2022 Hall of Fame Nominations

Croquet Greats To Be Inducted Into HALL of FAME

On November 18, 2022, the Croquet Foundation of America (CFA), in conjunction with the United States Croquet Association (USCA), will induct Jacques Fournier and David R. Ekstrom into the United States Croquet Hall of Fame.

The Induction Ceremony, followed by “The Redcoats are Back” themed dinner party, will take place during the week of the Seniors/Masters Nationals at The Charles P. Steuber National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. The directors of the CFA and USCA encourage their friends, guests and all croquet enthusiasts to join them in paying tribute to esteemed members of our croquet family, Fournier and Ekstrom, as we acknowledge their accomplishments in traditional style and with high enthusiasm. Biographies of the inductees follow.

Invitations to the dinner will be emailed to all USCA members in late summer. For information or to make reservations for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the dinner party, call Marie Sweetser at (561) 478-2300, Ext. 3.

DAVID R. EKSTROM

Over the past 25 years, David R. Ekstrom has been captivated with the sport of croquet along with his wife Martha (Martie). Shortly after joining the Lenox Croquet Club (Lenox, Mass.) in 1994, they spent a winter vacation on Florida’s West Coast and joined the Useppa Club. They soon began a journey they never anticipated. Ekstrom was given a handicap of 12, which over time moved down the handicap ladder, eventually earning a -2 handicap with 24 tracking points. He was inspired by experienced and new players from all over including several future Hall of Fame inductees. He has continued friendships with many players over the years, a unique feature of the sport of croquet. Returning to Lenox, he and then club President Kristine Sprague started the Lenox Club’s own croquet tournament and named it The Berkshire Invitational. Whenever possible, Ekstrom volunteered to keep deadness boards as an opportunity to study players and their strategies, a habit he continues to this day. In the beginning, the club had access to the nearby Blantyre, a Relais and Chateaux Hotel, and one of their tournaments was featured on the front page of USCA magazine. This year, the Berkshire Invitational celebrated its 27th anniversary with Ekstrom having served as tournament manager all this time. Over several years, $50,000 was raised from tournament profits and contributions and the club built a croquet pavilion with restrooms and a kitchen. This serves as a special congenial place for the members’ daily use and their tournament guests. Noteworthy, the club does not own its croquet lawns but has the privilege of using the facility in exchange for totally maintaining the courts and buildings for owners of the adjacent, vintage Lenox Club. Ekstrom also serves as Croquet Director for the club’s social events. He was often called upon for advice and help with croquet clubs providing clinics or starting new tournaments. Charitable fundraising hosts have called on Ekstrom to coordinate their croquet events and introduce people to the engaging sport of croquet. Many thousands of dollars were raised for the Foundation for Mental Health in Farmington, Conn. Chesterwood National Trust in Stockbridge, Mass, and Aim Services Inc, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., hold an annual fundraiser for people with diverse abilities supporting the “power of potential.” Ekstrom’s leadership in croquet was demonstrated when he served as President of the Lenox Croquet Club off and on for many years, tournament manager of the Berkshire Invitational for 25 years, Regional USCA President for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for more than 10 years, a Class Two USCA instructor, handicapper and a referee. For several years he coached croquet at Smith College in Amherst, Mass., in the Collegiate Division and attended national tournaments in Delaware, Md. As a tournament manager, he produced six Northeast Regional tournaments and six Massachusetts state tournaments, all financially successful. In the competitive field of croquet, he is a force to be reckoned with, often described as a player with reckless abandon. See ball, hit ball and make things happen. During the past 25 years, he has played in so many (more than 100) tournaments where he won, placed or showed in games in all flight levels of both singles and doubles that he cannot keep track. Because of his shooting skills, opponents are fearful of setting up or leaving a ball on the court. One of the best ways to describe Ekstrom is that he plays croquet to have fun and is never shy to attack. He is willing to take a risk for a great shot and loves to run a “two-ball” break to see how far he can go. His sense of humor on and off the court infects others and makes it a wonderful game for everyone. A member of the USCA since 1994, Ekstrom won the NE Regional Sportsmanship award for First Flight in 1997, served as District President for Massachusetts for 10 years starting in 2000, started the first of six Massachusetts state croquet tournaments in 2004, managed six Northeast Regional tournaments starting in 2008 hosted by the Lenox Croquet Club. He won the Northeast Regional Tournament in 2017, having placed runner-up in previous regional events. Over the past eight years, with a few exceptions, Ekstrom placed in the top 10 players in the Grand

