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Hall of Fame
Eman & Nitz Alderman'99
/ Butch & Betty
Berry'98 / Lana Bloom'97
/ Doug & Sandy
Brown'97 /
Gary & Charlotte Chaney'97 /
Jane Egan'97 / Larry
Fournier'06 / Phil Graf'97 /
Tony & Myra Griemel'97
/ Paul Hennessey'00 /
Chuck & Linda Huebner'97
/ Virginia Jones'97 /
Rich Kopels'99
/ Mike & Debbe Lapina'05 / Jim & Lennie Laux'01 /
Sherry Martin'04
/ Gloria Medel'02 /
Wayne Maxey'04 / Tom
& Edie Polzin'05 / Tommy & Emily Roberts'02 / Willie & Diane Santacruz'99
/
Cal Shaw '01/
Jim & Virginia Stanton'04
/ Ron Wallace'01 /
Susan Ward'02 /
Bill White'03 / George & Millie
Wood'06
Eman and Nitz Alderman
South Side Imperial Dance Club, St. Louis, MO
Inducted September 4, 1999
Eman & Nitz are active founding members of the South Side
Imperial Dance Club. They have served on the Board of Directors & have always
offered their services to teach, coach, & judge dance competitions. In 1987,
Eman & Nitz successfully started a junior dance program in St. Louis that has
become a model for many dance clubs & opened many doors for junior dancers in
the swing dance community across the U.S. Their many awards include the 1990
South Side Members of the Year, the 1993 U.S. Open Humanitarians Award, their
1998 induction into the Midwest Swing Dance Federation Hall of Fame, and the
1999 South Side President’s Award.
Butch & Betty Berrey 
Jacksonville Beach Bop Association, FL
Inducted November 14, 1998
Butch is one of the original 14 charter members that formed
JBBA in 1977. He has held an elected position for 16 years and is currently the
club's President. Betty has been a part of JBBA since 1980 and is the driving
force behind the scenes handling any and all unwanted tasks. Butch has chaired
and Betty has handled registration and housing for JBBA's "Boogie on the
Riverwalk" for most of its 13 years. They have taught thousands of people to
dance, given workshops and dance exhibitions locally and nationally. In 1995,
Butch was the first "non shagger" to receive the prestigious Shagging Icon
Award, which he shares with Betty.
Lana Bloom
Music City Bop Club, Nashville, TN
Inducted October 18, 1997
Lana is a tireless worker in the dance community on both a
local and national level. Her dedication to the dance community has been
recognized by her election to numerous leadership positions. Lana joined the
Music City Bop Club in 1989 and was elected Director in 1990. She later was
elected to the position of Vice President and then President, serving three
consecutive terms. On a national level, Lana has served as Director
representing the Music City Bop Club in the American Bop Association and she is
currently serving a 2-year term as the Association’s Treasurer.
Doug and Sandy Brown
Music City Bop Club, Nashville, TN
Inducted October 18, 1997
In 1988, Doug and Sandy were part of a group of 16 people
in an organizational meeting to form the Music City Bop Club in Nashville. They
were 2 of the initial officers and directors of the club, published the club’s
newsletter, and soon became the club’s dance instructors. In the early 1990’s,
Doug and Sandy moved to the music side of dance. They began deejaying events
around the country, as well as for their own club’s dances every weekend. Both
are serving their second terms as Directors of the Association of Beach and Shag
Club DJ’s. Doug is past President of the Music City Bop Club.
Gary and Charlotte Chaney
South Side Imperial Dance Club, St. Louis, MO
Inducted October 18, 1997
Gary and Charlotte have been dancing together for over 40
years. They have been members of the South Side Imperial Dance Club for over 17
years. Gary has served as Vice President for 10 years. He has also received
the Living Legends Award. Gary and Charlotte have competed in dance
competitions all over the country, winning or placing in many, including the
U.S. Open Championship in Anaheim, CA. As true ambassadors of dance, promoting
what they love, they have performed their fantastic tandem dance routine and
have given workshops at various dance events locally and nationally.
Jane Egan
Memphis Boogie Bunch, TN
Inducted October 18, 1997
Jane was born to dance; she started as a small child and
has never stopped. She is a relentless crusader and is known all over the
country because of her efforts in organizing and promoting the first major pure
dance convention in the mid U.S., “Boppin’ on Beale St.”. Jane has shagged with
the Shaggers, bopped with the Boppers, and swung with the Swingers from one end
of the country to another. She was one of the founding members of the River
City Bop Club and is one of the founding members of the Memphis Boogie Bunch.
Jane has also received the Living Legends Award and is past Secretary of the
American Bop Association.
