the national horseshoe pitchers - NHPA

14 The Horseshoe Pitcher's News Digest/February, 1988
A TRIBUTE TO MR. SECRETARY-TREASURER JIM WEEKS
By WALLY SHIPLEY
Jim was born January 6, 1917 in Los Angeles, California. He has been married to lovely
Emily of Plainfield, New Jersey, since 1938. (They will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary
January 8, 1988.)
Due to poor health Jim has decided to retire as Secretary/Treasurer for Southern California
Horseshoe Pitchers Association after 32 years of devoted and dedicated service to the Sport
of Horseshoes.
Every organization must have men and women willing to sacrifice their time, energy and
talents to make it a going concern. Southern California has been extremely fortunate in this
respect.
Jim has carried on the efforts as Sec/Treas for SCHPA at great personal sacrifice. He
attended all the tournaments of the busiest schedule of all state Horseshoe Organizations.
(I estimate this to be approximately 2000 tournaments.) He conducted the most efficiently run
tournaments the game has known.
Emily accompanied him 99% of the time and was a great help to Jim with the book work and
all the other players and their wives.
Twenty (20) years ago Jim compiled a record that will give you the average for any given
number of shoes and ringers up to 1000 shoes. His brain worked like a computer in giving the
up to the minute average for any given player.
I have known Jim and Emily since 1957 when I joined the NHPA. During these 30 years I
worked with these two people very closely. For I was SCHPA President for 7 years and NHPA
President 10 years. So I feel I am qualified to speak about Jim's devotion to Horseshoes.
During my NHPA administration I selected Jim to the NHPA Hall of Fame Committee. A
position he still holds. I had the honor of inducting him into the NHPA Hall of Fame in 1982 in
Huntsville, Alabama. He was also inducted into the SCHPA Hall of Fame, which he started in
1970.
In 1959 Jim captured the California State Championship. He dominated the local scene for
many years. During my early years of pitching Jim was the hardest one for me to beat in the
SCHPA class A group.
In 1970 in the World Tournament Brochure I named and wrote articles about "Four (4)
MISTERS" in the SCHPA. Mr. Horseshoes, Elmer Beller; Mr. Court Keeper, Gunnar Hansen;
Mr. Champion, Fernando Isais; and Mr. Secretary/Treasurer, JIM WEEKS.
Southern California pitchers proclaim Jim as the greatest thing that ever happened to the
game in California. We love you Jim and Emily and hope you will continue to come to the
tournaments to watch and visit.
We of the SCHPA and the NHPA thank you Mr. Secretary/Treasurer of S.C. for your many
long hours and years of devotion, dedication and hard work.
Now, Jim, I am once again honored to present to you an award. The NHPA Presidential
Award, which reads:
Jim Weeks for 32 years of Outstanding Service to the Sport of Horseshoes as
Secretary/Treasurer of SCHPA—1987 NHPA Presidential Award.
SCHPA also gave Jim a beautiful "Large Clock Plaque." It was presented to Emily by
SCHPA President Jim Eozzo.
On behalf of Jim and Emily, thank you, NHPA and SCHPA, for the awards. Jim wrote me a
note and said "Thanks for everything. This has made all I tried to do look pretty good."
On the other side of the coin here is Jim's pitching stats: Started pitching in 1928. He
averaged 62.9% in his first tournament. Competed in 72 Doubles and 272 Tournaments. Life