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Prix, with a personal best of third in years 2020 and 2021. As a class two instructor and retired referee, he continues to work with players who want to improve their games. Born in Bridgeport, Conn., David and Martie recently celebrated their 61st anniversary. His business career was 25 years in banking in Connecticut and then as a Senior VP in Massachusetts. He changed his career to Chartered Consultant in life insurance and investments. The Ekstrom’s home base is in Pittsfield, Mass., and their winter home is in Lake Worth. Together, they raised two daughters and one son, and they now have six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. During his working career, Ekstrom held leadership positions with the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, Historical Societies, Barnum Festival, Parks & Recreation Commission and Vestry for several churches. Ekstrom is often called upon to visit new and existing croquet clubs to provide clinics, strategy and improvements and demonstrate techniques. For the past 10 years, he has supervised retired senior citizens every Friday morning during the croquet season from Devonshire retirement facility for golf croquet. Ekstrom remains actively involved in the Lenox Croquet Club, currently as president, and is a regular player at the National Croquet Center where he also volunteers at special corporate and private events. As a supporter of the USCA, David and Martie were charter contributors to the establishment of the Charles P. Steuber National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., and the establishment of the Croquet Foundation of America. They have committed to future estate giving plus ongoing contributions. Several years ago, Ekstrom introduced the “Grand Master” category to the Seniors Masters tournament to inspire players and to draw attention to active croquet after age 70. Recognition is given to the best performance regardless of flight. The US Croquet Hall of Fame members are pleased to welcome David R. Ekstrom into this club of croquet ambassadors and accomplished players.

JACQUES FOURNIER

Jacques Fournier belongs in the US Croquet Hall of Fame as one of the handful of greatest American croquet players in history. He was a croquet prodigy who, as a teenager, beat the best players in the US and then the world. He was a champion on all levels: collegiate, national and international. Fournier was the first American to accomplish many incredible croquet feats, including winning an international croquet championship. He also made significant contributions to the sport, on and off the court. And, as Fournier’s talents shined their brightest, his star dimmed when his body failed him after he was diagnosed with a genetic neurological disorder: essential tremor (ET). In the early 1990s, when croquet was a family passion, the Fournier’s Phoenix home court became one of the best in the country. Fournier’s grandfather built metal croquet mallets that Fournier used to great success over the years. He started playing croquet when he was seven or eight but considers his serious phase of croquet to have begun in 1990 when at nine he got his first mallet for Christmas.