Larry Fournier 
Great Lakes Swing Dance Club, Flint, MI
Inducted September 1, 2006
Larry helped the Great Lakes Swing Dance Club begin in 1991 and has been a
member ever since. He has served as President, Vice President, Chairman and
Newsletter editor over the years. He spent five years as the editor of the
American Bop Association's Newsletter. Over the years, as Larry's dance skills
increased, Larry passed these skills along by teaching dance classes for his
club. Larry's encouragement on the dance floor was challenging, fun and always
appreciated. He helps make dancers shine on the dance floor and his clubs
members have great respect for his efforts over the years.
Phil Graf
Magic City Bop Club, Birmingham, AL
Inducted October 18, 1997
Phil, a successful businessman, brought his ideas and
managing skills together and founded the Magic City Bop Club of Birmingham;
growing from 28 charter members in attendance at their first meeting to more
than 300 members. He served as the club’s first President and first Chairman of
the Board. Loving good people and good music, Phil originated the “S.O.B. Hang
Out Weekend” held on the beach every year in Panama City, FL drawing hundreds of
dancers from all over the country. He has since moved to Orange Beach, AL on
the Gulf Coast and is enjoying his retirement.
Tony & Myra Griemel
Jefferson County Swing Dance Club, St. Louis, MO
Inducted August 30, 2003
Tony and Myra have been members of Jefferson County Swing
Dance Club since 1985.They were elected to the club's board shortly after and
have continuously served in a variety of capacities. Tony was the club's
President and Myra was the President of the Midwest Swing Dance Federation at
the time of nomination to the ABA Hall of Fame. Tony and Myra were both
instrumental in putting together their club's dance lesson program and they have
taught dance at JCSDC and a local college with all of the proceeds going to
their club. Tony and Myra have also taught lessons at sister clubs, performed
dance exhibitions, and participated in many skits, both locally and nationally.
They both have been active in the Midwest Swing Dance Federation since 1987 and
the ABA since its' inception.
Paul Hennessey
Cincinnati Bop Club, OH
Inducted November 11, 2000
Under Paul’s direction, the Cincinnati Bop Club was formed
in 1991 where he has served as President & Co-Editor of their newsletter since
its inception, house DJ for the past 5 years, organized & taught dance lessons
for over 6 years. His biggest achievement is coordinating CBC’s annual event,
“Move Across the River.” Paul also serves the American Bop Association as Vice
President, Chairman of the Membership Committee, CBC Director, and is on various
ABA committees. He has also produced & edited the ABA Newsletter. Paul is also a
member of the Assn. of Beach & Shag Club Deejays & the National Assn. of Rhythm
& Blues Deejays.
Chuck and Linda Huebner
South Side Imperial Dance Club, St. Louis, MO
Inducted October 18, 1997
Chuck and Linda have danced together for 20 years. They
have been members of the South Side Imperial Dance Club for over 15 years.
Chuck served as Treasurer for 2 years and has been the club’s President since
1990. He also served as President of the Midwest Swing Dance Federation and is
currently their Executive Vice President. Linda served as Secretary of the
South Side Imperial Dance Club and produced one of the best club newsletters in
the country. Together, they served 14 years on the St. Louis Invitational
committee; playing a huge part in the promotion and production of this highly
successful mid-west dance competition and dance convention.
Virginia Jones
Magic City Bop Club, Birmingham, AL
Inducted October 18, 1997
Virginia is a long time member of the Magic City Bop Club.
Having the spirit and the high energy level of a teenager, she has served the
Magic City Bop Club as First Vice President and President. Virginia has been
the only person in the club elected to serve two full terms as President. She is
the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and the Event Chairperson for the 1998
“S.O.B. Hang Out Weekend” in Panama City, FL. She is well known in the dance
community and is always ready with a pleasant smile.
Rich Kopels
Atlanta Swing Dancers Club, GA
Inducted September 4, 1999
Rich has been dancing since he was a teenager, mastering
many different dance styles. He has been a member of the Atlanta Swing Dancers
Club since its inception & has served as President, Social Director, &
Treasurer. Rich, an ambassador of swing, supports & attends many local &
national dance events, often providing workshops & exhibitions. He managed
ASDC’s co-sponsorship of its first national event, Smoky Mountain Boogie ‘99.
Rich serves the American Bop Association as an active Director representing ASDC
& as Treasurer of the ABA. He is also responsible for creating & maintaining
Internet web sites for both the ASDC and the ABA.
