As many of you are already aware, I have stepped down from the position of NHPA Sec/Treasurer. My 7 years on the NHPA council have been extremely rewarding. Many challenges were faced. Many friendships have been made. Coming from a sanctioned league background, I never dreamed of meeting and getting to know many of the best players in the world. These are memories that will stay with me the rest of my life.

However, I am no longer physically able to endure the rigors of the World Tournament each summer. A replacement to fill out my term has been named and I intend to help him in any way I can to make the transition go smoothly.

I'm not stepping away from the sport. I have accepted a position on the Board of Directors of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation (NHPF).

I plan to go into this endeavor with the same enthusiasm as I did with the NHPA council. I hope to see many of you at future World Tournaments and Hall of Fame banquets, just in a different capacity.

The future of NHPA sanctioned horseshoe pitching faces significant challenges. So, does the future preservation of its history. The NHPA has been greatly impacted by the recent loss of historian Bob Dunn. Bob was a good friend and I will miss him. Bob's contributions to the museum and to the documentation of the history of the NHPA are immeasurable. It goes without saying that the continued operation of the museum and NHPA Hall of Fame depends on support from the members of the NHPA as well as others. To find out how you can help, visit the NHPF website. And if you haven't visited the museum, plan a trip there, perhaps on your way to a World Tournament. 

   

Lastly, the NHPA council has many critics but it's past and present members are the ones that have stepped up to face the issues with the sense that they could help make the sport better and foster its growth. They serve or served on this council because of their compassion for the sport, both playing it and helping in countless ways so others could play and enjoy it. The council members are a small but diverse cross section of all levels of NHPA participation, with often varying ideologies, but they work hard together and make many personal sacrifices for the game and for all NHPA members. I was proud to serve on the Executive Council and would encourage anyone with the spirit to help this sport continue to consider serving as well.

Respectfully, David Sidles

There is a great opportunity for all of you to learn about the history of the NHPA and F through sights and sounds. The Winston Theatre in the Hall of Fame has hundreds of hours worth of great video clips. If you ever stop by there be sure to allot enough time in your schedule to view two of three of these. It will pique your interest and make you want to come back and do it again and again. The visuals on display inside the museum are well worth the time spent there. One can also gather quite a few tidbits of information by simply strolling across the brick patio and reading the various inscriptions that are set in stone. For the next two years the World Tournament is in the southern parts of the US thereby giving a lot of you an ideal opportunity to stop by Wentzville, Missouri to visit your Hall of Fame. Dig out a map of the USA and see if your route to Wichita Falls brings you within range of a must-see destination. You'll be very impressed.

During some conversation we were discussing what type of items on the silent auction table bring in some dollars. Upon having brought some of our own "old" horseshoe items that I might have tossed away and realizing that those are things other folks might treasure, we developed an idea. What we'd like to do is challenge each Charter President to bring an item as a donation for the NHPF table at the WT this year. It would be nice if it were an original or unique item like last year's flag, walking stick, pickup stick, latch rugs, clock and so on. Anything pertaining to horseshoes or horseshoe pitching will do. Whichever Charter's item brings in the most money that charter will receive a nice gift from the NHPF. Stop by the table and I'll tell you what it is.

Have you watched any of the online tournaments yet? Go to the Facebook page Horseshoe Pitching Online, https://www.facebook.com/groups/612576172534108/?epa=SEARCH_BOX Ricky Muter and Steven Gibson have developed various rules and guidelines for pitching anyone anywhere. It is actually a novel idea that will generate interest in horseshoe pitching on a year around basis. It gives you an opportunity to see other court facilities or simply someone's own backyard court. Check it out!

There are many online sites and almost all Charters have their own websites, most individual clubs/leagues have their own Facebook pages with up-to-date information. Go online and learn what we can accomplish through Social Media.

Special Thanks to Our Donors

There has been frequent discussion about who was the greatest pitcher never to win the Men's World Championship. The first name that comes to mind is Casey Jones. At the 1948 World Tournament in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Casey finished second to the great Fernando Isais with an 87.5% average! This was a World record at the time. In the matchup with Isais, Casey led 49-41 only to see Fernando finish with 12 consecutive doubles to win the game in 136 shoes. Had Casey scored that final point, he would have been World Champion.

At the 1940 World Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, Casey finished fourth with an 80.5% average. Casey and Joe Bennett had ten consecutive four dead's to tie the existing World record in that category. Casey finished third at the 1941 World Tournament again held in Des Moines, Iowa averaging 79.8%. In this tournament, Casey defeated the legendary Ted Allen by a score of 50-41. No World Tournaments were held until 1946 because of World War II. This tournament once again held in Des Moines, Iowa, saw Casey Jones and Ted Allen deadlocked with one loss going in to the final round. In this monumental matchup, Ted Allen defeated Casey by a score of 50-44 in 158 shoes. Ted had 87.9% to Casey's 86.7%. Casey had to settle for second place with an overall average of 80.9%. At the 1947 World Tournament held in Salt Lake City, Utah, Casey once again finished second to Fernando Isais with an average of 83%. His only losses were to Isais and Wayne Nelson. In 1949, Casey returned to Murray, Utah and finished third with an average of 80.4%. In 1950, Casey once again returned to Murray, Utah and finished second with an average of 80.9%. To secure second place, Casey once again defeated the great Ted Allen by a score of 50-48 in 140 shoes. In 1951, Casey returned to Murray, Utah but finished sixth with a flat performance of 77.1%. In 1952, Casey continued his quest for a World Championship in Murray, Utah but was relegated to third place with an average of 82.8%. In 1953 Casey was not on his game as the tournament was once again in Murray, Utah. Casey finished tenth with an average of 74.5%. In 1954, Casey made his last valiant effort to win the World Championship in Murray, Utah. Casey came up short but finished third with an average of 82.7%. The great Guy Zimmerman prevailed to win the Championship.

Casey's biggest problem was that he played during the years that Ted Allen and Fernando Isais were at their peak. Before you decide that Casey was the greatest pitcher never to win the World Championship, I will make the case for Ray Martin in the next issue of Newsline.