Unit 487 OUR BRIDGE TO YOU Volume 17, No. 2, April 2017 Player Profile – Ancer Haggerty I started playing a lot of bridge just a couple of years ago, after retiring from the federal bench. I could have retired much earlier, and might have started bridge much earlier, too, had I been able to pursue my original professional dream of being a linebacker in the NFL. But that didn’t work out, and probably for the better. I am a lifelong Portlander and football fan. I spent my early years in the Woodlawn neighborhood, and at one time lived just a block from Cowboys great Mel Renfro. He was a childhood pal two years my senior and future star at Jefferson High School. I joined the team as a freshman and played three seasons. I wasn’t there in time to make the 1958 squad, when Renfro was one of the 10 out of 11 starting players who went on to play college ball, but our team did win the city title. Like Renfro, I also played for the Ducks, and as a freshman I competed on the school’s wrestling team. Between football and schoolwork I was also busy with Marine Infantry Officer Training, which I joined to ensure I could finish college before serving. I did go to Vietnam, in 1968, but was there just two weeks when a major injury sent me home and ended any hope I had of playing professional football. That’s when I got to thinking seriously about a law career. At U of O, head coach Len Casanova had urged me in that direction, and during officers’ training I had become intrigued with the Military Code of Justice. So when I finished rehab at the V.A. I used funds from the program to attend law school, UC Hastings, in San Francisco. In 1973, I began practicing in Portland, first as a public defender for Metropolitan Public Defender Services, and then later as a litigator with Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt. In 1988, married and with two young daughters and a stepson, I decided to trade in the long hours and travel of a trial attorney for a seat on the Multnomah County District Court. In 1990, I presided over one of the court’s most noted cases, a civil suit against Tom Metzger, a California-based white supremacist, for his role in a local murder. In 1994, I was appointed to the U.S. District Court of Oregon, where I spent 21 years and retired as senior judge. Over the course of my career I stayed connected to football by coaching Pop Warner for five different teams of kids 8 to 13 years old. As a fan I was and always will be ferociously loyal to the Ducks, and depending on who’s winning I follow the Cowboys, Seahawks, and 49ers. Ducks, circa 1965, with teammate Tim Casey (40) During my working years I also played a lot of cards – whist, pitch, hearts, and some bridge, but mostly at the party level. I tend to prefer more active pastimes, and still play racquetball three times a week with Mike Schrunk, whom I first got to know in the Marines. We started with handball, during training in Quantico, Virginia, and switched to racquetball after returning to Portland and beginning our respective law practices – I on defense and he as a prosecutor, later one of the county’s longest-serving district attorneys. I’m 72 and he’s 74, but we compete on the court as fiercely as we once did in the courtroom. Duplicate bridge began to capture my interest soon after my retirement, when I ran into a woman who had played long ago at games my mom would host at home. That’s where as a high schooler I learned the basics playing as a fill-in. My mom’s friend and I began an occasional game; then I took lessons at the Portland Bridge Club and pretty much got hooked. Soon after, I began playing frequently with my regular partner, Clariner Boston, at clubs and tournaments. I enjoy winning masterpoints, but bridge may be the one pursuit in my life that is less about competing and more about just having fun. CONTACTS FROM YOUR UNIT BOARD Area Clubs At our February meeting, the Unit 487 Board of Directors reported the Ace of Clubs publication and distribution of 500 paper rosters and soon-to-be an online Staci Christian version that will be updated regularly. As part of updates, we agreed to ask club 503-646-8252 owners to inform the unit secretary of player deaths. [email protected] We were pleased to note that parking at the Montgomery Park winter sectional Portland Bridge Club Dave Brower was manageable, thanks partly to having a board member or other volunteer 503-252-1318 (Sandy) directing cars to an overflow lot. Overall attendance was a big plus, 249½ tables, 971-232-1318 (South Waterfront) up from 176 at last year’s winter sectional, although KO turnout was down. We [email protected] also agreed to continue Bracketed Swiss Teams, which we introduced to great Vancouver Bridge Club reception at the winter sectional, in sectionals going forward. Rich Carle 360-737-3772 Our program at Catlin Gabel is doing well, and we are looking into starting a [email protected] similar, after-school program at Irvington. Our next board meeting will take Charity/Special/Private-Club Games place Wed. Apr. 19, 3:00 p.m., at the Portland Bridge Club. Everyone is invited, Jan Yocom and your questions and feedback are welcome. 