Submit your nomination by September 30th, 2024.
The American Backgammon Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have achieved extraordinary playing results and/or have made extraordinary contributions to the game of backgammon in the United States. Candidates are not limited to American citizens, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
The 2025 Hall of Fame dinner will take place at the Texas Backgammon Championships in San Antonio in February. The Legacy Hall of Fame Committee has chosen two honorees to be inducted in future years. John Crawford will be inducted in 2025. Billy Horan will be inducted in 2026. The current nominations will be received by our regular Hall of Fame committee.
Use the Hall of Fame nomination form to nominate a candidate for this honor. All USBGF members in good standing are invited to nominate up to three candidates for consideration. The Hall of Fame Committee will vet the qualifications of the nominees. Please, carefully note the qualifications addressed below.
Candidates for the Hall of Fame should be individuals who have the following:
- A significant body of work over a very substantial period of time, in or for the game of backgammon in the United States, as players, directors, authors, publishers, promoters, teachers, and/or innovators.
- Realized exceptional accomplishments:
- Demonstrated remarkable skill through success over the board for decades.
- And/or gained achievements and recognition among the U.S. backgammon community for the majority of a long career.
The period of time suggested above by the phrases ”very substantial period of time,” “over the board for decades,” and “for the majority of a long career” should reflect a relevant backgammon career approaching twenty years or more.
Click here to go to the nomination form. You must be logged in to verify your USBGF membership.
Current members of the American Backgammon Hall of Fame:
Lewis Deyong, Lee Genud, Wilcox Snellings (2024); Matvey “Falafel” Natanzon, Masayuki “Mochy” Mochizuki (2023); John O’Hagan, Art Benjamin (2022); Karen Davis (2021); Ed O’Laughlin (2020); Steve Sax (2019); Alexis Obolensky, Joe Sylvester (2018); Ray Fogerlund, Joseph Russell, Mike Svobodny (2017); Patrick Gibson, Tim Holland, Danny Kleinman, Howard Markowitz (2016); Nack Ballard, Carol Joy Cole, Barclay Cooke, Bill Davis, Malcolm Davis, Kent Goulding, Oswald Jacoby, Neil Kazaross, Paul Magriel, Bill Robertie, Mike Senkiewicz, Walter Trice, Kit Woolsey (2015).
Legacy Honorees:
The Legacy Hall of Fame Committee has chosen two honorees to be inducted in future years. John Crawford will be inducted in 2025. Billy Horan will be inducted in 2026.
Submit your nomination by September 30th, 2024.
To nominate a person for consideration on the 2025 Ballots for possible induction into the American Backgammon Hall of Fame, please use the Hall of Fame nomination form. You will need to be logged in to access the form.
You will be asked to complete the form with two main sections: (1) Notable awards and accomplishments such as ABT and international tournament wins, publications, produced events, Giants of Backgammon, etc., and (2) WHY do you think s/he should be considered. Provide at least one paragraph describing the nominee’s significant body of work in or for backgammon in the USA.
Should a member wish to re-nominate someone they have submitted in a prior year, they may do so; however, ALL nominations this year must include a new nomination form. You must submit a new form. If a member wishes to amend a prior submission, they may request a copy if one was not retained (request may be made to Joe Russell at ez2bblue@gmail.com); however, again, a new nomination form must be submitted this year for each nominee. Nominations from prior years will not be automatically reconsidered.
The open period for 2025 nominations through September 30th, 2024. The Hall of Fame Committee will review all nominations and submit a recommended Ballot to the USBGF Board of Directors for approval. The approved Ballot will then go to the Hall of Fame electors to determine new inductees.
Joe Russell
Chairman, Hall of Fame Committee
U.S. Backgammon Federation
