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Inductee
BILLY SUMPTION inducted 1986
Submitted by INSIDE FOOS on August 26, 2009 - 1:28pm. :: HOF Images | Inductee
This South Dakota foosball legend first played foosball in 1961. He was one of the game's earliest stars, teaming with partner Tom Hansen to dominate competition in the early 1970s. Sumption, who still loves to teach the game, was the mentor to such upper midwest greats as Jim Wiswell, Mike Belz and Brent Bednar. Billy's list of playing achievements includes a 1975 world mixed doubles title with Hall of Famer Karen Gilliland.
KAREN GILLILAND inducted 1986
Submitted by INSIDE FOOS on August 26, 2009 - 12:09pm. :: Inductee
This great lady goalie won five straight world doubles titles beginning in 1974, combining with fellow Hall of Famer Lori Schranz for the last four. She became the first woman to ever win a major open title on the pro tour with her doubles win at the 1978 Dynamo Nationals. Karen captured a total of nine national and world titles on all three major tables, Tournament Soccer, Dynamo and Tornado.
MARCIO BONILLA inducted 1986
Submitted by INSIDE FOOS on August 26, 2009 - 12:07pm. :: HOF Images | Inductee
A native of Costa Rica, Marcio first played the game more than half a century ago, in 1949. He won the 1972 national singles title and paired with Larry Folk to earn a doubles victory at the 1973 event. Bonilla was also an original member of the Tournament Soccer promo team touring the country from 1974-77 promoting the sport of foosball and was condidered one of the sport's truly nice guys.
STEVE SIMON Inducted 2001
Submitted by INSIDE FOOS on May 12, 2006 - 11:20am. :: Inductee
Considered one of the greatest players from the "golden era" of foosball, push-kicking Texan Steve Simon became the twentieth former player, promoter or contributor to be elected into the Foosball Hall of Fame in 2001. A rare crossover player, Simon's lifetime record includes numerous victories on on both the Tournament Soccer and Tornado foosball tours in both the singles and doubles style of competition. In 1975 Steve won the Open Singles titles at both the International Championships on T.S. and the Nationals on the Tornado tour, a feat no one in the history of the sport has ever accomplished. In 1977 Steve claimed the national singles title on Tornado while winning mixed doubles honors at both the World Championships and Super Singles events on the Tournament Soccer tour.
BRENT BEDNAR Inducted 2004
Submitted by INSIDE FOOS on April 28, 2006 - 4:19pm. :: Inductee
Brent and partner Mike Belz formed one of the strongest teams of the 1970s. They won several titles, including the 1976 World Doubles title on the Tournament Soccer tour. He ended the 1976 season as the tour's top money winner. One of the greatest defensive goalies of all time, Bednar was considered the best "racer" in the sport's history.
LAWRENCE PATTERSON Inducted 1986
Submitted by INSIDE FOOS on April 28, 2006 - 4:09pm. :: HOF Images | Inductee
Patterson was the founding father of coin-operated foosball in the United States, importing tables from Germany, built according to his own specifications in 1962. He was also involved with the running of the first local tournaments in 1969. One of the game's true pioneers.
BOB HAYES Inducted 1986
Submitted by INSIDE FOOS on April 28, 2006 - 4:07pm. :: HOF Images | Inductee
Bob, a former Dallas tavern owner, designed the first American-made table, the Tornado, in 1970. Setting a standard of table quality that continues to this day, Hayes built a durable piece of equipment that would withstand the rigors of heavy everyday use. This allowed foosball to become a commercial vending success and help make the game more popular throughout the country .
LEE PEPPARD Inducted 1986
Submitted by INSIDE FOOS on April 28, 2006 - 4:04pm. :: HOF Images | Inductee
The mastermind behind the original pro foosball tour, Peppard ran the first-ever national championship tournament as a $1,500 event in 1972 in Missoula, Montana. His monumental 1974 event, The $50,000 International Championships, was the first big-money championship in the sport's history. In 1975 he created the first professional foosball tour and proceeded to give away more than $3,000,000, in over 100 major tournaments through 1980. His style of promotion and the general tournament format of his "Million Dollar Tour" helped provide a blueprint for today's professional events.
GARY PFEIL Inducted 1986
Submitted by INSIDE FOOS on April 28, 2006 - 4:00pm. :: HOF Images | Inductee
Gary, who began his career in Dallas in the late 1960s, was one of the first of the "Texas Style" players. He revolutionized the sport, dominating opponents using his wall pass and pull shot, and high-percentage, ball-control style of play, a style that would soon become commonplace among all serious foosers. Pfeil won titles on all three major tables and was a five-time National Champion and was the leading money winner on the first T.S. tour in 1975.
DAN KAISER Inducted 1998
Submitted by INSIDE FOOS on April 28, 2006 - 3:51pm. :: HOF Images | Inductee
Kaiser, from Portland, Oregon, was an extremely successful player whose pro career spanned from 1975 through 1981. He won three world titles, two in singles and one in doubles, and claimed the 1979 Super Singles championship as well. Dan's gritty determination and tough overall game made him one of the very best players in an era filled with great performers.
