September 2011 - 21

Hall of Fame

Russ Arnold

Kennedy. As a member of the
selection committee for the sportsNext up was Bobby
manship award, Zia said this year's
Levin, presenter for
selection "was the easiest we have
Arnold.
ever had." Kennedy, elected to the
Levin said that just
Bridge Hall of Fame in 2005, had
before leaving for
a 26-year partnership with Carol
Toronto, he called
Sanders, who sent her congratulaArnold and asked if
tions via an email read by Zia.
there was anything he
Wrote Sanders, "What a beautiwanted to say at the Hall of Fame
ful honor for my dear friend Betty
dinner. Arnold told Levin to tell the
Ann to receive the Sidney Lazard
crowd, "Although I am not deservJr. Sportsmanship Award. Her
ing of this award, I thank you very
entire career has exemplified good
much."
sportsmanship. Besides, we both
Levin said he was 15 years old
knew and loved Sidney Jr. from the
when he first encountered Arnold.
Emcee George Jacobs with Bobby Levin,
day he was born, which adds to the
Levin was playing in a tournament
presenter for Russ Arnold (inset).
appropriateness and the thrill of the
in Florida and defended a contract
ceremony this evening.
in which he held the A-Q (plus some low ones) over
"Betty's kindness to her partners and opponents was
dummy's K-J-10 (also with some low ones). At one
always apparent and appreciated. We, as a partnership,
point, declarer played his singleton diamond to dummy's
never had a cross word, nor did I ever see her have one
jack, taken by Levin with the queen. The ace was later
ruffed out and declarer made his contract. In the compari- with anyone else. You are honoring a special person tonight - one with over 50 years of bridge competition and
son, he found that Arnold, who held the same hand that
a like number of years exuding sportsmanship."
Levin did at the other table, had defeated the contract by
Kennedy related that her bridge career was the result
taking the J with the ace, deceiving declarer and luring
of an illness - encephalitis - she suffered at age 22. The
him into two down.
brain problem left her unable to concentrate, and her docLevin was impressed. "Some day," he said, "I've got to
tor suggested taking up bridge as a way of regaining the
play with this guy."
ability to focus.
The two became friends and partners, and at one point,
She resisted at first, but eventually took up the game and
Levin and Arnold traveled to tournaments for five straight
found
that she had some talent. Kennedy recalled attendyears. "I learned that he started bridge at age five, that he
ing
a
tournament
in New Orleans and being asked to fill in
was trained as an accountant, that he played in his first
with
another
woman
in the men's pairs. All her opponents,
(NABC) in 1955 in Chicago and that in the early Sixties he
she recalled, saw two women coming and were licking
became a partner in an appliance company." As a bridge
partner, Levin said, "he was steady, disciplined and always their chops, expecting a couple of tops. All that anticipation resulted in tops for Kennedy and
impeccable. He is the best declarer I
her partner, and they won. "Now that,"
have ever seen."
she said, "was fun."
Arnold and Levin were members of
Kennedy said she decided early on
the winning squad in the 1980 Vanderin
her bridge career that she would albilt Knockout Teams, also winning the
ways
be kind to everyone at the bridge
trials to play in the world championtable, and she carries that same mesships. The following year, they won the
sage to people she teaches. "I tell them
Bermuda Bowl.
to take 'why' and 'why didn't you' out
Arnold, Levin said, "has been a best
of their bridge vocabularies," she said.
friend to me for almost 40 years."
She said she was reared by gentle
Levin concluded, "Russ, if you were
and
loving parents who taught her the
here tonight I would tell you how
Golden
Rule, "and it has always been
proud I am of you and how deserving
primary
with me."
you are - and I would have to tell you,
Harking back to the illness that
I love you, man."
resulted in her long love affair with
bridge, Kennedy said, "What started
Betty Ann Kennedy
Sportsmanship winner Betty Ann Kennedy out as the worst of times became the
Zia Mahmood introduced
with Zia Mahmood.
best of times."
r
September 2011 Bridge Bulletin 21

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2011