503-265-8668 [email protected] MEMBER MILESTONES Unit 487 Board President Who knew you could pan for gold in the Nancy Jonske Columbia? A win for his team in the Oregon 503-753-9395 Trail Regional Columbia River KOs earned [email protected] Jack Sands the remaining points he needed to become a Gold Life Master. Credit also OBTY Editor goes to Jack’s longtime partner Howie Smith Martha Maroney and their teammates Mike & Lynne Arnett. 503-544-0911 [email protected] Tournament Manager Alan Johnson 503-771-3316 [email protected] On Feb. 18, the Ace of Clubs Website hosted 22 tables of 487 players http://acbld20.org/unit487 who gathered with friends and Web Admin family of Betty Rossmann to Chris Wiegand play some cards, sip some 503-284-7069 champagne, and raise a toast to [email protected] Betty on her 100th birthday. Just another number? Perhaps like the District 20 one that measures her masterpoint Website accomplishments: averaging more www.acbld20.org than 120 points per year every year of her life so far. Many SCHEDULE happy returns, Betty. OBTY publishes on the 1st of February, April, June, August, October, and December. Submissions for a given issue are due by COMING EVENTS the 20th of the previous month. April 8-9: Vancouver Senior Sectional, Washington School for the Deaf April 21-23: Seaside Spring Sectional, Seaside Convention Center May 8-14: STaC, Ace of Clubs, Portland Bridge Club, Vancouver Bridge Club June 9-11: Portland Spring KO Sectional, Montgomery Park Unit 487 ♠ Our Bridge to You ♥ Volume 17, No. 2 ♦ April 2017 ♣ Page 2 On Mar. 4, the Ace of Clubs hosted 23 tables for the Oscar Wallace Trophy Game, an annual event at the club to honor the legendary bridge player, director, and teacher. This year, the gathering also served as the club’s much-postponed- for-snow holiday celebration and a send-off for District 20 NAP qualifiers headed to the Finals in Kansas City. On Mar. 5, the Portland Bridge Club celebrated the culmination of two years in business under the ownership of Linda Wiener and Dave Brower. Attendees enjoyed a feast at noon, bridge at 17 tables of Open Pairs and 5 tables of 49ers, the presentation of honors to select players for attendance and masterpoints won at weekly games, and a whole lot of fun. Unit 487 ♠ Our Bridge to You ♥ Volume 17, No. 2 ♦ April 2017 ♣ Page 3 International Fund Game Oscar Wallace Feb 4, 2017 ● Portland Bridge Club Trophy Game Mar. 4, 2017 1 Laurie Hardin, Martha Maroney Ace of Clubs 2 Dave Wiegand, Mike Redden 3 Don Lowry, Dan Hoekstra 1 Jane & Jay Edwards 1C Carina Cassim, Lloyd Kendrick 2 Mark Mackenzie, Holly Hummel Oregon Trail Regional 3 Ray Robert, Mike Eyer Feb. 20-26, 2017 ● Vancouver Hilton Winners Jane & Jay Top Local Masterpoint Winners 75.60 Ethel Birnbach 42.17 Marc Franklin 74.98 Hal Montgomery 42.13 Bruce Cuthbertson NLM Sectional ● Mar. 11-12, 2017 73.86 Dennis Metcalf 42.00 Dan Hoekstra 73.35 John Ashton 40.57 Rick Prouser Vancouver Bridge Club 69.53 Roger McNay 39.25 John Lusky 58.06 Jon Bartlett 38.51 Michael Hansen Saturday Morning Pairs 56.15 Irene Pickett 38.51 Kathy Hansen 1 Roger Thomas, Jeff Anhaltzer 54.70 Eric Stoltz 36.86 Charles Burns 2 Frank Nemeth, Martha 54.44 Ed Lee 36.49 Meg Myers Maroney 54.44 David Green 35.92 Ira Grifel 3 Ben Levy, Lilla Wallace 54.03 Don Lowry 35.79 Jerold Wershba 52.01 Mark Tolliver 35.79 Felicia Wershba Saturday Afternoon Pairs 48.72 Donald Tofte 35.30 Rich Carle 1 Karen Sharples, Bernie 47.21 Bill Hardy 35.08 Ed Ulman Widolff 46.47 Hendrik Sharples 34.51 Mary Hovda 2 Elizabeth Brooke, Joan 42.67 Mike Amspacher 33.95 Sam Asai Horstkotte 42.67 Elsie Chan 30.29 Ron Senn 3 Steve Colmer, Dave Muller 42.33 Stu Swan 29.57 Cynthia Sinn 1C Dee Poujade, Linda Marshall 42.30 Merlin Vilhauer 29.40 Kent Livingston Sunday Teams 42.17 Mary Lou Moriarty 29.11 Connie Marfell 1 Mike Goffe, Michael Pham, Angel Almanza, Kevin Marnell 2 Sue Freitag, John Dove, Janet Landesberg, Dan Edelstein 3 Linda Howe, Barbara Beale, Director Ian Kirk Elizabeth Brooke, Salena Johnson 1C Dee Poujade, Joanne Ruyle, Beth Unger, Linda Marshall We Couldn’t Do It Without You: Unit 487 Board President Nancy Jonske and unit members who played at the Oregon Trail Regional send a special THANK YOU to a group of Ace players who provided hospitality that Thanks to the hard work of organizer Liz Fullerton and her team, the included friendly smiles and lots of candy, fresh fruit, and other treats.