The Roller Derby Hall of Fame, also known as the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame, was founded in 1952,William H. Young and Nancy K. Young, World War II and the Postwar Years in America, p.596 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. The Hall of Fame was initially displayed at Madison Square Garden, where the home offices of the sport were located.Keith Coppage, Roller Derby to RollerJam, p.80 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.Keith Coppage, Roller Derby to RollerJam, p.122
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.
In the late 1990s, Roller Derby fan Gary Powers built up a collection of memorabilia. Powers principally built his collection through buying and selling on eBay; further, fomer skaters also donated memorabilia. 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. By early 2004, Powers's house was described by Time Out as an unofficial roller derby hall of fame."Wholly Roller: A Brooklyn Resident pays tribute to the bygone sport of Roller Derby", Time Out New York, February 26 – March 4, 2004 In September 2004, it was opened on an official basis, with the permission and blessing of Jerry Seltzer,"Welcome to the Roller Derby Hall of Fame", Roller Derby Hall of Fame with Powers named as its Executive Director and Curator.Brendan McCarthy, "Down and Derby: Skating slugfest enjoys revival in the city of broad shoulders", Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2005 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"."Cowboys, croquet, insurance in U.S. halls of fame", Reuters, 16 April 2010
The National Roller Derby Hall of Fame & Museum closed in New York City in 2015. It relocated to Palm Springs, California.
Members Members of the original hall of fame are:
name role date inducted Josephine "Ma" Bogash skater 1952 Johnny Rosasco Wes Aronson skater 1953 Billy Bogash Ivy King Peggy O'Neal Sammy Skobel Midge "Toughie" Brasuhn skater 1956 Gerry Murray Gene Gammon skater 1959 Charlie Saunders Tommy Atkinson skater 1960 Russ "Rosie" Baker Annis Jensen Bert Wall Ken Monte skater 1963 Buddy Atkinson, Sr. skater 1965 Hal Janowitz Bill Reynolds Charlie O'Connell skater 1967 Ann Calvello skater 1968
Since re-opening in 2004, the following additional members have been inducted:
name role date inducted Elmer Anderson skater 2004 Judy Arnold Mike Gammon Johnny Karp Annabelle "Slugger" Kealey Julie Patrick Ronnie Robinson Judy Sowinski Ralph Valladares Joan Weston Buddy Atkinson, Jr. skater 2005 George Copeland Jack "Toddy" Geffinger Shirley Hardman Bobbie Johnstone Joe Nygra Carl Payne Monta Jean Payne Jerry Seltzer executive Leo Seltzer executive Kathleen "Gene" Vizena skater Mary Youpelle Sid Harnesk skater 2006 Walt Harris announcer Terri Lynch skater Russ Massro Barbara Mateer Carol Meyer Kitty Nehls Freddie Noa Ken Nydell announcer Ronnie Rains skater Tony Roman Jan Vallow Richard Brown skater 2007 Jerry Hill executive Judi McGuire skater Bill Morrissey referee Mary Lou Palermo skater Jean Porter Marion "Red" Smartt Bob Woodberry Darlene Anderson skater 2008-2009 Mary Gardner Bill Griffiths, Sr. executive Dick Lane announcer Billy Lyons skater Paul Milane Dave Pound Gertie Scholl Mary Ciofani skater 2010 Lydia Clay Bob Hein Frank Macedo Gil Orozco John Parker Hazel Roop Damon Runyon writer Loretta Behrens skater 2012 Dolores Doss Margie Laszlo Bob Lewis Larry Lewis Bob Satterfield Frank Deford writer Sandy Dunn skater 2014 Joe Foster John Hall Liz Hernandez Ruberta Mitchell Cathie Read Silver Rich Leroy Gonzales skater 2016 Bill Groll Ken Kunzelman announcer Norma Rossner skater Rosetta Sunders Nick Scopas Delores Tucker
External links Official website
References