PAT BUTTERFIELD INDUCTED INTO
PLATFORM TENNIS HALL OF FAME

She was a stranger to most of the audience and she admitted that she knew very few of them. Nevertheless they listened intently and with perfect decorum as Pat Butterfield was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place as part of the lunch break in the Women’s Nationals at the New York Athletic Club on Friday, March 23rd. The lack of recognition between the recipient and the audience was principally due to the length of time between her credentials for, and election to, the Hall of Fame.

As many of you will recall, between 1980 and 1991 the Board of Directors of the American Platform Tennis Association did not administer the program. When the program was revived in 1992, there were many individuals deserving of recognition of the highest award that can be earned in platform tennis. It was a difficult task each year for the Hall of Fame Committee to make nominations from among those recently earning the citation and those who would have been chosen during the period that the program was not administered. Pat Butterfield was one who fell in that latter category.

Her time of playing prominence stretched from 1982 to 1992. That first year she was a finalist in the Women’s National Championship with Robin Fulton and the following year they won their first gold medal. In 1984 she was again a finalist with Diane Tucker and they returned in 1986 and 1987 to take the title. She was again a finalist with Diane Tucker in 1988. She won the Women’s 40+ Championship with Diane Tucker in 1991 and 1992.

The induction program began with Bill Taubner, the Nationals Tournament Chairman, introducing Bob Brown, Chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee. He gave the background of the Hall of Fame qualifications and selection process and then introduced Patty Hogan. She is a member of the 2006-07 Committee and an inductee into the Hall in 2005. She made the induction presentation and, with Bob Brown, presented the gold charm and Hall of Fame certificate to the honoree.

In her acceptance response, Pat Butterfield noted that her play, as described by Patty Hogan, seemed so much better than when she was actually on the court more than 20 years earlier. She thanked the Committee and the APTA Board of Directors for the honor.

It was an inspiring occasion and a terrific setting as the women returned to action on the courts to determine the 2007 Championship team.

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