The Nineties

1992

From Chappaqua, NY.
23-time senior national champion.
50s national champion 7 times (6 consecutively); 55s national champion 5 times in a row.
In 1982 he turned the hat trick, winning in 3 age groups - the 50s, 55s and 60s.
Helped develop the game in Toronto.

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One of the leaders in organizing MAPTA (Mid-Atlantic Platform Tennis Association) from Philadelphia.
Began teaching paddle in the 1960s.
Did more for the development and growth of platform tennis in her region than any other person.
Women's senior national champion 4 years in a row 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.
Known affectionately by all of her friends in Region III as "Mother Paddle".

Embodies the basic philosophy behind the APTA - service and a devotion to the game.
Winner of 19 senior national championships, and a finalist 16 times.
APTA Treasurer, 1969; Secretary 1970-72 and APTA President 1973-75. Had a major influence on APTA policy during a period when the sport was coming of age and there was great pressure to turn the sport into a big business. Organized the first APTA Umpire's Committee.
Authored the Etiquette of Platform Tennis and How to Conduct a Tournament Draw.
Ensured that national rankings were extended to include all the categories in which national championships were played.
Championed the yellow ball. A leading proponent of the no-let rule (on serve).
Moved the APTA to hire its first paid employee, an executive secretary.
Reelected to the APTA Board in 1988 - the only past president to be so honored. Served 22 years on the APTA Board.
Succeeded in ensuring that manufacturers followed APTA equipment standards.

APTA National Tournament Director.
A pioneer in the initial development of a rankings system involving points for performance and tournament weightings.
Men's open national champion 1968 (with Bill Scarlett); finalist 1969.
Mixed national champion 1969 (Charlotte Lee) and 1974 (B.J. DeBree).
National 45s champion 1973.

National Rhodesian tennis (David Cup Team, 1968-69), field hockey; nationally ranked squash player.
Short Hills Club (New Jersey) pro starting in 1972.
National champion 1977,1978 (with Herb Fitzgibbon, another Davis Cup player).
National champion 1986,1987 with fellow Short Hills pro Greg Moore (by beating legends Baird/Maier).
Winner of 8 senior national championships, and a finalist twice.

Spent roughly 40 years of his adult life nurturing and promoting the game of platform tennis. Knew more about the game than anyone.
Writer of many paddle articles in national media, including Travel and Leisure magazine.
APTA Secretary 1959-61; President 1961-63.
Inaugurated and ran the first APTA Junior Boy's National Championships.
From the beginning platform tennis balls were white - and hard to see against snowy backdrops - so Ware spray-painted balls orange for enhanced visibility. He got the orange ball commercially manufactured for 11 years - finally giving way to today's yellow.
Designed the first APTA logo.
Co-authored a significant book on Fox Meadow Tennis Club and the APTA.

With her husband, built the first platform tennis court in western Pennsylvania (after moving there from Rye, NY).
Had a missionary zeal to teach platform tennis and to introduce as many people to the sport as possible.
When she was a young child her family bought the house of the founder of platform tennis, Fessenden Blanchard.
Photo with her husband, Eldredge, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

From Kalamazoo, MI.
In 1979 she partnered with a Connecticut player, with whom she had never even practiced, and won the women's Nationals.
National champion again in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1984.
APTA Director for 9 years.

Never saw platform tennis or played it until he was in his 40s.
As he got older and moved up in successive age groups he kept winning, beating teams that at one time had been seeded in the open men's Nationals.
National 50s champion 1983; 55s champion 1984; and 60s champion 1989, 1993-94; 65s champion 1996

Marold has probably won more state and national titles in racquet sports, has appeared more on national media as a player and commentator, and has written more for national media on racquet sports than any other woman who has played competitive platform tennis.
Came to platform tennis from two other forms of paddle tennis played primarily in California and the parks of New York City.
At 25 she won the Women's Nationals (her partner was 23 - they were the youngest team to win the national championship).
Won 11 national titles - 6 in women's doubles and 5 in mixed doubles.
She won 3 consecutive Women's Nationals - 1980, 1981 and 1982.
She won 4-in-a-row in Mixed Doubles Nationals - 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.
In 1977 she also won the Tribuno World Championships at Forest Hills, the Dutch Championships in Holland, and the British Championships outside of London.
Brought an aggressive backcourt game to platform tennis.

Two-time Junior Nationals champion (with his brother).
Ten-time men's national champion - and with his brother the youngest players, to date, to win the Nationals (he was 25, his brother 22) in 1976. The brothers were finalists in 1979.
In 1980 there was a new partner (Rich Maier) and a true dynasty was born. No player has won more men's finals; no team has won more times.
He was a Nationals finalist for 13 straight years. Â They won four in a row twice: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 (at that time no one had won four times in a row).
APTA President for 2 years; APTA Director for 6 years.
Winner of 9 senior national championships.

Those who diligently toiled with Buffy in women's paddle uniformly said she was the best organized woman they had ever met, that she was involved in paddle heart and soul and that she was truly revered in her time.
Worked in the 1970s to get New Jersey women access to tournaments in New York.
Developed the concept of the A and B level tournaments for women.
Developed the point system to seed and rank players.
Women's national champion 1963, 1964 (with Charlotte Lee); finalist in 1968.

Winner of ten national championships (with Stephen Baird).
Won four Nationals in a row - twice (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991).
Nationals finalist for 13 straight years.
Mixed national champion 1992; finalist 4 times.
Men's Nationals 45+ champion 1998, 1999 (with Baird).
A large part of his life and his contribution to platform tennis has been as a highly respected teacher.