DONNIE ROBERTS, Pike County, Ohio

Inducted 1986

Organizer: Donnie Roberts will always be remembered as one of the all-time great leaders, officer, and organizer of the NHPA. He helped draft the beginning booklet of the Sanctioned League Program and was known for his ability to conduct World Tournaments, in all, twenty consecutive. Donnie served several years as a Regional Director and in 1976 was elected NHPA Secretary-Treasurer, a position he held for 20 years. As part of his efforts, he assisted in the discontinuing of WT qualifying and had input into the NatStats System. He also helped devise the WT move-up system. He was awarded the Stokes Memorial Award in 1978. Donnie began pitching horseshoes in 1956 and became Junior Boy’s World Champion in 1959. He also won the Ohio State Men’s Championship in 1972, pitching 81.5%. He once pitched a perfect game of 38-shoes. In 1973, Donnie averaged 78.3% for the entire season, including 15 consecutive tournaments over 80%. Donnie Roberts passed away on February 23, 2005, at age 62.