SHANKEN, Courtney Inducted: 1975 Born: St. Louis, Missouri-USA Introducing Courtney Shanken is a special treat for me, your Web Manager, Larry Banner. After formatting the data that comes from a variety of sources, I must often create an introduction that seems to be thematic of the Inductee’s gymnastics and, often, personal lives. Courtney was not … Read more
ROTTMAN, Curtis Inducted: 1960 It appears that this early U.S. gymnast was first an expert on the HB as his four national HB championships would indicate. But he had to be an important part of his team for them to win on the several times the New York Turners won the National Team Championship. All … Read more
RIGBY-McCoy, Cathleen “Cathy” Inducted: 1997 Born: December 12, 1952 – Los Alamitos, California In 1968 just before the Olympic Trials, Cathy Rigby was asked by this writer to perform at an exhibition at the University of California, Irvine. The purpose was to raise money for athletic scholarships. Even though she was involved in a stringent … Read more
POND, Charlie (1915-2003) Inducted: 1966 Born: November 28, 1915. Dallas, TX “At age 12, I sneaked into . . . a gym and saw a guy tumbling. I asked him how he learned. It looked like fun.” And so began the tumbling, twisting, turning, coaching, inventing, and gymnastic service life of Charlie Pond. Olympic Games: … Read more
PHILLIPS, Chester “Chet” Inducted: 1963 In his or her own way, every U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame member has made an impact on our sport that has directly or indirectly influenced the next generation of athletes, coaches, judges, and contributors. Chet Phillips may not be a household name across the nation, but his efforts as … Read more
PATTERSON, A. Carl (1923-1968) Inducted: 1970 Born: Philadelphia, PA-USA Carl Patterson was inducted into the USGHOF based on his achievements as a coach, a judge, and for his contributions and service to the sport of gymnastics in America. Although many of his records have been lost to time, those that have been retrieved strongly indicate … Read more
MEMMEL, Chellsie Inducted: 2008-Team Member: Gold Medal World Championship Team, (2003) Chellsie Memmel has been in a gym since the day she was born. In the beginning, she could be found hanging out over Mom or Dad’s back while they coached. As soon as she started walking she was taking Parent & Child Classes, then … Read more
MARQUETTE, Clayton “Bud” (1920-2001) Inducted: 1977 Born: Ambridge, Pennsylvania Bud Marquette was a coaching pioneer for women’s gymnastics and considered by many as one of America’s and world’s foremost gymnastics coaches, author and lecturer truly the “Father of Women’s Gymnastics” in the U.S. He learned his gymnastics as a child under the disciplinarian style of … Read more
LOMADY, Clara Schroth Inducted 1974, Original Class of Women Honorees Born: 1920, Philadelphia, PA Affectionately known as the “Queen of the Beam,” She amassed a total of 39 National AAU titles before her retirement in 1952, a record that may have never be broken. Clara was also a track star. Olympic Games: Bronze-Team, London, … Read more
LENZ-Caruccio, Consetta “Connie” (1918-1980) Inducted: 1976 Born: Allegany, New York-USA Connie Lenz was one of the rare amateur athletes to continue competing with at least a 12-year hiatus between competing in national and international competitions. Except in 1941 when she won bronze in the National Turners Apparatus and Silver in the Heptathlon (an athletic … Read more