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Celebrating Roller Derby since 1952! Reopened in 2004 with the blessing of the Seltzer Family.
December 29, 2013 It is with great sadness that the National Roller Derby
Hall of Fame marks the passing of Derby pioneer, Hall-of-Famer HAZEL ROOP. Born October 25, 1915 in Columbus, Ohio,
Hazel was sent to Chicago in 1936 to visit relatives where she first saw the new sports craze called the Transcontinental
Roller Derby. Although she had never roller skated, Hazel would train, soon becoming one of the game's brightest stars.
She'd skate in Derby's first race in New York City at the Hippodrome later in the year and later in Coral Gables over Christmas
where Damon Runyon would make suggestions to make Derby into a competitive sport rather than a marathon race. Hazel
would be partnered with Buddy Atkinson, Sr. & Wes Aronson, then have a baby with Billy Bogash. Circumstances would
prevent Hazel from raising her baby. She left the Derby, returning home to New Jersey to marry and raise a family, her
Derby secret unspoken. Her granddaughter, Tracy, would begin skating in the new flat track Derby, sharing the remarkable
story of Hazel Roop. The NRD HOF would present Hazel with its first 'Pioneer' award in December, 2008. A year
later, she would be reunited with her first born child and in 2010, Roop would be inducted into the Hall of Fame by her peers.
The sacrifice she made for her family and sport will inspire everyone who loves this game. May she rest in peace with
the gratitude and admiration of family, skaters and fans.
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Roller Derby's Hall of Fame was created by the 'Roller Derby News'
in 1952 with the induction of its first two members, JOHNY ROSASCO & JOSEPHINE 'Ma' BOGASH. Over the next twenty-one years,
twenty-one superb athletes were admitted thru the doors of the illustrious Hall. After finding a permanent home at NYC's Madison
Square Garden in 1972, the Hall of Fame closed
its doors when the original Roller Derby closed on December 8, 1973. After being granted permission by JERRY SELTZER, son
of the game's creator, LEO SELTZER, the NATIONAL ROLLER DERBY HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM was reopened by Executive Director
& Curator GARY POWERS at its new home in Brooklyn, NY on September 25, 2004, coinciding with the induction of ten new
members into the HOF. On August 13, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois, we celebrated the 70th anniversary of Derby's first race at
the Chicago Coliseum (Aug. 13, 1935). In August, 2006, we celebrated our HOF Weekend in San Francisco, home of the legendary
BAY BOMBERS, by celebrating the career of the late, great ANN CALVELLO. Once again, the greatest stars of the banked
track sport mingled with fans from all over the country in a joyous celebration of all things 'Derby.' In October, 2007,
we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the PHILADELPHIA WARRIORS' move East (from Hawaii) with a HOF CELEBRATION in Cherry
Hill, NJ. On Dec. 6, 2008, the NRD HOF in association with the OSDA (Old School Derby Association) welcomed back members
of the WARRIORS to another reunion during the OSDA Championship Weekend, presenting the FIRST EVER 'Roller Derby Pioneer'
award to 93-year-old Transcontinental star, HAZEL ROOP! Our ´Valentine to Los Angeles Roller Derby´ on FEB.
