Hall of Fame

The National Senior Games' Hall of Fame is a continuation of the Senior Athlete Hall of Fame founded in 1992 by Jack Scott Fones of Homes Beach, Florida, organizer of the Gulf Coast (FL) Senior Olympics; a sports columnist; editor, Senior Floridian' and former TIME editor, public relations and advertising executive.

  • Exhibit

The current members of the Senior Athlete Hall of Fame are celebrated in an exhibit of large, framed, colorful displays which includes the athlete's name, age when inducted, hometown, occupation, top sports achievements after age 50, a copy of a major media article, a photo of the athlete in action, an athlete quote and a "sidebar" of anecdotal information about the inductee. This exhibit was formerly housed at the Florida Sports Developmental Headquarters building in Kissimmee, Florida, and is now on display at the National Senior Games Association Headquarters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Members of the National Senior Games' Hall of Fame will be celebrated by displays along side those of the original members of the Senior Athlete Hall of Fame.

  • Inductees

The National Senior Games’ Hall of Fame is not only open to athletes but also to individuals who have distinguished themselves through other means of service to the NSGA. The following describes the honorees:

  • Athletes, both men and women, who have exhibited extraordinary feats of speed, strength, accuracy and endurance. World-class amateurs are honored for the remarkable performances they have achieved, and continue to achieve, since their 50th birthday. They are selected as the best of the best in their sport.
  • Individuals who have made an impact on the lives of senior athletes through their service and dedication by helping them to achieve greater value and quality in their lives and to stay healthy, active and fit through the NSGA program.

  • Senior Athlete Hall of Fame Inductees

Melvin C. Buschman PhD
71, Pentathlon
Retired Michigan State University executive in East Lansing, Michigan. A National Masters Track & Field pentathlon champion and gold medallist in many track & field events.

Harold Chapson
94, Track
Pioneer in track & running (deceased).

Dorothy “Dodo” Bundy Cheney
79, Tennis
Santa Monica, California. Winner of at least 215 gold balls from the U.S.Tennis Association.

Helen Mary Darnall
63, Track & Field
Retired Melbourne, Arkansas, cattle rancher who held #1 rank in 400-meter and set new record at world veterans Championships in 1989.

Clive Davies
76, Distance Runner
Retired Tillamook, Oregon, advertising agency art director called "the greatest runner ever" by National Masters News.

Dorothy Leonard Donnelly
70, Swimming
Former executive secretary at U.S. Masters Swimming, Inc., in Rutland, Massachusetts. Holder of national and world records for freestyle and individual medleys.

Helen Duval
79, Bowling
Berkeley, California. Oldest woman to ever bowl a 300 game at age 65. Honored in bowlingís most pretigious event ìSalute to Champions.î Inductee of the WIBC Hall of Fame.

Theodore “Ted” Epstein, Jr.
55, Ultra-Endurance Triathlon
A Denver, Colorado lawyer who last year completed a Grand Slam of Ironman triathlons: a quintuple, a quadruple, a triple and a double, within six months.

Frank Willard Furniss
84, Track & Field
Retired Marion, Ohio, teacher and coach who, by the end of 1991, had won 282 medals (173 gold) and set world records in pole vault and javelin in 1985.

Sister Marion Irvine
61, Distance Runner
A Dominican nun high school teacher in Napa, California, considered by the record-keepers to be the fastest female distance runner in the world.

Payton Jordan
74, Track
A Los Altos, California, educator and coach dubbed "the silver streak". Record holder in the M70-74 100 and 200-meters and relays; M65-69 and M60-64 100 and 200-meters.

Gustave Harold Langner
88, Swimming
Retired Milford, Connecticut, engineer and high school teacher listed #1 among all-time best swimmers 24 times since 1988.

Shirley Matson
55, Track
Morago, California. Senior record holder in long distance running and marathons. Athletic Congress Outstanding Athlete.

Joseph John Norris
84, Bowling
Retired San Diego, California, executive who has been an American Bowling Congress Hall of Famer since 1954; "the greatest bowler who ever lived.

Manuel Sanguily, M.D.
62, Swimming
Scarborough, New York. World and National Champion in 50, 100, and 200-yard breaststroke.

Aileen Riggin Soule
89, Swimming
Honolulu, Hawaii. Oldest living Olympic Gold Medallist for springboard diving when inducted. Six world records in freestyle and backstroke at 50, 100 and 200-meters.

