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Welcome to the
NATIONAL
ROLLER
DERBY
HALL OF FAME
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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, JOHNNY ROSASCO & JOSEPHINE 'Ma' BOGASH. Over the next twenty-one
years, a total of twenty-one superb athletes were admitted thru the doors of the illustrious Hall of Fame. After finding a
permanent home at New York's Madison Square Garden during the early 70s, 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 was reopened by Executive Director GARY POWERS at its new Museum home in Brooklyn on
September 25, 2004, coinciding with the induction of ten new members into the Hall of Fame. 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 Hall of Fame Weekend in San Francisco, home of the legendary BAY BOMBERS, by celebrating the career of the
late, great ANN CALVELLO. Once again, some of the greatest stars of the banked track sports mingled with fans from all over
the country in a joyous celebration of all things 'Roller Derby.' In October, 2007, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of
the legendary PHILADELPHIA WARRIORS move East (from Hawaii) with a HOF WEEKEND CELEBRATION on the East Coast. 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 & also presented the FIRST EVER 'Roller Derby Pioneer' award to 93-year-old Transcontinental
star, HAZEL ROOP! Our ´VALENTINE TO L.A. ROLLER DERBY´ in L.A. on FEB. 14, 2009 brought together many great stars
of Southern California Roller Derby!!!!
And on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2010 in PHILADELPHIA,
we brought TOGETHER former members of DELAWARE VALLEY ROLLER GAMES (including former members of the legendary Philadelphia
WARRIORS) with members of 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!!!!
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The
National Roller Derby Hall of Fame is made possible by the support of devoted fans everywhere and in particular our long-time
friend and confidant, PHIL BERRIER, the suggestions of Roller Derby Hall of Fame members, plus the guidance of other great
stars of the banked track whose love for Roller Derby continually direct our efforts. The reopening of the National Roller
Derby Hall of Fame in 2004 was a result of the fundraising efforts of the Roller Derby Foundation which provides assistance to former skaters. We are constantly working to bring
fans and skaters together thru Roller Derby parties throughout the country. We are committed to preserving the history of
the Roller Derby and to honoring the accomplishments of its greatest stars. We make Roller Derby DVDs & videos available
to fans around the world and this generosity helps us celebrate the banked track game thru our yearlong efforts. DVD & video
listings can be found on the Roller Derby Foundation website. Thanks for your support!  |
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The life of Roller Derby Hall-of-Famer
JUDY SOWINSKI was remembered and celebrated by hundreds of family, friends and colleagues on August 6 at the National Shrine
of Saint Rita of Cascia on Broad Street in Philadelphia. The Chicago-born star of the banked track sport, Derby's 'Rookie-of-the-Year'
in 1960, a perennial MVP and superstar of the game with the Los Angeles Thunderbirds, New York Bombers and Philadelphia Warriors,
who would later share her expertise coaching members of the OSDA's Penn Jersey Roller Derby, entered life eternal on July
27 after a brief illness. Judy Sowinski was born July 7, 1940.
During the morning mass, Judy's longtime partner, Angela Marano, and members of their extended
family celebrated Judy's life and shared memories of this Derby legend. After Judy retired from active skating, she
worked at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where she was admired and loved by colleagues, many of whom attended the mass.
Hall-of-Famer RICHARD BROWN, VINNIE GANDOLFO, LYNNE CONGLETON, BESSIE GONZALES, JEFF HART, CINDY OGBIN, LOIS DECKER, MARY
HATTON, CARRIE BRIGHTFUL, CRYSTAL PRIOLEAU, BILLY EELS, ROGER McLEOD, ROBERT PERRY, (former announcer) STEVE GROSSMAN and
JOHN 'Gooch' GAUTIERI along with others were there to celebrate this legendary star of Roller Derby. Members of the
OSDA, especially current and former members of Penn Jersey Roller Derby, who had been trained and mentored by Judy over the
past seven years, showed their respect for their fallen coach. Over the past six months, Judy and Angela were comforted
and supported by their Derby family with countless phone calls, messages and visits.
There were many tears shed during this celebration mass, but there
was also much laughter as people shared special memories of their beloved Jude. What became so apparent was what an
extraordinary life Judy Sowinski had lived. She grew up in Chicago, fell in love with Roller Derby when her Aunt took
her to a game and decided to enter the training program, wanting to follow in the footsteps of her skating hero, Hall-of-Famer
SAMMY SKOBEL, but no one could have imagined what an impact Judy would have on the sport. Sowinski did it all, few were
better at so many different aspects of the game and she became one of the greatest all-around female skaters in the history
of the sport. When the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame reopened in 2004, Judy was part of its newest class joining
fellow inductees ANNABELLE 'Slugger' KEALEY, JULIE 'Ace' PATRICK, JOAN WESTON & JUDY ARNOLD.
