The extraordinary table tennis accomplishments of four individuals were celebrated on June 11, 1999 at the fifth California Table Tennis Hall of Fame awards banquet. The gala affair was showcased in the newly created city of Laguna Woods, Leisure World, during the Meiklejohn National Senior Tournament. With their induction into the hallowed hall, ultimate homage was bestowed on George Kelemen, Y.C. Lee, the late Rich Livingston, and Gene Roseman. Each has earned the honored designations of contributor, official and player,

George Kelemen began playing at the age five in his native Hungary, a land of rich table tennis tradition. He was penniless when he emigrated to New York City in 1954. He founded the Burbank Table Tennis Club in 1958, and was its heart and soul for 37 years. George served as vice president and ranking chairman for the California Table Tennis Association. He directed countless sanctioned tournaments from San Diego to San Francisco, including a U.S. Open in San Diego. He shared his tournament expertise with the late Rich Livingston and the late Harold Kopper, both of whom blossomed into top tournament directors. For outstanding contributions to the game, he received the CTTA’s perpetual trophy in 1966. During his playing days, he captured over 100 trophies and awards in all levels of competition.

Kelemen won recognition outside of table tennis as a senior design and aeronautical engineer with Lockheed/Aircraft Corporation for his collaboration on the design of the F-104 fighter plane and the wide-bodied, commercial L-1011, among others.

Positions held and titles and honors won by Y.C. Lee cover virtually every aspect of organized table tennis. Included among them are USATT vice president; chairman of three USATT committees; officials, organizational, and tournament; member USATT International Relations Committee; USATT Foundation Treasurer; tournament director of 1995-97 U.S. Opens and 1995-96 U.S. Nationals; tournament chairman of 1998 U.S. Nationals and 1998 and 1999 U.S. Opens; tournament referee or tournament umpire at many U.S. and international events; deputy referee at 1997 World Championships; 1998 Ogimura Cup Japan, and 1998 China Grand Prix. His playing titles include 1998 and 1990 National Senior Esquire doubles and 1996 and 1997 U.S. Open Veteran doubles. At a 1998 awards banquet, for his work with the Los Angeles Chinatown community, Y.C. received commendations from the U.S. House of Representatives, the California Senate and Assembly, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles Mayor and City Council, and the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. As if he wasn’t busy enough, Y.C. was recently added to the California Hall of Fame board.

The late Rich Livingston was a longtime club owner and operator in Burbank. He was a master tournament organizer and was the guiding force behind three U.S. Nationals and two U.S. Opens. He was busy working on the 1994 U.S. Open at the time of his sudden demise on October 13, 1993. Y.C. Lee called Rich "the best desk man in the business." As a player, Rich excelled in doubles. He and Dick Evans captured the U.S. Open over-50 title in 1986, and he was a runner-up twice in U.S. Nationals and twice in U.S. Opens in over-50 events.

Rich gave a huge part of himself to the game and to his friends and colleagues. He was gentle and kind, and was blessed with a keen sense of humor. His sportsmanship was acknowledged by those who competed against him. In fact, beginning in 1993, the Rich Livingston Sportsmanship Award has been a feature presentation annually at the U.S. Nationals, the tournament that he loved and was so much a part. Because he received so much gratification from table tennis, he dedicated himself to giving back to the game more than he took from it. Rich departed too soon, but during his brief stay he left an indelible mark on table tennis and all who knew him. Accepting the award for Rich was his widow, Shirley, and his daughter, Lori.

When Gene Rossman retired from the game about 25 years ago, he had already completed about 30 years as a player, exhibition performer, official, and promoter of table tennis. He began playing in 1946 at the Long Beach Table Tennis Club. He was Club treasurer for over 20 years, and was also treasurer for the California Table Tennis Association for many years. With John Hanna, among other partners, Gene staged countless exhibitions that delighted spectators at recreation centers, churches, schools, retirement homes, industrial firms, and service clubs with his remarkable towering southpaw loop shots from as far back as 20 feet. He was an active tournament player, ranked as high as number five in the state. Doubles, however, was his forte. Partnered primarily by Bob Edwards, Roseman’s team was always in contention and won many tournaments, including two against the formidable duo of Erwin Klein and Si Wasserman. According to John Hanna, founder of the Long Beach Club in 1934, Gene was one of the early mainstays of table tennis in southern California. His flair and unique style as a player and exhibition performer infused the game with excitement and passion.

Vivacious Mary McIlwain, president of the California Table Tennis Hall of Fame, produced and directed the exquisite banquet with the superb assistance of Olga Feingold Kahan and her Leisure World Table Tennis Club committee.