Handbook - International Bridge Press Association

The fertile mind that devised the Blackwood 4NT
bid more than 50 years ago is now applied to the task
of writing three bridge books, one for early 1985 publication.
The subjects are balancing, signals and second
and third hand play. The book on balancing will
be produced first. Blackwood has been a Bulletin
columnist since 1972 – 156 columns and more to
come. He wrote a syndicated daily newspaper column
for many years and is author of seven books listed in
the bibliography of the Official Encyclopedia of Bridge.
He was named Honorary Member of the Year for
1980 by the ACBL and in 1978 was awarded honorary
membership in the American Bridge Teachers Association.
His interest in the best for bridge continues to
this day through his membership on the Laws Commission
of the ACBL.
After a long and successful career as an executive
with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, he established
a plush bridge club in Indianapolis and
launched a new career as lecturer and teacher on
bridge cruises. Following the death of Alvin Landy in
1967, Blackwood was persuaded to take the job of
executive secretary and general manager of the ACBL
for a three-year period. Using his background and
experience in the business world, he directed his
efforts to putting the League on a sound financial
basis. He also worked out a revision of the masterpoint
plan, correcting inequities that had existed for
years.
Blackwood has long had the admiration, respect
and gratitude of the people he worked with on the
ACBL Board of Directors, Headquarters personnel and
League members throughout ACBL and it is fitting that
this international recognition goes to the inventor of
the Blackwood 4NT convention. To this day it is
probably the only bridge convention, which is used all
the way from home games to the highest fields –
wherever bridge is played.
24 IBPA Handbook 2010
THE 1985 CHARLES GOREN
BRIDGE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Barry Crane (USA) (USA)
The Goren Personality of the Year was awarded to
Barry Crane, US. He had acquired more than 35,000
master points, a record which may never be surpassed.
For the first time in the history of IBPA, an
award was given posthumously.
THE 1986 CHARLES GOREN
BRIDGE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
No data found.
José Damiani (FRA)
THE 1987 CHARLES GOREN
BRIDGE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
No data found.
Kathie Wei-Sender (USA)
THE 1988 CHARLES GOREN
BRIDGE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Heléne Lemaitre (BEL)
The Goren Award for the Bridge Personality of the
Year went to Mrs Heléne Lemaitre. No background
data found.