Jo Ann Robertson has worked hard to promote the game of bridge and further our unit activities. She is a worthy volunteer has who provided many services for Unit 172 – most notably, as the head of our Hospitality Team. Jo Ann has all the necessary requisites: commitment, great people skills, exceptional attention to detail, leadership, teamwork skills, and most importantly a contagious enthusiasm and attitude.

Jo Ann is easily the most compassionate person in the club. When she is not caring for her family at home she devotes time to her bridge family. She goes above and beyond by providing food for the unit games and sectionals, and she has done so for many years. A fabulous cook, she prepares most of the food herself working tirelessly to provide nutritious and tasty snacks, meals, and desserts. She has many requested items but the most requested one is her fa- mous meatballs. Players actually line up to enjoy these delicacies. In addition to her cooking skills Jo Ann also provides food for our regional tournaments. She has a knack for decorating and strives to make each tourna- ment special and unique.

Jo Ann is also an ambassador for this amazing game that she loves, encouraging new players and providing inspiration to returning players. And she always sup- ports the local clubs with her warm smile, captivating laugh and welcoming attitude which are appreciated by all. Jo Ann does all things with grace and compe- tence. She is one of the nicest ladies you would ever wish to meet but don’t let that distract you from the fact that Jo Ann is also a very formidable opponent at the bridge table.

The board members of Unit 172 want to thank Jo Ann for her contributions to the duplicate bridge community. We are all so grateful for her kindness, generosity and hospitality. Jo Ann is an integral part of Unit 172 and a consummate professional in all her duties. She goes above and beyond our expectations by supporting every individual in the club. We can think of no one more deserving of the District 16 Star Award than Jo Ann Robertson.

Allison Ochsner is our unit web- master. She is a retired family physician and after taking early retirement she took up bridge. Allison has an interest in computers so she volunteered to assist the webmaster and now she is our webmaster. Allison does amazing work. Some weeks she receives at least two or three new changes to update our web page – sometimes even two or three in a day! Often she needs to edit what is sent and always gets it right. She seems to know intuitively where cer- tain articles should be placed and just does a great job.

Allison never complains and always lets me know when she will be unavailable. She says she finds the work challenging and enjoys contributing to Unit 174.

Debrah Chockley was on the Dallas Bridge Association Board and was the equipment liaison the first year after the COVID shutdown when we were working to reestablish our unit games, pro-am games, and tournaments.

It had been two years since our previous unit activities and we needed to learn all the "ins and outs" again. Interfacing with the equipment managers, mak- ing sure things were where they needed to be when they needed to be there. The first thing Debrah co- ordinated was an audit of our inventory. At that time two of our larger clubs were closing and she bought equipment from them to make our future more secure and definite.

But we also had other unique problems that year. The Fort Worth DFW Regional needed to borrow tables, bid boxes and other supplies, but how to get them to the venue and returned after the tournament? And in what shape? Debrah resolved all these issues.

The Richardson Women's Club also wanted to borrow tables, bid boxes, and other items. Debrah coordinated with them and set up a procedure for them to follow in future years.

And finally, our storage unit was broken into and the locks cut for our trailers! Fortunately, the only thing stolen was the trailer license plates which were readily reported and replaced.

Debrah was in the right place at the right time for our unit so we are proud to present to her the District 16 Star Award.

MB Howard is this year's District 16 Star Award winner for Unit 183. MB's numerous contributions to our unit can be summed up in a comment overheard at the studio recently, “Oh, MB is working on that." Whatever it was (and it could have been anything) it was officially being handled – no need to worry.

MB started her volunteering career when she ran for a seat on the unit board immediately after moving to Fort Worth eight years ago. She was easily elect- ed but before even being sworn in she asked to be a tournament chair. Without missing a beat she jumped right in to run our regional tournament at DFW Airport. She did a bang up job on it and never looked back. Although no longer tournament chair, she con- tinues to find caddies for us when no one else seems able.

MB has been our appointed and unappointed Sunshine Person, keeping tabs on players who are sick, ailing, or maybe just unhappy for some reason. She sends them cards, phone calls and well wishes.

MB's finger is on the pulse of our community. She has partnered with, or helped find partners for, nearly everyone who's been in need.

Not the least of it, MB is often on the premises organizing the storage room, discarding long forgotten items collecting dust in the kitchen, making our space inviting for guests coming for tournaments and special events. MB, what would we do without you?

Bill Samelson, currently a resident of Corpus Christi, was a “Navy brat,” growing up in many different cities. He graduated from W. B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi where he was a starting tackle on the state championship football team of 1959. Bill served in the U.S. Navy for four years and then settled in New Jersey. After many years in marine transportation business he started his own computer software company. When Bill retired his son took over the business which was eventually sold to a large international company.

In 2010, Bill resettled in Austin with his former high school girlfriend, Mary Anne. They spent many days in Corpus Christi where both Bill’s mother and Mary Anne’s mother resided. Bill’s mother, Chris Samelson, was a Life Master in duplicate bridge and took them both in hand to teach bridge to Bill while re teaching bridge to Mary Anne. In awe of her skill in the play of the hand, Bill asked his mom what method she used to remember plays. She slammed her hand on the table and said, “Pay attention!”

Bill and Mary Anne joined the Corpus Christi Duplicate Bridge Club in 2019. They both adapted to duplicate bridge and grew to be integral members of the club. Bill was elected to the unit board of directors and is serving his second term. He also succeeded the longtime club manager in that position.

