Florida Table Tennis Hall of Fame Biographies

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                                                                            1996 Inductees:       

Marty Prager:

bulletRanked in the top five Men's singles in the US two times.
bulletHe represented the US in the 1957 World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden.
bulletManager-coach of the Net and Paddle Table Tennis Club inChicago for 15 years.
bulletCoach of the Nice, France Table Tennis Club for 6 years.
bulletPro manager of Newgy's Table Tennis center in Miami, Florida for 10 years.
bulletIn 1998 he was chosen Developmental Coach of the Year by the US Olympic committee.
bulletCoach Prager now coaches some 40 students at the Chinese Cultural School.
bulletMarty was inducted into the USATT Hall of Fame, December 2006 in Las Vegas, at the US NationalClosed Championships.

Marvin Leff:

bullet• 1949: Illinois Boys champion
bullet• 1951: Illinois Junior champion; All-American Men's Singles champion
bullet• 1965-66, 1988: Florida Men's State champion
bullet• 1996: Inducted into Florida Table Tennis Hall of Fame
bullet• 2005: Veterans U.S. Open Singles Champion
bullet• 2005: Veterans U.S. Open Doubles Champion
bulletWinner of many single and doubles championships throughout the US
bulletThree times, Men's Singles Florida State Champion
bulletHolder of the most Florida State Doubles Championships
bulletThree time Esquire US Open Doubles Champion
bulletHas maintained a championship level of play for over four decades
bulletA sportsman and role model for all who know him
                                                                                    
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Harry "H" Blair: (DECEASED)

bulletFounder of the Orlando Table Tennis Club, approximately 1958
bulletDeveloped Table Tennis in Central Florida and our present State Championships
bulletSponsored and motivated junior development in Central Florida                   
bulletResponsible for the success of players such as Olga Soltesz, Richard MacAffe, John Quick and many others
bulletEditor of "Table Tennis Topics" 1967-1970

Olga Soltesz:

bulletMember of US team in 1971 during historic China trip
bulletMember of 1975 World Team
bulletWinner of numerous Women's State and National Championships
bulletSelected to participate in five Sports Festivals                   
bulletThree time US member at the Canadian International Championships
bulletOrganizer of the Florida State Championships and President of the Orlando Table Tennis Club

Joseph Newgarden:

bulletFounder of Newgy's Club, Newgy's Industries and creator of the "Newgy Robot"
bulletSponsor and motivator for many young players, by direct effort and financial backing.
bulletSupplier of Table Tennis products to the public school programs at his expense
bulletOne of Table Tennis' greatest supporters.

Laszlo " Laci the Great" Bellak: (DECEASED)

bulletWorld Champion
bulletUS National Champion
bulletMen's Champion of each age division attainable
bulletUS and Hungarian Hall of Famer
bulletDeveloper and mentor of many young players
bulletOne of the greatest players of all time.

 

                                  2006 INDUCTEES             

 

GREG GINGOLD:

bulletStarted playing Table Tennis in Miami in 1969.
bulletFirst tournament in Ft. Lauderdale in 1970. (semi's of Novice Singles)
bulletPlayed at Walker's and Newgy's table tennis clubs in Miamithen
bulletTo Tampa in 1977 and have been playing table tennis for 37 years.
bullet5 times Florida Men's singles Champion,1977, 78, 79, 82, 87.
bulletMultiple times Men's doubles and mixed doubles Champion.
bulletMember of the United States Collegiate Team 1973 & 1976.
bulletSilver Metal winner on the United States Maccabian Team- 1977.
bulletTwo time U.S. top 12.

Caron Leff:

bulletCo-Founder Miami Table Tennis Club 1966
bulletSouthern Regional Director, 1975 - 1985
bulletRanked #3 in Woman's, State of Florida 1966
bulletMedia Director of 5 WS Opens, 1980's
bulletLocal Liaison to USATT Executive Committee for Florida
bulletFund Raising for US Opens, 1980's
bulletAuthor of "Caron's Corner" in "Table Tennis Topics", 1970's - 1980's
bulletCo-Founder Florida State Table Tennis Hall of Fame 1996

 

Fred Fuhrman: (deceased)

bulletCo-Founder Miami Table Tennis Club 1966
bulletEstablished playing venue at University Bowling Lanes for Miami Table Tennis Club
bulletAdministered and perpetuated Miami Table Tennis Club throughout 1960's & 1970's
bulletContinuously kept Table Tennis alive in Miami with sponsorship to Table Tennis survival

 

Terese Terranova:

bulletRanked #1 in the world 1987, remained ranked in the top 3 in the World for next 9 years
bulletWorld Wheelchair Champion, Singles, doubles and Team 1986-87 Brisbane, Australia
bulletDouble Gold Medalist 1988 Paralympics, Seoul Korea
bulletBronze Medalist both 92' Barcelona & 96' Atlanta Paralympics
bulletQuarter finalist 2000 Paralympics, Sidney Australia
bulletSenior Woman's Champion US Open 1987
bulletFirst US female International Umpire
bulletDeveloped Ariel Montalvo, 6 times Florida State Champion
bulletCoaches students at CSCCA

 

Bard Brenner:

bulletRanked in Men' Doubles (#3) and Singles (top 50) by the USTTA (1969 )
bulletNational Senior Men's Doubles Champion (1985)
bulletU.S. Open Senior Men's Doubles Champion (1986)
bulletU.S. Open Esquire Men's Doubles Champion (1994)
bulletSenior Olympics National Men's Singles Champion (1997)
bulletNational Senior Championship Men's Doubles Finalist (1994)
bulletPacific Coast Open Senior Men's Singles Champion (1986)
bulletFlorida State Senior Men's Singles Champion (1984 & 1985)
bulletMen's Singles Champion at Univ. of Miami (1964) and UCLA (1971)
bulletFounder of the Miami Beach U.S. Open (1985)
bulletNational USTTA Rankings Chairman (1971)
bulletNational USTTA Planning Committee Chairman (1973)
bulletCTTA Tournament Committee Chairman (1972)

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