NEWSLINE STORY

published November-December 2015

Horseshoe Pitching Facts & Folklore

Hall of Fame Members

by Bob Dunn, NHPA Historian

Each year, members are being inducted to the NHPA Hall of Fame at the World Tournament Hall of Fame Banquet. Often there are articles about the most well-known players in the Hall of Fame, but seldom is there mention about other members of the Hall of Fame, especially those inducted decades ago. The next series of articles will feature some of the past members who we should remember and get to know a bit.

Elmer Beller was born in Nebraska in 1890 and moved to California in 1925. He operated a garage business in Mojave, California, and began pitching horseshoe in 1948. He served both as NHPA Vice President and NHPA Secretary-Treasurer, President of the Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association for 10 years and President of the Long Beach Horseshoe Club for 10 years. He designed the first scoring devices used in World Tournaments, 1951 through 1959, at Murray, Utah. He attended 18 consecutive World Tournaments, working long and hard at each. Beller was the first recipient of the Arch Stokes Memorial Award in 1958, served as a member on the initial Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1968. Elmer passed away September 14, 1974.

Bob Pence was born December 7, 1909, and became possessed with an undying love for the game of horseshoes. He was an incredible promoter of the sport, a prolific writer of articles, and traveled thousands of miles each year in his efforts to boost his favorite sport. Bob was a good pitcher, with better than a 70 percent ringer average, pitched in his first tournament in 1927 and joined the NHPA in 1929.

Bob was Secretary of the Indiana Association for five or six years before being elected Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association in 1958, a position he held for 24 years. Under his administration, several improvements were implemented to the World Tournaments: Classes C and D were added to the Men’s division, the Women’s division was expanded to include B and C, a Junior Girls’ division was begun in 1967, the Senior Men’s division was implemented, and the Intermediate Men’s division in 1967, and the World Tournament was rotated around the country for recruiting more members. Game Related Sales was initiated, benefiting the NHPA with increased revenue, championship patches and recognition awards were also instituted, and the Hall of Fame was established in 1965, all with his involvement. Pence was awarded the Arch Stokes Memorial Award in 1961 and inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1969. Bob Pence passed away May 18, 2002.

Blair Nunamaker of Cleveland, Ohio, won the Men’s World Championship in 1929, pitching 69.5 percent ringers, and losing just one game. He held the title (although no World Tournament was held) until his third place finish in 1933, behind Ted Allen and C.C. Davis. Nunamaker’s World Tournament record:

Year   Pos	W	L	 R	 SP	 	%
1923s	11	5	10	409	 958 		42.7
1925w	7	25	30	2070	 3754 		55.1
1926w	4	21	 9	1064	 1836 		58.5
1927w	3	27	 6	1284	 2056 		62.5
1928w	3	23	10	1437	 2171 		66.2
1929w	1	14	 1	660	 950 		69.5
1933	5	18	 5	1034	 1504 		64.3

He was Ohio State Champion four straight years from 1933 through 1936. Nunamaker was a popular, well-liked individual, and during his reign as national champion, he traveled coast-to-coast giving exhibitions and playing in open tournaments. He did much to stimulate interest in the game. Nunamaker was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1970. Blair died in June of 1944 in Florida after a lengthy illness.

Laura Lanham of Bloomington, Illinois, was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1971 and was the second woman to be inducted. For all her playing years, Lanham was known only as Mrs. C.A. Lanham, as was the practice in the early years. In fact, that is how her name appeared in all NHPA records until about 1992 when her actual name was discovered. Lanham was no doubt the best woman pitcher during the first decade of the World Tournament, as she pitched in seven World Tournaments, won six World Championships and placed second in the other event, losing by only one game. Her titles came in 1922s, 1923s, 1924w (in a playoff), 1924s, 1925w, 1927s, and 1928s (in a playoff). Her career record is 80 wins and four losses, which still ranks her 21^st on the Women’s All-Time World Tournament Wins List. Laura Lanham was born April 3, 1895, and died March 6, 1971, at age 75.

Fred Brust of Columbus, Ohio, was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1971. Brust won the Men’s World Championship in 1919 at age 33. Besides his championship, Fred had two third-place finishes in World Tournament competition. He was one of the founding fathers, as the NHPA was formed and organized in the state of Ohio in 1921. He also developed the Ohio pitching shoe and founded the Ohio Horseshoe Company that was one of the top-selling tournament shoes for over 70 years. He ran the Ohio Horseshoe Company until 1950 when he sold the business. Fred passed away in May 1971 at age 85.

Just a reminder that the Holiday season is again upon us and the recently published horseshoe pitching history books would make great gifts and a pleasant surprise for the horseshoe pitchers in your life. The Lee Rose Story has become a good seller and has received many compliments. Also the AAU National Amateur Horseshoe Pitching Championship has had two years of good sales.

Remember, I do not profit from the sales of these two books, as the publishing costs are recouped, all proceeds will go to the NHPF. You can order the books through games related sales or direct from me. (link to: bobcharlesdunn@aol.com)

Most of you have noticed on the front page of our website, the announcement of the recently published World Champions of Horseshoe Pitching. This large book covers all championship classes in all divisions in the World Tournaments from 1920–2010. (Of course, the Men’s division is not included as those events have been published in Gary Kline’s book and in the book that Jerry Smith published.) The book covers 90 years and is 650 pages. The book is available online, but a very limited number of copies were printed and all sold at the 2015 World Tournament. I have started a list of those wishing for a printed copy and will order those copies from the publisher when a sufficient number have requested them. These orders should be placed directly with me. (link to: bobcharledunn@aol.com) The cost is $35 plus $5 postage.