US SPEEDSKATING HONORS LEGENDS
AND CONTRIBUTORS By Linda Jager
US Speedskating joined with the Speedskating Hall of Fame Committee to honor several individuals who have made significant contributions to our sport at the Speedskating Hall of Fame Dinner in Cleveland on April 21, 2012. These honorees included:
2012 Speedskating Hall of Fame Since its inception in 1960, the US Speedskating Hall of Fame has honored over 90 skaters for their excellence in athletic achievement in the sport of speed skating, and more than 60 contributors for their innovative contributions to the sport and dedication to the speed skat- ing community. Celebrating its 52nd year, the Speedskating Hall of Fame is pleased to welcome this year’s honorees — Con- tributor William (Bill) Anderson, Classical Era Skater Scott Drebes, and Modern Era Skater Rusty Smith. “We have a great group of inductees
this year,” said Hall of Fame Chairwoman Bonnie Blair Cruikshank. “Scott Drebes originally from my hometown made the first six world short track teams, some- one I always looked up to for his hard work and consistency.”
Bonnie Blair & 2012 Hall of Fame Inductee Rusty Smith
“Bill Anderson is someone who took
our sport to heart and was a major part of making the merger happen of the ASU and USISA. He was one of the im- portant people with the right personal- ity and patience to help make both sides come together to form a great organiza- tion,” she added. Rusty Smith coming from short track
and the winner of a bronze medal in the 500 from Salt Lake City games and med- als in both Olympics and World Champi- onships relays is a great addition to our Hall of Fame. He has been a wonderful ambassador to our sport with his electric smile and charming personality,” said Blair Cruikshank.
Contributor – William (Bill) Anderson A dedicated advocate for the sport,
William (Bill) Anderson made a signifi- cant impact on the sport of speed skating - at both the national and international level - for more than 15 years. Bill ini- tially became involved in speed skating in 1987 as a parent of skaters Kelly and Todd. The family joined the Park Ridge (Ill.) Club and began to participate in local meets throughout Illinois andWisconsin.
Jack Mortell & 2012 Hall of Fame Inductee Scott Debres
Bill soon became actively involved as a judge at the local level. The Anderson family moved from Chicago to Michigan in 1989, where Bill helped to organize the West Michigan Speedskating Club, and its signature events - the West Michigan Thanksgiving Classic and the Tri-State In- vitational Meet. Bill was also very instru- mental with the North American Cham- pionships. Bill served in many leadership capacities for the Michigan Speedskating Association, including President from 2002-05. He was elected as the Michi- gan delegate to the Amateur Speedskat- ing Union (ASU) in 1993, served as the ASU Vice President (1994-98) and Presi- dent from 1998-2000. Bill was a leader in the ASU/USISA merger, establish- ing and serving on both the Merger and Merger Implementation Committees. He served as an ASU Foundation Board Member from 2001-2010, and continued his involvement in the sport as a mem- ber of the North American Committee, US Speedskating Appeals Commission Grievance Panel, and an international starter until the time of his death in 2010. “The Hall of Fame dinner was so much fun; reconnecting with old friends and
The Anderson Family with Bonnie Blair
12 RACING BLADE Summer 2012
www.usspeedskating.org
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