14, 2009 brought together many great stars of Southern California Derby!!!! O n SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2010
in PHILADELPHIA, we brought TOGETHER former DELAWARE VALLEY ROLLER GAMES members (including members of the legendary Philadelphia
WARRIORS) with PENN JERSEY ROLLER DERBY as we HONORED the GREATEST STARS in the HISTORY of ROLLER DERBY with the INDUCTION
of the 2010 Class of the NRD HOF!!!! We celebrated the newest class of the NRD HOF on November 9-10, 2012 in PHILADELPHIA
with an OLD-TIMERS' game featuring LEGENDARY STARS of the sport like Hall-of-Famer 'Little' RICHARD BROWN, CINDY OGBIN &
ARNOLD 'Skip' SCHOEN, plus TONY TRUJILLO, LALI O', RAY ROBLES, DAVE MARTINEZ & GINA VALLADARES!!! Also in attendance
were fans from all over the country along with Hall-of-Famers JUDY ARNOLD & LARRY LEWIS, former referee & Infield
Manager, JOHN 'Gootch' GAUTIERI, plus skaters PETE BOYD, TERRI TOLEDO, 'Skinny Minnie' GWEN MILLER, JEFF HART, SUE THOMAS
& MANY OTHERS!!!! JOIN US in PHILADELPHIA again this year on NOVEMBER 8 & 9 for our 2013 National Roller Derby
Hall of Fame WARRIORS' REUNION & OLDTIMERS' GAME with PENN JERSEY ROLLER DERBY!!!! GET UPDATES BELOW!!!! PICTURED
BELOW At our December,
2008 HOF celebration in Philadelphia, former skaters (from left) CRYSTAL PRIOLEAU, (2004 HOF inductee) JUDY SOWINSKI, JIM
TROTTER, DRU SCOTT, (2004 HOF inductee) JUDY ARNOLD, VINNIE GANDOLFO, (2005 HOF inductee) BUDDY ATKINSON, Jr., (2007 HOF inductee)
RICHARD BROWN, JEFF HART & RICHARD PURDY celebrate Transcontinental Roller Derby 'Pioneer Award' winner, (2010 HOF inductee)
HAZEL ROOP (front row right in purple), next to NRD HOF & Museum Executive Director & Curator, GARY POWERS.
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The National Roller Derby Hall of Fame & Museum thanks all those who support our efforts to
celebrate the greatest names in the history of the banked track sport.
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HOF Leader-of-the-Pack VIP Package LEAD the PACK as a HOF VIP with a SPECIAL INVITATION to the 2013 HOF Kick-Off PARTY & TRAINING
SESSION on Friday evening, Nov. 8, 2013 in Philly attended by HOF members & skaters, plus special SURPRISE guests!!!
You'll receive the BRAND NEW 2013 NRD HOF 'Celebrating the WARRIORS' souvenir PROGRAM, along with a 2013 NRD HOF Warriors
t-shirt (YOU ORDER YOUR SIZE), plus EXTRAS!!! You'll also receive VIP SEATING to Saturday, Nov. 9th's Second Annual
Judy Sowinski Memorial OLD-TIMERS' game featuring the GREATEST NAMES in the history of the sport with Derby's newest stars
from PJRD, followed by the regular PJRD game with a celebratory reception to follow. ALL for $75 which SUPPORTS the
EFFORTS of the NATIONAL ROLLER DERBY HALL OF FAME. Purchase using Buy Now link below!!!
HOF 'Grand
Slam' Package Score a Hall-of-Fame GRAND SLAM & SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS by receiving
a copy of the BRAND NEW 2013 NRD HOF 'Celebrating the WARRIORS' souvenir PROGRAM, plus a VIP ticket to Saturday,
Nov. 9th's Second Annual Judy Sowinski Memorial OLD-TIMERS' game featuring the GREATEST NAMES in the history of the sport
with Derby's newest stars from PJRD, followed by the regular PJRD game with a celebratory reception to follow. ALL for
$50. Purchase using Buy Now link below!!! HOF 'All-Star' Package STAR on our HOF All-Star TEAM by SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS by getting a VIP ticket to Saturday, Nov.
9th's Second Annual Judy Sowinski OLD-TIMERS' game featuring the GREATEST NAMES in the history of the sport with Derby's newest
stars from PJRD, followed by the regular PJRD game with a celebratory reception to follow. $25. Purchase using
Buy Now Link below!!!
HOF 'VIP'
Package-$75.00
HOF 'Grand
Slam' Package-$50.00
HOF 'All-Star'
Package-$25.00
2012 NRD HOF Souvenir
YEARBOOK - $20.00 (includes shipping)
2012 NRD HOF black
T-SHIRT celebrating ROLLER DERBY's GREATEST!!! - $35.00 (includes shipping)
2012 NRD HOF Red
Warriors #62 T-SHIRT salute to HOFer JUDY SOWINSKI - $45.00 (includes shipping)
2012 NRD HOF Blue
T-Bird #5 T-SHIRT salute to HOFer JUDY SOWINSKI - $45.00 (includes shipping)
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