FSA HOF ACTUAL PRESENTATION REMARKS BY INDUCTOR!
Hollywood Had the Golden Globe Awards (2007 01 15)
Shuffleboard Had The Hall of Fame Inductions!!
Rev. John L. Brown – FSA Hall of Fame Recipient –
January 15, 2007 by Roy Norman.

January 15, 2007 by Roy Norman >> Induction Remarks.
It is my sincere privilege to mention some highlights about our fellow
shuffler and recipient of the FSA Hall Of Fame Award – Reverend John
Leroy Brown.
Apparently there are many John Browns in North America. So many, that
when John attempted to establish a screen name for his new computer
last year it wasn’t sufficient to add his initial for his middle name
so he tried “Rev” John Brown and it worked. Now although there may be
many John Browns in North America, we know that none, but none, could
be like our colorful and talented John Brown.
My first encounter with John was January 22, 1994. The evening before
driving to Trailer Estates for a Pro tournament I received a call from
my Southern District partner to tell me that he had taken his wife to
the hospital and would be unable to play on the Monday. So as I was
looking for a partner – guess who was also looking for a partner to
enter his first Pro Tournament in Florida. That’s right a very young
looking enthusiastic bubbly guy wearing a wooden cross with a smile a
mile wide named John Brown – READY TO GO! In that tournament we placed
second place in consolation, earning John one half point towards his
Amateur Status. He then completed his Amateur Status in a one-year
period. During a second one-year period year he completed his Pro
Status. His first Pro point was earned at Sebring, on February 10,

1997. This was a very slow start compared to the year 2002/2003, when
      he earned 40 points, contributing to his goal which he is celebrating
      tonight.
      John has been and continues to be an ACHIEVER. Be it as – a class
      president; high school valedictorian; flying an airplane at age 16;
      obtaining his private license for carrying passengers in an airplane at
      age 17; being elected as Outstanding Farmer in Indiana at age 28;
      returning to university, at age 33, and graduating as an Ordained
      Minister; serving as a Chaplain of the Children’s’ Home in Berea, Ohio.
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      At this time, John volunteered to offer “garden therapy” where he had
      as many as 80 emotionally disturbed gardeners using up to 51/2 acres of
      land for vegetables. He also supervised more than 100 Big Brothers and
      Big Sisters for 12 years; was a teacher; and even attended a Peace
      Rally in Russia with his daughter – Donna, who we are pleased to see,
      is here with us tonight.
      Once you know John you soon realize that he is a “fountain of
      knowledge” a walking encyclopedia a regular “Mr. Google”. Talk about –
      politics, literature, history, geography, world travel, the comics,
      farming, comparative religions; how to grow lima beans; and yes ask the
      name of the invasive vine that is blanketing the trees in the southern
      states and John has the answer – Kudzu. Also, almost any topic
      mentioned reminds him of a good joke.
      And as we know John’s energy and drive to ACHIEVE did not stop when he
      retired.
      In SHUFFLEBOARD – John has –

• won the US National Amateur Singles held in Winter Haven in
  1996.
• won the FSA, State Pro Walking Singles in Leesburg in 2002.
• played in 3 Pro Masters Tournaments
• earned his 200 plus points by playing with many, many
  different players –
  With a special big total of 34 points earned with Allan
  Hamilton.
  But the biggest credit by far goes to John’s Individual
  efforts since he has earned one third of his total points by walking,
  walking, and again walking in 12 Singles competitions.
  The finale to his achievement was when Ben Coy and John won first place
  in Betmar to give John the final 5 points to make the magic total of
  202 points for the FSA Hall Of Fame Award.
  To continue John –
• was President of the South West District two years.
• played 4 times on the US – International team
• was State Delegate for the S W District to the FSA
• at present serves as Regional Representative for the US
  National S. Ass.
• with Al Hamilton as his partner this Can-Am team won the CNSA
  Doubles
  Championship in Chatham, Ontario – not ONCE but TWICE!
  -has been very successful in summertime shuffling in Lakeside,
  Ohio winning two National Doubles with Walt Wadel – and in addition to
  all of the above, for the past 8 years, John has been managing to find
  time to write a regular weekly article on Shuffleboard happenings which
  appears in the Bradenton Newspaper, and not merely reporting results
  and announcing upcoming events but giving many human interest stories
  about shufflers, as a “color commentator” for shuffleboard.
• and again in addition to all of the above John has been very
  active in helping players to find partners – by his sign-up sheet for
  upcoming tournaments
• and yes one more reason John deserves high praise is the
  practice he makes of helping beginners to learn or improve their game.
  And on this last point I have been asked to read a letter which I will
  do at the conclusion of this presentation.
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  Without a doubt John’s accomplishments contributing to the sport of
  SHUFFLEBOARD IN FLORIDA have been a demonstration of intelligence,
  talent and perseverance.
  Not only is it of some note what John has accomplished but
  there is more that he could have accomplished with a little more
  cooperation.
  For example, Trailer Estates courts might now have an installed roof
  over their courts if that young upstart John had got his way a few
  years back. But have no fear John is still working on that idea and as
  usual it is hard to keep a “good man down”.
  There is no doubt that John is a “bundle of energy and brains“. Can you
  imagine living with a guy like that? Well therein lies part of the
  secret for his achievements – that is, his intelligent and devoted wife
  and partner for the past 50 years – one of our best Shuffleboard
  Tournament Director ever – the wonderful lady Dolores Brown.
  So finally, Rev. John L. Brown, we thank you for your major
  contribution to Shuffleboard. We are very pleased to see you recognized
  for your achievements as a Hall Of Fame player in your favorite
  retirement activity – SHUFFLEBOARD.
  Now I will read to you a letter that I was asked to read to John at the
  HOF Awards Night. Letter from Torben Hussman.
  Roy Norman
  Dear John,
  Thanks to “The Shuffler” I found out that you qualified for entrance into the FSA Hall of Fame.
  Congratulations!
  I am proud to have been taught by such a famous Shuffler and I am really looking forward to
  playing together with you many, many times to learn more about Shuffleboard.
  Your biography states that you have started playing Shuffleboard at the age of 10 and now you
  are a member of the Hall of Fame. I take it as a good sign that I started to play as well at the age
  of 10 and hope for more help from you to become a HOF-member some day.
  Maybe we can meet already in April in Florida, when I will be visiting St. Petersburg with my
  family. I would love to see you then.
  Your German Shuffleboard-friend
  Torben Hussmann