Doris Cant Steadman
71, Swimming
Monmouth Beach, New Jersey. Inductee of Temple University Hall of Fame. World and National records in backstroke at 50, 100 and 200-meters.

Maria Lenk Zigler
Swimming

  • Class of 2005

Warren Blaney
Posthumously Presented
Founder of Senior Olympics
Mr. Warren Blaney, who passed away in January of 2000 at the age of 96, personifies the Hall of Fame selection criteria. As a visionary of fitness and healthy lifestyles through sports for seniors in 1969 in Los Angles, CA, Mr. Blaney founded the movement that became the National Senior Olympics. Warren’s vision was summed up in his own, often spoken philosophy, “the health of the nation begins with one individual.” It is fitting that Warren Blaney, the father of Senior Olympics, was inducted as the first non-athlete member of the National Senior Games Hall of Fame.

Charles “Chuck” Baldwin
75 years old, Swimming
Mr. Charles “Chuck” Baldwin (75) of San Antonio, Texas participated in the senior games on the local, state and national level for over 18 years prior to being inducted. A three time All-American Swimmer at Michigan State University and former assistant swim coach at the US Air Force Academy, Chuck’s love for the sport brought him back to swimming competition after a 25 year lay off. When inducted, Chuck had won 36 Gold medals and set 25 National Senior Games records. He was undefeated in State competition, and had been a US Master’s Swimming All American multiple times. He had also set 8 world records and posted 17 of the fastest times in the world in his age division.

Philippa “Phil” Raschker
58 years old, Women’s Track & Field
Miss. Philippa “Phil” Raschker, (58) from Meriatta, Georgia. In 2004, Phil became the oldest female finalists in the history of the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award, which recognizes America’s best Amateur Athlete. The other 2004 finalists for the award were Diana Taurasi, Apolo Ohno, LeBran James and the winner Michael Phelps.

In 23 years as a Masters and Senior Track & Field athlete, competing in practically every event possible, Phil Raschker set and unbelievable 105 American Age group records and 45 world records. Along the way she pioneered the women’s polevault, clearing an age group world record of 11 feet one inch at the age of 42 and set standard in the heptathlon that most men her age cannot attain. With all of this, she still had time to assist and instruct her fellow competitors, many of whom will tell you that were it not for Phil’s encouragement they would no longer be competing. She is perhaps the most decorated female athlete in the history of senior track & field.

  • Future Candidates

Athletes:

Successful athlete candidates for induction in the Senior Games Hall of Fame must be consistent NSGA, world and/or national record-holders over the age of 50. Most of the inductees will be nominated by State Coordinators or by members of the Selection Board, since they have ready access to athletes' records in their own specialty and beyond.

Nominations must be accompanied by a written recommendation from an unbiased, recognized authority in the candidate's sport.

Non Athletes:

Individuals other than athletes must have shown exceptional service and dedication in helping to achieve the mission of the NSGA by the promotion of healthy lifestyles for active adults 50 and over through education, fitness and sport and by assisting these seniors in achieving greater value and quality in their lives by staying healthy, active and fit.

Nominations must be accompanied by a written recommendation from a Member Organization’s Board Chair, State Coordinator, Member of the NSGA Board of Director or Trustee of the NSGA Foundation.

  • The Hall of Fame Selection Committee

The Hall of Fame Selection Committee is made up of Trustees of the NSGA Foundation, the NSGA Director of Association Relations and other named individuals.

Nominations are accepted by the Committee anytime prior to November 15 of the year before the Summer National Senior Games.

Nominations are received and reviewed by the NSGA Director of Association Relations and forwarded to the Selection Committee for vote at the NSGA Foundation’s Annual Meeting in January of the Summer National Games year.

Inductions will generally be held during the Summer National Senior Games - The Senior Olympics presented by Humana, however, special inductions may be held at the pleasure of the Senior Games Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

Although it is not necessary to induct anyone during any cycle, normally in a two-year cycle only one male and one female athlete and one non-athlete nominee may be inducted into the Hall of Fame. If circumstances indicate that additional nominees deserve the honor in any one year, the Selection Committee may increase that number.

The application form for nomination is attached and may be downloaded.

Hall of Fame Application Form

  • Please complete the form and return to:

Mark Zeug, President
NSGA Foundation
Senior Games Hall of Fame
National Senior Games Association
P.O. Box 82059, Baton Rouge, La. 70884-2059