Player Profile & Story on "Gerald Wood"

"Submitted for Bowers' Corner & League Players News - by Jean Renfro"

Some of the Shuffleboard people from Wynnewood came to me one day and ask me to write a paper on someone that we think is a very special person and send it to the Board Talk. I am sorry to say that I missed the last issue of the Board Talk, but I talked to Lynda French and she said that she could include this "Player Profile" story on the Bowers' website and include it in one of the Bowers' Corner/TSA free electronic news distributions, so for me to just send it her way which I did.

When I started thinking about writing this story, I thought about all the wonderful shuffleboard people that we have known that have come and gone that we never told how much we appreciated everything that they had done, so I decided I would sit down and write this.

The person that we are talking about which we would like to honor and show our appreciation to is Gerald Wood, the owner of the Full House Bar in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.  I don't think that people realize everything that Gerald does for Shuffleboard.  He supports it in every way that he can. He plays, he goes to all the tournaments that he can, plus he tries to get everybody else to go too.  He drives hundreds of miles; he participates in the sponsorship of players at tournaments, and he is always there in the back ground doing everything he can to support shuffleboard.

We have a Shuffleboard league every year. This year we have 10 teams from Wynnewood and surrounding towns. Every year Gerald has a team that is made up of people that have just started playing.  How many of us would do that?  It seems that most of us are more interested in  trying to get all the good players together so we can have the best team.  But, Gerald is one who promotes and wants to see the new players involved and excel in their skills as one of his top priorities and enjoyments in this great game we all love.

Gerald is not just there for the more experienced shuffleboard players, he is there for everyone, it doesn't matter who you are or what your skill level might be.

We would just like everyone to know that Gerald Wood is a very special and widely appreciated person.  For any out there that may not know him, we hope you get the opportunity to know him soon, as it is an experience and opportunity in life that you should not miss out on. 

SO THIS IS TO YOU GERALD WOOD, FROM ALL YOUR SHUFFLEBOARD FRIENDS FROM WYNNEWOOD, OK AND MANY OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY!

WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR SHUFFLEBOARD AND FOR ALL OF US PERSONALLY.  YOU ARE A VERY SPECIAL PERSON TO US AND WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

Submitted by:  Jean Renfro, Oklahoma & all...

Above (L-R): Kelly Cameron of Houston, TX & Gerald Wood of Wynnewood, OK - SW OPEN 2002 1st Place Div. I A-B Draw

Re-Visited Story by Ronnie Gamble of Oklahoma

"The Surprise Visitor in 2002 at Gerald Wood's Full House Bar"

"Submitted for Bowers' Corner & League Players News - by Ronnie Gamble"

The annual “Washita Handicapped Tournament 2002” at Full House Bar, Wynnewood, Oklahoma (owned by Gerald Wood) was it’s usual great success, but did have a few special attractions including a “Surprise Visitor”.  There were at least two new attractions added to the 2002 tournament.

First, The Oklahoma Shuffleboard Federation inducted Pat and Don Kinard into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.  Glen Davidson and Gerald Wood did a great job putting the program together.  Several family members of Pat and Don showed up to take part in the ceremony.  We all miss Pat and our memories of Pat and our thoughts and prayers remain with her family forever.  She was a great lady and an asset to the game.  Her family continued to carry on the traditions Pat started.

The second attraction was a “Surprise Visitor.”  He was a little late, not even showing up, until the playoffs for the Single Event started.  I can personally say that he really did make an entrance.  He didn’t stay long, but left a real mess behind.  In case you haven’t heard this story before, a tornado came through around 12:30 or 1:00 that day.  This was one "Surprise Visitor" that could have stayed away.  The “Full House” received some damage and everyone joined in to do what could be done to get items covered or moved out of the rain that was coming through the roof where the tornado had taken a chunk of roof above the bar area.  We all felt very lucky to have not received any player injuries. 

The playoff games were rescheduled for the next day at 12:00.  This didn’t mean the games stopped though. Tony Pelton and Harvey Walden continued to play by candlelight until closing.  They each had a spotter at the other end of the table to call the weights.  Pat Gainey was a real trooper through all the excitement too.  He didn’t even wake up through the tornado.  He was asleep in Harvey’s trailer and missed it all.

A generator was used to run the lights for the playoff games.  Bill Melton won first place in the singles, Dave Davidson, second, Lynn Tice, third and Ken Storck won fourth.

Thanks to the “Full House Bar”, the Wynnewood Players, Don and Starr, and everyone else that helped make that 2002 Memorial Day Tournament such a fun filled memory by all that came.  We look forward to September each year when Gerald Wood hosts the annual Labor Day Tournament too, which just happens to be the longest running tournament in Shuffleboard History.  They don’t always have mother nature’s “Surprise Visitor” as an added attraction at every tournament and us players prefer an added attraction of something like 70-degree weather instead of the one we had show up in 2002!  But, mother nature controls these things, not the players, club, or club owner! 

Everyone always feels welcome that come to Wynnewood, no matter which tournament is being hosted or no matter what "Surprise Visitor" shows up. Gerald Wood is a great host and tournament director regardless of time of year or weather conditions (grin!).  

He is also a great supporter of many tournaments both inside and outside the state of Oklahoma and a great player himself.  He has always supported the Bowers’ Rating System and the prior The Board Talk publication to the hilt and any/all things that are critical to the promotion and growth of our great game of shuffleboard. Gerald is genuinely an overall great person, great player, great promoter, and the “host” with the “most”.

Thank you Gerald, not only from Joyce and me, but from all the players!

Submitted By:  Ronnie Gamble, Oklahoma & all...