On Friday, March 28th, PITTSBURG DBC (PDBC), Tom Spradlin, Jo and Gary Britt as well as Carol’s many East Texas Friends hosted a fabulous party honoring Carol Kinsey! It was an opportunity to celebrate our friend, Carol Kinsey who achieved a huge milestone of ACBL Life Master (LM). The theme of the party was, “World Traveler and Bridge Queen”.  Party Planner, Janie Wolaver, and her assistant planners, Jo and Gary Britt carried out the theme perfectly! Thanks to a terrific PDBC work crew who brought Janie and Jo’s plans alive, the American Legion Building was transformed into a venue of world travel and bridge queens that were mounted all around the walls. World maps, globes, suitcases, travel brochures and world balloons at each table projected  the theme. The party kicked off with attendees enjoying delicious appetizers, Linda Morton’s chocolate chip cookies and yummy Italian Cream cake.Linda Harrison, PDBC Director, crowned Carol as “ Bridge Queen”. Next, on behalf of PDBC and East Texas friends, Linda  presented Carol with a beautiful plaque, date engraved Queen of Hearts charm and chain, and a dozen red roses. Jo Britt wrote a beautiful poem that she read describing Carol’s well rounded life, many friendships and her bridge journey.Carol described her bridge journey acknowledging that her husband, Pat, taught her Goren bridge years ago and they played socially for several years. Once they moved to Longview, Carol took lessons from Mike Graham and started playing duplicate bridge with Sherry Kay Russell. Then Carol and Linda H played on a regular basis and attended tournaments in Longview and Tyler. Carol’s partners kept asking Carol if she wanted to work toward her LM but she always told them that her friendships were more important than bridge. As Linda and Carol both got busier, Carol formed an excellent partnership with Tom Spradlin. They won points to move Tom closer to his Life Master goal.  In this quest for Tom's LM, they teamed up with Jo and Gary Britt.  During the early success with this team, Carol decided to go for her Life Master with encouragement from Tom, Jo, and Gary.  In one year everyone on the team achieved their Life Master playing teams in tournaments.  Tom also achieved his Bronze and Silver Life Master.

Next, players enjoyed lots of fellowship with Mitchell movement and 8.5 tables in play. We all enjoyed visiting with Carol’s many friends, including Unit 225 President, Suzanne Birdwell  (Canton DBC )and her partner Susan Ford( Canton DBC); Texarkana DBC friends, and many Longview DBC players as well as lots of PDBC friends! Carol and Tom came in first with 71% game to top off a fabulous day of celebrating Carol and her amazing achievement as Jo Britt, reminded us that Carol got her LM of bridge and that she was a Master of Life!

A BIG THANK YOU to all who made Carol’s LM celebration a huge success!  Linda Harrison, PDBC Director 

The Life Master Party and Game for Sanjay at Longview DBC was a big success on Saturday, March 15th. The theme of the party was ,” A Celebration of Sanjay”. Players were wearing black and white and greeted at the door by selecting a stick-on black mustache. Janie Wolaver and Jo and Gary Britt decorated the room with black and white everywhere. The party started with pizza, salad and delicious Bundtette (miniature bundt cakes).

Janie Wolaver welcomed everyone and introduced Linda Harrison, Pittsburg DBC.  Linda announced that the party was co-sponsored by Longview DBC and Pittsburg DBC.  In addition, Janie Wolaver, Jo and Gary Britt, Beryl Cobb, Susan Doty and Mike Graham hosted the party. Linda Harrison presented Sanjay with a beautiful black plaque from Longview DBC, Pittsburg DBC and friends. The front of the plaque was engraved with a silver plate plate acknowledging Sanjay's achievement as an ACBL Life Master on October 30, 2024 playing with this partner, Beryl Cobb, in Denton, Texas. Mike Graham then read a poem he had written describing Sanjay's Life Master journey. Susan Doty presented Sanjay’s wife, Margaret, with a beautiful cut flower arrangement.  Following the presentations, the game kicked off with eight tables in play.  A fun time was had by all in “Celebration of Sanjay”! Congratulations to Sanjay on this significant milestone and Life Master achievement in record time!!! 

Come play in Longview!  It's a beautiful time in East Texas.

Click here for a larger view of the flyer. 

Pittsburgh celebrated their newest Life Masters.   Congratulations! ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 

Ann Haynes, Sanjay Santhanam, David Worrall, Karen Bell, Larry Brough, Jo Britt, and Gary Britt.

Lisa Looney has been teaching beginner bridge lessons in Texarkana since Jan 2018.  She runs classes from Jan-May each year.  She was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2020, losing out to well-deserved teacher from Austin.  Since bridge is a passion, she saw a need for lessons in her community and took it on.  This is a huge reason why the Texarkana club is growing.

July 17, 1943 - December 29, 2024

To our friend, teacher, director.

You will be missed. 

Click here for Charles' Obituary. 

Congrats to players who achieved new Life Master levels in 2024!