COMMENTS FROM THE THIRD VICE PRESIDENT

Congratulations to the two 2007 World Champions from Florida, Regina Hawes, Senior Women’s World Champion and Ron Deckard, Senior Men’s World Champion. We are so proud of you. All that attended the World Championships in Ardmore, Oklahoma enjoyed the comradery and friendship that the sport of horseshoe brings. It was a good feeling to see fellow Florida pitchers, and it was also good seeing our many snow bird friends that pitch with us in Florida in the winter season.

The Florida Schedule of Tournaments for 2007-2008 has been revised. We have a new Horseshoe Club, On Top of the World, Ocala with three tournaments. The first tournament is on October 26^th, 2007. Michael Tatonetti is the Tournament Director and Ed Lalonde is the President. Ron Deckard is the new Tournament director for Clearwater since the sudden death of Jim Hess on August 5^th, 2007. So check out the new revised Schedule of Tournament for 2007-2008 in this newsletter or on the Florida web site.

We would like to express our sincere sympathy to Ellen Hess, since the sudden death of her husband Jim Hess. Jim pitched in many tournaments in the state of Florida and would always volunteer to help if a Tournament Director had a problem with the computer. Jim’s smile and fun personality will be missed by all that knew him.

I wish you all a year filled with family and friends and lots of ringers. Remember “Life Is Drawing Without An Eraser”.

Verdell Woollard (Dell)

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James “Jim” Hess, of Clearwater, FL, died unexpectedly at his home on August 5, 2007. He was born on August 7, 1945 in Passaic, NJ. He graduated from South River High School, South River, NJ in 1963. Jim graduated from Ripon College, Ripon WI in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a minor in Science. During his time as a teacher in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department in the Sun Prairie (Wisconsin) School District, he coached baseball, football, and basketball. He left teaching and became Implementation and Training Manager at Epic Systems and then Senior Manager Consultant for Ernst & Young. Jim owned and managed a Convenient Laundry in Dunedin, FL. Jim retired in 2002. He enjoyed softball, bowling, basketball, singing, fishing, and pitching horseshoes. He is survived by his wife, Ellen; sons, Todd and Chad; mother, Penny Romeo and step-father, Dominick “Dom” Romeo; sister Barbara Katko; and brother George. Jim will always be remembered for his love of family, sense of humor, and his giving nature.

Jim joined the Clearwater Horseshoe Club in 2002 and played in all of our sanctioned leagues and many sanctioned tournaments all over the state. Jim served the Clearwater Club as League Director for one year and Tournament Director for the past two years. Unfortunately, Jim’s life ended at the young age of 61. Jim really enjoyed pitching horseshoes and was dedicated to helping the Clearwater Horseshoe Club promote the game. We are very saddened by Jim’s passing and will miss him very much.

Submitted by Ron Deckard

President, Clearwater Horseshoe Club