Bill has spent many hours organizing the club and helping the club in its recent move to the First United Methodist Church. His assistance has been indispens- able to the club’s success.

Phyllis Kinnison is the winner of the Lubbock Unit 197 District 16 Star Award. She is one of the most beloved members and is highly thought of by the membership. She is al- ways kind, has a pleasant demeanor and many friends.

Phyllis comes from a background of teaching at Texas Tech and then high school. Later she was in charge of communications for the Lubbock Indepen- dent School District. Socially, she has been an active member of PEO and the Women’s Club for many years having served as president of both.

Phyllis is a valuable member of our club for a number of reasons: she is our unit secretary, keeps our directory current, is tournament coordinator, assists with hospitality and is generally called upon whenever there is a job that needs someone in charge. Her most recent activity is helping teach potential new members to help grow our club.

Phyllis has a very close-knit family, has been mar- ried to Jay for 55+ years and producing two children and six grandchildren. We are most fortunate and proud to have Phyllis as one of our members and con- gratulate her on winning this highly deserved District 16 Star Award.

Nat Hallmark’s volunteer work at Unit 201 exactly fits the descrip- tion of a District Star. She works behind the scenes, never expecting recognition, and welcoming and en- couraging newcomers to become part of District 16’s family.

Nat's first encounter with bridge happened in 1966 while attending lessons her aunt taught, although she never pursued the game. But 20 years ago Nat and a longtime friend saw an ad in the newspaper for bridge lessons to be given at the Beaumont Bridge Studio. They took the lessons together and have been playing as partners ever since.

Nat plays weekly and admits that being a Life Master is not one of her goals, however she loves to win and enjoys the competition. Part of her positive experience at the studio is playing with all the bridge friends she has made over the years, as well as meeting new ones. She has even organized a casual game at home. All the players at the studio, old timers or new- comers, enjoy being with Nat, as well. Although she is quiet and reserved most of the time, she will surprise everyone with her quick wit and funny quips.

Originally from Canada, Nicci Beninger joined the ACBL in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1988. After playing for several years she took a hiatus from bridge from 2000-2019, but resumed the game when she and her husband, Michael, relocated to Mexico. Since moving there Nicci has been an active supporter of both the local and national bridge community. She has played in Mexico tournaments in Ajijic, Puerto Vallarta, Aca- pulco, Monterrey, and San Miguel de Allende.

Nicci currently serves as the president of the Lake Chapala Duplicate Bridge Club and as tournament coordinator for Unit 205. She also teaches bridge to new and advancing players at the Lake Chapala Club. When Michael can get her away from the bridge table, they enjoy traveling, often to visit their children and grandchildren who reside in Europe and Canada.

An avid duplicate bridge player for many years, Bill Brooks was first introduced to the game when he took a course at Midland College in the mid-90s. Bill has played regu- larly at the Permian Bridge Club in Midland and has served on the club and unit boards. In 2001, Exxon and Mobil merged, and Bill transferred to Houston.

Since there wasn't a duplicate club close to where Bill and his wife Audie lived, they played in the neighborhood party bridge games. Since they were avid duplicate players, they converted the game to du- plicate play using bridge boards, individual movement guide cards, and bid boxes. Bill and Audie played in local clubs and at bridge tournaments during an 18-month temporary work assignment in Canada.

In 2012, Bill transferred to Midland to work for XTO a newly acquired ExxonMobil company. Fol- lowing his retirement in 2015 Bill returned to dupli- cate play in Midland at the Allison Bridge Center. He plays regularly in Midland and Odessa and was very involved in the remodeling of the Allison Bridge Center. Bill continues to serve on both club and unit boards and is currently the club manager of the Permian Bridge Club. He has been vice president and president of the Unit 209 Board and has been elected vice president of the 2024 unit board.

David Hertzog was born in Peoria, Illinois but was raised in Ohio. He graduated from Springfield High School in Akron, Ohio and then joined the Air Force where he served 30 years, 20 of those years were at Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls. During his Air Force tenure David earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Busi- ness from Culver-Stockton College and his Master’s Degree in Management from Webster University. He retired from the Air Force as a Chief Master Sargeant and he and his wife Jill currently live in Wichita Falls.

David started playing bridge in 1971 with his brother who was also stationed at Shepherd Air Force Base. They played until his brother was shipped out in 1973 and David did not play bridge again until 1978 when he partnered at a local club with Ray Renk. He and Ray went to many tournaments and David became a Life Master in 1986 and has since attained Gold Life Master.

David also took his director’s test at a tournament in Las Vegas. He was a director for Bob and Barbara Cunningham for years and is currently the owner and director of The Wichita Falls Bridge Club in Unit 353. The unit is currently enjoying face-to-face bridge because of David Hertzog. The unit could not renew its lease this year because the rent increased beyond its financial capabilities. David and Jill were kind enough to let us play in their pool house at a price we could afford. They spent a lot of time cleaning out the pool house, cleansing the carpet and giving everything a new coat of paint. The space is small but since our club attendance has declined following the pandemic it’s able to accommodate our games nicely.

David is a Gold Life Master and has won many awards including a Unit Goodwill Award. It is an honor for Unit 353 to name David Hertzog for the District 16 Star Award.