Mike & Debbe Lapina 
Chicago's Windy City Jitterbug Club, IL
Inducted September 24, 2005
Debbe and Mike have been members of CWCJC for over 12 years and club dance
instructors for over ten years. They have done everything from scheduling,
instructing, designing flyers, handling registration, and creating workshops; to
name a few duties. When they attend dances, Debbe and Mike never miss an
opportunity to seek out and dance with new students which encourages the student
and provides them with a sense of belonging to the club. They are well known
nationally and provide exhibitions and instruction throughout the ABA circuit.
They always have "one more dance" left in them for anyone, regardless
of their dance ability. Debbe and Mike are true "Good Will
Ambassadors" for CWCJC.
Jim and Lennie Laux
Little Rock Bop Club, AR
Inducted September 1, 2001
Jim joined the Midwest United States Imperial Club in 1990
and served as President for 2 years and Dance Instructor for 4 years. He later
joined the Little Rock Bop Club where he serves as President. Jim chairs the
ABA Hall of Fame Committee and the ABA Bylaws Committee and also serves as an
ABA Director. He has done so since the ABA’s inception. Lennie joined the LRBC
in 1993 and has served on the Board for 5 years. Together, Jim and Lennie chair
LRBC’s annual event, Bop on the Lake, have designed the dance instruction
program, teach dance lessons weekly, and have also managed to increase
membership and attendance at the weekly dances.
Sherry Martin
South Side Imperial Dance Club, St. Louis, MO
Inducted November 13, 2004
Sherry has been dancing for over 20 years and a member of
the South Side Imperial Dance Club for over 17 years. She is an outstanding
dancer and has taught dance in the St. Louis area for many years and has been
the Dance Lesson Director for her club for the 3 years prior to her induction
into the ABA Hall of Fame. Sherry has demonstrated and preserved the St Louis
dance style known as the Imperial all over the country. She has competed and
judged at many events. She has placed first at the US Open twice, once in 1988
and again in 1998. Sherry is also a member of the US Swing Dance Hall of Fame,
the Dallas Dance Hall of Fame, and the Midwest Swing Dance Federation Hall of
Fame.
Wayne Maxey
Memphis Bop Club, TN
Inducted November 13, 2004
Wayne Maxey has been a very active part of The Memphis Bop
Club since its inception in 1987. He has served tirelessly on the Dance
Committee throughout the years as well as various other Committees. He has been
the President of the Memphis Bop Club and an active participant in MBC's Casino
Royale Event over the five years prior to his nomination to the Hall of Fame.
Wayne loves the Memphis Bop Club and utilizes every opportunity to promote MBC
and the 50s/60s style of dance known as the "Bop". The Memphis Bop Club was
proud to recommend Wayne for the ABA Hall of Fame in recognition his hard work
and strong dedication.
Gloria Medel
Chicago's Windy City Jitterbug Club, IL
Inducted November 9, 2002
Gloria has been a member of Chicago's Windy City Jitterbug Club for 9 years
and was the Dance Lesson Director for 7 of those years. She fine tuned the
dance lesson program, organized and taught dance classes, created workshops,
trained fellow dance instructors, and donated time to local charitable
events. Currently, Gloria is active in the organization of CWCJC's weekend
event; "Sweet Home Chicago." She is often invited to teach
workshops and do dance exhibitions both nationally and locally. As an ABA
Director representing CWCJC, Gloria was elected and holds the position of ABA
Secretary and created the ABA brochure and annual dance calendar.
Tommy & Edie Polzin 
Memphis Bop Club, TN
Inducted September 24, 2005
Tom and Edie love the Memphis Bop Club and use every opportunity to promote
MBC and preserve the style of dance known as the "Bop." Tom is one of
the club's founding fathers and has been involved for over 18 years. Edie has
been an active member for over 14 years. They have served tirelessly on numerous
committees, as board directors over the years, and as DJ's for MBC and sister
ABA clubs out of town events. The MBC event, Casino Royale, was Tom's brain
child and Edie has worked beside him to make it a success. Tom, at the time of
nomination, has served as president of the National Association of Rhythm and
Blues Dee Jay's for over 4 years. "Boppin' Tommy's" and "Rockin'
Edie's" involvement and enthusiasm for two decades is a testament of their
dedication.
Tommy & Emily Roberts
Little Rock Bop Club, AR
Inducted November 9, 2002
Dancing since 1950, Tommy has taught dance classes, judged
competitions, and held board positions in many dance clubs in the U.S. and
overseas including Little Rock Bop Club, where he has held the positions of VP,
Membership Director, and Newsletter Editor. Introduced to partner dancing in
1991, Emily joined LRBC in 1992. She co-founded the Ballroom, Latin, & Swing
Social Dance Assn., promoted all dance events and built a support system between
both dance communities. Emily, LRBC's Web Goddess, is also their Membership
Director. Together they teach for LRBC and are a 2-for-1-powerhouse team
dedicated to promote their love of dance.