Fournier burst onto the national croquet scene in 1994, at the age of 12, with a formidable fourth-place finish in the USCA American Rules Nationals. He then began a run of major croquet tournament victories in the US, many of while he was still in high school. Fournier’s fourth-place finish in the 1994 US Nationals was highlighted by ESPN’s coverage of the event, beginning the national media’s fascination with this croquet prodigy. In 1995, he was profiled in Sports Illustrated magazine. Later he was interviewed live on NBC’s “The Today Show,” featured in the New York Times magazine and had his caricature depicted in ESPN: The Magazine. Fournier also was the subject of dozens of regional newspaper stories. Fournier’s media coverage helped to inspire many young people to play croquet. He also served on USCA committees, which helped promote and support the sport. Fournier’s star shone brightest in international events. He was the first American croquet player to achieve major success in international croquet. At his peak, he possessed a fluent playing style and had excellent touch, making him a pleasure to watch. He became the first American and youngest player ever (at age 16), to make the British Open Finals. He was also the first American to do a sextuple peel in a tournament, which he accomplished in the 1998 US Open. Fournier’s crowning achievement came in 1999, when he won the Sonoma-Cutrer World Croquet Championship, at age 17, becoming the first American to win a world croquet championship. During that event, Fournier went undefeated against the best Association Croquet players in the world, including Chris Clarke, David Maugham, Reg Bamford and Robert Fulford (twice, including the final). Fournier quickly achieved the status as one of the top players in the world in the late 1990s and early 2000s. For many, the above might be viewed as Fournier’s key achievement, but some would argue that his role in the 2000 USA MacRobertson Shield team was equally important. He played at number one for his country and also partnered with Mik Mehas in the doubles. This allowed the rest of the team to play lower down the order and achieve much greater success. The USA beat Australia 11-10 in the final test to register its first ever win, avoiding last place for the first time. To be part of this stellar team, particularly playing at number one, is an achievement that on its own deserves recognition. The above results were clearly impressive, but Fournier then improved his game further. Having previously had a peak World ranking of 14, he then reached number five in both 2002 and 2003 before ill health struck.

After winning the world championship, Fournier attended the University of Virginia, where he received a half-scholarship in croquet. As far as is known, this was the first collegiate croquet scholarship in US history. He was captain of his college team, leading it to three collegiate titles (2001, 2002 and 2003) before graduating after his third year. Fournier is also one of few Americans to win national titles in both Association and Golf Croquet, winning the USCA Association Rules National Singles Championship in 2002 and the USCA Golf Croquet National Doubles Championship in 2010 (with partner Paul Bennett). Fournier’s contributions to croquet in this country have come in many forms. On the court, he played on the US teams competing for the Solomon Trophy in 1998 and 1999, as well as the US teams in the 2000 and 2003 MacRobertson Shield test matches. In fact, some described his play in the 2000 “Mac” as historic. Off the court, Fournier was president of the Arizona Croquet Club in 1997 and 1998, a time when that club was one of the best in the US. In 1998, he and Rory Kelley founded the Arizona International Open, later known as the North American Open, and Fournier continued to be heavily involved until 2003. This tournament was one of the top Association rules tournaments in the US for two decades. Fournier also served one term on the USCA Golf Croquet Committee (while he was in college) and two terms on the USCA Selection Committee.

Fournier now lives in South Fork, Ariz., which is in the White Mountains near the New Mexico border. He is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, and has done both residential and commercial real estate appraising. He also taught real estate appraising at a pre-licensing vocational school in Arizona for 12 years. He is now a software engineer for a commercial appraisal software company. He plays croquet occasionally when his health allows.

For several years he was a member of the Downtown Croquet Club (Arizona) before the home where the court was located was sold. He also was a member of the Croquet Association (UK) in the late 1990s leading up to when he played in the British Open in 1998.

Unfortunately, Fournier’s ET disorder and subsequent serious health problems have robbed him of his extraordinary croquet skills and physical stamina. However, it has not diminished his incredible legacy, which will be acknowledged and memorialized by his induction into the 2022 US Croquet Hall of Fame.

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The Croquet Foundation of America (CFA) is now accepting nominations for the 2023 United States Croquet Hall of Fame. The Deadline for filing a nomination is September 1, 2022.

POLICY AND NOMINATING GUIDELINES FOR ELECTION TO THE UNITED STATES CROQUET HALL OF FAME

The Croquet Foundation of America, Inc. (CFA), in conjunction with the United States Croquet Association, Inc. (USCA), seeks to honor individuals who have made prolonged, outstanding contributions to the sport of croquet. Such contributions may take the form of either extraordinary skill and achievement in the sport at the highest level over an extended period; or other personal actions having a widely-recognized, lasting impact on the sport; or very extensive service in developing, managing or promoting the sport of croquet, or its charitable and educational croquet programs, in America. This document explains the nomination process and gives guidance as to the qualifications that will be considered for election to the United States Croquet Hall of Fame. This process is designed to maintain election to the Hall of Fame as a high honor for the inductees and one which reflects credit on the individuals involved in electing them. I. NOMINATING PROCEDURE A. A notice shall be published yearly in the Summer/Fall edition of the USCA’s Croquet News stating that the Foundation will accept

nominations to the United States Croquet Hall of Fame until

September 1, 2022, for induction in the following calendar year. The published notice shall state that (i.) any USCA member in good standing may nominate an individual, (ii.) nominees are considered on an individual basis only, and (iii.) the nominee does not have to be a member of the USCA.

