Jump to content

Roller Derby Hall of Fame

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Skvader (talk | contribs) at 02:43, 1 May 2022 (→Members: adding wikilink to new article). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Roller Derby Hall of Fame, also known as the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame, was founded in 1952,[1] by the editors of the Roller Derby News paper.

Johnny Rosasco and Josephine "Ma" Bogash were the first two skaters to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.[1] The Hall of Fame was initially displayed at Madison Square Garden, where the home offices of the sport were located.[2] Skaters could only be inducted after their retirement. However, four skaters were inducted and then returned to skating: Ann Calvello, Annis Jensen, Ken Monte and Charlie O'Connell.[3]

When the International Roller Derby League, by then run by Leo Seltzer's son, Jerry, closed in 1973, the Hall of Fame also closed. As a result, several acclaimed skaters who had never retired were not inducted.[3]

In the late 1990, Roller Derby fan Gary Powers built up a collection of memorabilia, principally through buying and selling on eBay, but also with donated memorabilia from former skaters. His collection of Roller Derby memorabilia is the largest in the world. He made contact with former skaters, including Calvello, Gerry Murray, Billy Bogash, Ivy King and Buddy Atkinson, Sr. and, by early 2004, his house was described by Time Out as an unofficial roller derby hall of fame.[4] In September 2004, it was opened on an official basis, with the permission and blessing of Jerry Seltzer,[5] with Powers named as its Executive Director and Curator.[6] According to Reuters, the re-opened Hall of Fame "not only honors legends of the game but includes memorabilia like jerseys, tickets, and programs, preserving the history of the banked track sport".[7]

The National Roller Derby Hall of Fame & Museum closed in New York City in 2015, relocating to Palm Springs, California.

Members

Members of the original hall of fame are:[8]

name role date inducted
Josephine "Ma" Bogash skater 1952
Johnny Rosasco skater 1952
Wes Aronson skater 1953
Billy Bogash skater 1953
Ivy King skater 1953
Peggy O'Neal skater 1953
Sammy Skobel skater 1953
Midge "Toughie" Brasuhn skater 1956
Gerry Murray skater 1956
Gene Gammon skater 1959
Charlie Saunders skater 1959
Tommy Atkinson skater 1960
Russ "Rosie" Baker skater 1960
Annis Jensen skater 1960
Bert Wall skater 1960
Ken Monte skater 1963
Buddy Atkinson, Sr. skater 1965
Hal Janowitz skater 1965
Bill Reynolds skater 1965
Charlie O'Connell skater 1967
Ann Calvello skater 1968

Since re-opening in 2004, the following additional members have been inducted:[8]

name role date inducted
Elmer Anderson skater 2004
Judy Arnold skater 2004
Mike Gammon skater 2004
Johnny Karp skater 2004
Annabelle "Slugger" Kealey skater 2004
Julie Patrick skater 2004
Ronnie Robinson skater 2004
Judy Sowinski skater 2004
Ralph Valladares skater 2004
Joan Weston skater 2004
Buddy Atkinson, Jr. skater 2005
George Copeland skater 2005
Jack "Toddy" Geffinger skater 2005
Shirley Hardman skater 2005
Bobbie Johnstone skater 2005
Joe Nygra skater 2005
Carl Payne skater 2005
Monta Jean Payne skater 2005
Jerry Seltzer executive 2005
Leo Seltzer executive 2005
Kathleen "Gene" Vizena skater 2005
Mary Youpelle skater 2005
Sid Harnesk skater 2006
Walt Harris announcer 2006
Terri Lynch skater 2006
Russ Massro skater 2006
Barbara Mateer skater 2006
Carol Meyer skater 2006
Kitty Nehls skater 2006
Freddie Noa skater 2006
Ken Nydell announcer 2006
Ronnie Rains skater 2006
Tony Roman skater 2006
Jan Vallow skater 2006
Richard Brown skater 2007
Jerry Hill executive 2007
Judi McGuire skater 2007
Bill Morrissey referee 2007
Mary Lou Palermo skater 2007
Jean Porter skater 2007
Marion "Red" Smartt skater 2007
Bob Woodberry skater 2007
Darlene Anderson skater 2008-2009
Mary Gardner skater 2008-2009
Bill Griffiths, Sr. executive 2008-2009
Dick Lane announcer 2008-2009
Billy Lyons skater 2008-2009
Paul Milane skater 2008-2009
Dave Pound skater 2008-2009
Gertie Scholl skater 2008-2009
Mary Ciofani skater 2010
Lydia Clay skater 2010
Bob Hein skater 2010
Frank Macedo skater 2010
Gil Orozco skater 2010
John Parker skater 2010
Hazel Roop skater 2010
Damon Runyon writer 2010
Loretta Behrens skater 2012
Dolores Doss skater 2012
Margie Laszlo skater 2012
Bob Lewis skater 2012
Larry Lewis skater 2012
Bob Satterfield skater 2012
Frank Deford writer 2012
Sandy Dunn skater 2014
Joe Foster skater 2014
John Hall skater 2014
Liz Hernandez skater 2014
Ruberta Mitchell skater 2014
Cathie Read skater 2014
Silver Rich skater 2014
Leroy Gonzales skater 2016
Bill Groll skater 2016
Ken Kunzelman announcer 2016
Norma Rossner skater 2016
Rosetta Sunders skater 2016
Nick Scopas skater 2016
Delores Tucker skater 2016

References

  1. ^ a b William H. Young and Nancy K. Young, World War II and the Postwar Years in America, p.596
  2. ^ Keith Coppage, Roller Derby to RollerJam, p.80
  3. ^ a b Keith Coppage, Roller Derby to RollerJam, p.122
  4. ^ "Wholly Roller: A Brooklyn Resident pays tribute to the bygone sport of Roller Derby", Time Out New York, February 26 – March 4, 2004
  5. ^ "Welcome to the Roller Derby Hall of Fame", Roller Derby Hall of Fame
  6. ^ Brendan McCarthy, "Down and Derby: Skating slugfest enjoys revival in the city of broad shoulders", Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2005
  7. ^ "Cowboys, croquet, insurance in U.S. halls of fame", Reuters, 16 April 2010
  8. ^ a b "Events & Inductees". Roller Derby Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roller_Derby_Hall_of_Fame&oldid=1085539544"