Cal Shaw
Tampa Bay Beach Boppers, FL
Inducted September 1, 2001
Cal,
an original member and a past President of the Derby City Bop Association, was
active in the DCBA for many years. Later, he moved to Clearwater, FL and became
a member of the Tampa Bay Beach Boppers. Cal also served as President of a
previous dance organization for 2 years and saw it through some very difficult
times which culminated in its dissolution and the formation of the ABA in 1996.
He has served as President of the ABA since then. Cal’s leadership has helped
the ABA grow to its present strength and built a base for future expansion. At
his urging in 2000, the ABA began a program of making annual donations to worthy
charities.
Willie and Diane Santacruz
St.
Louis Imperial Dance Club - St. Louis, MO
Inducted September 4, 1999
Willie
and Diane have danced together for over 30 years. They are Honorary Lifetime
Members of St. Louis Imperial Dance Club. Willie is past President of St.
Charles Imperial Dance Club & the Midwest Swing Dance Federation; Diane served
on the Board of Directors of the St. Charles club. They have danced on “Dance
Fever,” successfully competed numerous times, given dance workshops &
exhibitions at various dance events around the country, and are also responsible
for developing the judging system for the Midwest Swing Dance Federation. In
1995, Willie and Diane were the first inductees into the Midwest Swing Dance
Federation Hall of Fame.
Jim and Virginia Stanton
Little Rock Bop Club - Little Rock, AR
Inducted November 13, 2004
Jim and Virginia Stanton joined the Little Rock Bop Club in
1996 and jumped full swing into club activities. They helped organize the first
Bop on the Lake and have worked admissions, dance floor, hospitality,
decorating, entertainment, and cleanup every year since. They have served as
club officers, dance instructors, and goodwill ambassadors for swing dance
resulting in dozens of new dancers. Jim and Virginia Stanton's eight years of
effective hard work, dance talent turned to service of others, and demonstrated
willingness to go anywhere and do anything for the dance community made them an
exceptional choice for induction into the ABA Hall of Fame.
Ron Wallace
Louisville Bop Club - Louisville, KY
Inducted September 1, 2001
Ron is a member of the Cincinnati Bop Club. He co-founded
the Derby City Bop Association and helped set up its Charter. During the first
5 years of DCBA’s inception, Ron served as President, Deejay, Dance Instructor,
Event Chairman, and Music Director at different intervals. He was the first
President of the Rhythm and Blues Dee Jay Association and is a member of the
Association of Beach and Shag Club Deejays. Ron has deejayed at many major
events throughout the U.S. expressing his love for music. Most recently, Ron
co-founded the Louisville Bop Club, another ABA Member Club, where he serves as
the Club Deejay and Dance Instructor.
Susan Ward
Cincinnati Bop Club
Inducted November 9, 2002
A Co-Founder of the Cincinnati Bop Club, Susan prepared the
club's bylaws and became CBC's Secretary and Newsletter Editor. Her creativity
has allowed her to become the main force behind CBC's newsletter, writing
countless articles on the history of dance and its' music, some of which have
been published in the SOS Carefree Times and Jitterbug Magazine. Susan creates
all flyers and signs used by CBC and for the last 8 years, she has also taught
dance lessons for them. Her biggest fete each year is "Move Across the River"
where she maintains the MATR database, handles registration, and organizes a
work force of 50 to 60 volunteers for the event.
Bill White
West County Swing Dance Club
Inducted August 30, 2003
Bill began dancing in 1988 at Casa Loma. Soon after, he
became a member of the West County Swing Dance Club, joined its board, set up a
membership drive, improved the club's newsletter, and set up systems that
continue to provide the club financial strength and stability. Bill has served
as its President and Treasurer at various intervals. He is responsible for the
increase in the club's membership from 27 members to over 900 members at the
time of his nomination to the ABA Hall of Fame. He has served as the Treasurer
for "Rollin' on the River," WCSDC's annual event, and for the Midwest Swing
Dance Federation. He has represented his club as an ABA Director for several
years. Bill's unending service has been constant and faithful.
George & Millie Wood 
Memphis Bop Club, TN
Inducted September 1, 2006
George and Millie have been members of the Memphis Bop Club for over 16
years and utilized every opportunity to promote the MBC and the 50's/60's style
of dance known as the "Bop". They are both active members of the
National Rhythm and Blues DJ Association. The have both served on many different
committees in support of their club. Millie has held several MBC offices,
including the office of president at the time of their nomination to the ABA
Hall of Fame. George does the writing for the club newsletter, enjoys teaching
dance, and helps MBC's members feel at ease and at home.
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