B. The nominator must submit a completed application on or before

the September 1 deadline.

It must include the following: 1. Nominator’s name and relationship, if any, to the nominee – business, friendship, etc.; 2. Written permission of the individual to be nominated and his or her agreement to participate in the induction ceremony (excludes nominations for posthumous recognition); 3. A brief biographical sketch of the nominee, which may include such things as age, family status, address; highlights of past or present occupation(s); charitable and civic involvements; and other matters of general interest unrelated to croquet; and 4. A detailed croquet biography, including number of years of participation, the croquet clubs of which the nominee is or has been a member, the year the nominee joined the USCA and whether still active and details of all croquet-related achievements. There is no official application form. Plain 8.5” x 11” letter size paper should be used. The completed application, including any and all

supporting letters, must be sent to and received by the Croquet Foundation of America, Inc., Attention: Ruth Summers, Chair, Hall of Fame Validation Committee, 700 Florida Mango Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406, on or before September 1 of the year preceding the year for which the nominee is proposed. Alternatively, these materials may be emailed to Ruth Summers at Beachtwobeach@yahoo.com.

II. QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES Above all, a candidate must display personal behavior that demonstrates high regard for the spirit and etiquette of the game which results in greater enjoyment for all – actions that would entitle the nominee to be considered an “ambassador” for croquet, as well as a Hall of Fame member. The nominee should be further evaluated based on his or her achievements and contributions to the sport as follows:

A. ACHIEVEMENTS are defined as highly significant performances in sanctioned or titled USCA events; and/or international competitions sponsored by a member association of the World Croquet Federation (WCF). This can involve Six-Wicket American or Association Rules

Croquet, Nine-Wicket Croquet or Golf Croquet. B. CONTRIBUTIONS are defined as actions off the croquet court that promote or enhance the sport. Contributions are normally volunteer efforts and may include: 1. Introducing others to the game; 2. Starting, leading or sustaining a local club or clubs; 3. Promoting clubs and events regionally or nationally; 4. Working with an organizational division of the USCA as established on the state, regional and national levels either as an officer or other capacity; 5. Creating favorable media recognition or otherwise promoting the game through such efforts as writing or instruction; 6. Contributing significant financial or in-kind resources in a way that enables the CFA and the USCA to pursue their mission; 7. Promoting the game through social affairs resulting in new friendships and greater camaraderie among players.

Nota Bene 1. The above portion of the application is the advocacy section. The

nominator must make the case as convincingly and compelling as

possible. Board members are not responsible for seconding a nomination nor adding favorable material, and may in fact introduce or request information which may disqualify a candidate. 2. A nominee may earn income from the game as a professional or some other paid capacity, but his or her financial ties to the game must be stated on the application. 3. Achievements and contributions must be over an extended period time.

III. ANNUAL LIMITATION ON INDUCTIONS Given 1. The desire to maintain the highest standards for election to The United States Croquet Hall of Fame; 2. The relatively limited size of the croquet-player population; and 3. The desire to have significant time to focus on the individual(s) at the ceremony; The Approved Policy Guideline is that the number of living inductees shall be limited to two per year. Posthumous inductees are limited to one inductee per year in addition to the living inductees, for an overall limitation of three. In rare cases, these limitations are subject to upward revision to no more than three living inductees and one posthumous inductee, or four inductees in total, if two thirds of the Electors decide that exceptional circumstances warrant such a revision. This is the Approved Policy Limit.

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