U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Banquet

By Steve Isaacson

The 23^rd Annual Hall of Fame Banquet will be held on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas. There will be a cocktail period beginning at 6:30 PM, followed by dinner and the awards presentation.

This year’s distinguished inductees are:

John Tannehill, Columbus, OH, two-time U.S. Open Men’s Singles Runner-up; member of U.S. Teams to the 1969 Munich and 1971 Nagoya World Championships; and one of the “U.S. Ping-Pong Diplomacy” Team members who in 1971 made the historic China trip.	Marvin Prager, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, member of the 1957 U.S. Team to the Stockholm World Championships, 1997 USATT Developmental Coach of the Year; and longtime well-known USATT Tournament Director and Club Manager. (Photo circa 1954?)	Richard McAfee, Aurora, CO, former USTTA Coaching Chair and USATT Developmental Coach of the Year; Table Tennis Competition Manager for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games; and perennial, peripatetic organizer of ITTF Solidarity Courses.

The Mark Matthews Award for Lifetime Achievement will have co-winners: Sisters and both World Champions ... Leah Thall Neuberger, New York City (deceased) and Thelma “Tybie” Sommer, of Scottdale, AZ.

The banquet room is always filled to capacity, but seating arrangements can be made early. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased in advance from Hall of Fame President Steve Isaacson, 608 Ravinia Rd., Highland Park, IL 60035, 847-432-1201.