California Table Tennis Hall of Fame Banquet

By Si Wasserman

The fourth California Table Tennis Hall of Fame banquet, commemorating the enshrinement of three of the game’s outstanding individuals, was celebrated the evening of June 12, 1998 during the Meiklejohn National Senior Tournament in Laguna Hills, California. The three guests of honor were Howard Grossman, Azmy Ibrahim and Michael Ralston.

Grossman launched his playing career in Canada but gravitated to southern California in 1967. Most notable of his titles were Howie’s unprecedented triumphs in the U.S. Open in 1991 in the 40+ and 50+ doubles, partnered with Bohdan Davidowicz. Howie was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the California Table Tennis Hall of Fame.

Azmy Ibrahim, a professor of sociology at San Jose State University, is a founder, director, and advisor of the university’s table tennis club since 1978 and cofounder of the San Francisco Table Tennis Club. His major accomplishments include being a member on the International Table Tennis Federation’s Rules Committee, an international umpire, an instructor of annual seminars for umpires, and a member of the California Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

Michael Ralston was ranked nationally as high as No. 2 in the 1960-61 season and for seven consecutive years was among the top ten in the nation. During his playing career that stretched from 1954 to 1967, he defeated a veritable who’s who in table tennis including Erwin Klein, Bernie Bukiet, Leonard Cooperman, John Somael, Marty Reisman, Bobby Fields and Dick Miles. Si Wasserman accepted the award on Ralston’s behalf because Ralston could not be notified of his induction..

Mary McIlwain, President of the California Hall of Fame, was the producer and director of the event, with assistance from Olga Feingold and the Laguna Hills Table Tennis Club Committee.