With the playful nature that was always there waiting behind Sowinski's
tough-as-nails exterior, Judy was instantly loved by anyone who met her. When Derby ended, she reinvented herself, never
losing those parts of her which were natural and instinctive because she couldn't help but be the leader. She played
softball and flag football, the captain all over again, endearing herself to a whole group of women who had no idea she was
a Derby legend. If recognized in public, she would tell people they were mistaken... sorry she wasn't 'Judy... who'?
That was someone else. At work at Jefferson Hospital, she became the speediest delivery person anyone could remember.
After she retired from the hospital, Judy spent every summer, reveling in the sun at her Jersey shore beach house, but there
was a restlessness that would soon be fed.
When
she was asked to 'give back' to the sport by coaching a new group of flat track skaters, she gave it her all without wondering
what might happen if her new skaters didn't fall in love with her game. She had no reason to worry. The Penn Jersey
She Devils embraced and celebrated all the traditional 'old school' elements and history of the sport because that's what
their coach expected. Through Judy's inspiration and determination, Penn Jersey Roller Derby soon had a banked track
in a warehouse in Philly where Sowinski and ARNOLD 'Skip' SCHOEN would teach the foundations of the game as they had learned
years before. Sowinski once again was giving back to the sport that had given her so much while never judging or trying
to determine where her kids would go with it. She did what she had been taught and let go of the results with confidence
her kids would make their coach proud... and they did. Penn Jersey is the cream of the crop, the most 'Derby' organization,
in this 'new version' of the sport.
Everyone
who loved Jude is devastated by the sudden and unexplainable loss of this remarkable lady. Judy had become a fixture
at the annual Roller Derby reunion over the past five years as the 'Polish Ace' captained a near-perfect girl's team with
SYLVIA VIRAMONTES, SHEILA McKENNA, DEE WILSON & GENIE PACE. Judy was always the brightest light at reunions on the
East Coast, too, even this past November in Philly, welcoming the newest participants while making sure others were in the
spotlight. When she became ill, she wouldn't burden those she loved with her last battle. She wouldn't have it
any other way. Judy Sowinski's gone, but of course, she will never leave us. She lives on in the hearts and memories
of all who ever knew her. She will forever be our captain, our leader, and she'll never let us give up. And yep,
she had faith we would always do the right thing. The light that was her life will never grow dim. We will never
ever... how could we?... forget our Jude. |
ROLLER DERBY Hall-of-Famer
JUDY ARNOLD CELEBRATES 67th BIRTHDAY on August 6, 2011 with GALA EVENT in Redding, California
When JUDY ARNOLD donned
the number sixty-seven uniform of the crimson-and-gold jerseyed HAWAIIAN WARRIORS in 1967 as the team relocated to the East
Coast, she had already established herself, within six short years, as one of the most talented young stars of Roller Derby.
This California native had been the sport's 'Rookie-of-the-Year' with the SAN FRANCISCO BAY BOMBERS in 1961 and had received
the same honor with Roller Games in 1963, offering everyone a glimpse that she might be one of the greatest skaters of all-time.
But as Warrior captain, 'Pretty Judy' would become the foundation of the Warrior franchise, captivating the hearts of the
cynical sports media and endearing herself to legions of Derby fans all along the East Coast. Judy Arnold had become
a Roller Derby superstar and what everyone had expected her to be.
It seemed as if there was nothing Arnold couldn't
do - she was her team's top scorer, one of the defensive giants of the league and the only skater who could sell out an arena
by simply accepting a match race challenge. By 1972, Judy and Coach BUDDY ATKINSON, Jr. had made the Warriors into the
most talented and powerful team in the banked track sport, the most 'Derby' team in National. It was the same year Judy
doubled for actress Raquel Welch in the movie, KANSAS CITY BOMBER, an assignment that would change her life for it allowed
her to consider there might be other ways to reach and inspire an even larger audience.
By the time Judy Arnold turned thirty, she
was the most respected and best all-around skater on the banked track. But at the pinnacle of her career, she made the
decision to turn her life over to Jesus Christ, leaving Roller Derby to become an ordained minister. Over the past thirty-five
years, she has offered herself as a vessel of hope and change, comforting countless souls and becoming a beacon of clarity
to everyone she meets.
Judy Arnold's compassion, love and generosity continue to be a shining light in a challenging and
complicated world. In 2004, she was inducted into the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame and continues to inspire those
who dream of following in her footsteps, whether it be on roller skates or in service to the Lord. She is considered
by many to be the greatest Roller Derby star of all time. Her life off the track, serving mankind and spreading the
word of the Lord, is about embracing the love and goodness that is within each of us and becoming all God wants us to be.
Judy
Arnold is an inspiration to all who have been in her presence and on Saturday, August 6, 2011, on her 67th birthday... family,
friends and fans from around the world celebrated this amazing lady at an event hosted by the Redding (CA.) Roller Girls.
Thank
you, Judy for all you have been and continue to be. God bless you forever.
Gary Powers, Executive Director National Roller Derby Hall of Fame & Museum
New York City
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