn't have medical insurance. Because of a broad spectrum of bridge friends that contributed a significant amount of money to a special fund, he was able to afford these treatments. Many of these friends are here tonight and, once again, I want you to know Lou knew of your participation and was overwhelmed by your generosity. Now is the time that Lou would have wanted me to acknowledge some others that were very important to him during his ordeal: Peter Weichsel and Alan Cokin for organizing the fund; Bart Bramley, his then regular partner, for his vigilance in keeping in touch almost daily and twice coming to visit Lou in Nashville; and, of course, Carol for the meals she cooked and all she did to make Lou more comfortable. In the many hours we spent in conversation, it wasn't long before I realized his short term goal was to get to the Spring NABCs in Fort Worth to help his team defend the Vanderbilt they had won the year before. Amazingly, considering how badly he felt some days, he not only made it to Fort Worth, but, according to his teammates, he played as magnificently as ever. Their result in gaining the semifinals can attest to that. Sitting down in our seats on the plane to come home, I said to him, "Heard you played great, tell me about some of the hands". He wanted no part of that, as he pulled out the hand records of some hands I'd Played, he said, "No, let's go over these hands". Considerate and unselfish - that's the way he was. Not many days after we got back, when he had fought it about as long and hard as was possible, he went into the hospital for the last time. A few hours before he died, as I was approaching his room, the nurse stopped me and said, "I'm worried about Mr. Bluhm. He's been in and out of consciousness all day and I haven't been able to communicate with him at all". I said, "Let me see what I can do". I sat down beside the bed, and, after calling his name a few times, he was lucid. I said, "Blummer, got a hand for ya" After what seemed like an eternity, he said, "OK". I gave him some hand and said, "Whatta ya bid? After an even longer pause, he finally made a bid. And then he closed his eyes and went back to sleep. And, you know what? I don't remember the hand nor his answer. But what I will always remember is ... he got it right, he made the right bid. Isn't that something? Probably the last words he uttered on this earth was a bridge bid, and true to his genius .. it was the right one. That's a sad story. And since this is a night for joy and celebration. It is with much happiness that I present Lou Bluhm to the ACBL Bridge Hall Of Fame. In so doing his name with his picture shall be enshrined in Memphis and the memory of a great player, a loyal friend and a terrific guy shall be with us forever. Lou Bluhm, a Grand Life Master with 13,000 master points, was inducted to the Georgia Bridge Hall of Fame in 1989 and to the ACBL Hall of Fame in 2000. He died in 1990 at the age of 50. |
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In 1979, Jack helped form the Duplicate Bridge Association of Atlanta, served as its first President, and is again currently serving as the DBAA President. In the late-1980s, he formed and led the Committee for an Open and Improved ACBL which helped to bring about needed changes with the ACBL Board Of Directors and management. He has also served on the ACBL Board of Governors for many years. Jack served 3 terms as Unit 114 President between 1980 and 1991. Jack also served as a District 7 officer several times, including twice as its President. In the 1980s, he coordinated the District Grand National Teams. In 1983, he was elected Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Bridge Association and became the President in 1985. In 1987, when the President was rotated to District 6, he was again put in as Vice President and as President in 1989. He also served for several years on the District Judiciary and National Appeals committees. Jack was named to ACBL Goodwill Committee in 1977. In 1983, he was named Unit 114 Sportsperson of the Year. As a player, Jack, playing mostly with his favorite partner Claudia, has won over 35 regional events and many sectional events. In the late-70s and 80s, he was on the ACBL's top 500 master point winners list most years. Jack greatly cut back on bridge when his kids were growing up, but now is back playing tournaments on a regular basis. He, in partnership with Claudia, has won the right to represent District 7 in the Grand National Teams 5 times and the Grand North American Pairs twice. Although Jack has yet to win his first national championship event, he has come close twice with a 3rd and a 5th along with several other high overall finishes. Jack is on the ACBL Top 500 lifetime master point leaders list with over 9,000 points. At the 2008 Atlanta Labor Day Regional, Jack and Claudia topped the masterpoint leader list with 150 points by winning 4 events. In addition to Jack's long and meritorious record of working for the betterment of bridge, Jack has been deeply involved in coaching girls basketball for 17 years and has formed a nationally recognized girls AAU basketball program. Jack Feagin was elected to the Georgia Bridge Hall of Fame in 1996, an honor he richly deserved.. |
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Mike Kovacich became the seventh member of the Georgia State Unit 114 Hall of Fame with
his election by the Unit 114 Board of Directors in January of 2009.
Born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, Mike lived all over the world (his father
was in the Army) until the summer of 1959 when he moved to Columbus, Georgia.
During his senior year in high school he started playing bridge and graduated
to duplicate. He joined the ACBL in 1964, but played only occasionally
and did not become a Life Master until March, 1980. He reached 1,000
points in February of 1989. After his release from active duty with the Air Force as a JAG officer in 1972 (he remained in the active reserves, serving until 1995 and retiring in 2005 as a Lieutenant Colonel), he settled in DeKalb County, Georgia, and has resided there since. After working for a year and a half plus for DeKalb County as an Assistant Public Defender, he went into private practice either with other attorneys or on his own until closing his office in 2005. His desk sits in his home, and he handles occasional matters for old clients, but he is mostly retired at this time. He has been married to Mae for forty years, and has three grown sons and five grandchildren. In the early 1990s he got involved with the administrative part of bridge as well as playing with a greater frequency. He has gone from holding one Blue Ribbon qualification in July of 1992 to holding 140 at the time of his election. Since becoming active in bridge administration, he has had continuous service on the Boards of the Mid-Atlantic, District 7, and Unit 114. He has also served on the ACBL Board of Governors since 1997 and as of January 1, 2009, has assumed the duties as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the ACBL. He has over 13,000 masterpoints. He has finished 5/8 in the 1999 Spingold, the 2004 Vanderbilt, and the Senior KOs in 2004, 2005, and 2007, as well as a number of other overall finishes in national events. He has frequently appeared in the top 500 on the McKenney list, with his highest finish being 39th nationally. He has been the Unit 114 masterpoint leader from 2003 to 2007. As a bridge administrator, he has served as committee chair or member of numerous committees including Bylaws, Appeals, Tournaments and Competition, Nominating, Elections, Contracts, Scheduling, and Finance. Since the 1990s he has also co-chaired the Atlanta Sectionals. He has been a member of the National Appeals Committee since 2004 and is a member of the National and District 7 Goodwill Committees. His service as an officer of Unit 114, District 7, and the Mid-Atlantic is as follows:
With his outstanding record of player accomplishments, 20 years of service to the game of bridge, Mike Kovacich is an extremely well-qualified inductee to the Georgia State Unit 114 Bridge Hall of Fame. |
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Eligibility and Induction Process The Unit 114 Board of Directors recognizes members those whose contributions to bridge are truly exceptional. These contributions may be as a player and/or in their service to Unit 114 bridge. The unit President appoints a 5-member nominating committee which considers recommendations made by Unit 114 members, but may also independently identify players and/or persons for consideration. If you would like to suggest someone for consideration, simply make your suggestion known to any unit board member. Induction to the Hall of Fame requires a 60% favorable vote by the nominating committee and a 75% favorable vote by the full Board of Directors. The Hall of Fame nominating committee uses the following guidelines in deciding whether to recommend a member for induction:
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