WCC HALL-OF-FAME INDUCTEES
Crystal Kelem (San Francisco) August 2022
Crystal started shooting pool as a child in NY and joined the league in 2014 and became a captain the following season. In 2016, she played in her first WCC qualifier without really knowing what the WCC was all about. Crystal took 1st place in the SFPA Women’s Division that season and ended up placing 2nd in Women’s at the WCC on her first outing to the tournament. In 2017, she placed 2nd in both the spring and fall WCCs, she placed 3rd in LB in 2018, and in 2019 she placed 2nd in SF. She has won the SFPA 9-Ball Tournament and the City Championship. Crystal is an extremely skilled, strategic player.
Joan Pettijohn (San Francisco) August 2022
Joan began playing pool in SF at the Eagle and joined the league in 2010, playing on an all women’s team with her daughter Rockit at the Wild Side West. She changed teams and her current team has won the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in the Founders’ Cup. They won 3rd place this past season. She has played in the Women’s Division several times at the WCC, she won the President’s Award in 2016, and she won 1st place in the Bernie King Memorial Tournament (.500 and below) in Fall 2018. Since she has retired, she devotes a great deal of time organizing and running the SFPA.
Skinner Castagnola-Arteaga (San Francisco) January 2019
Skinner joined the SFPA in the Fall of 2006, and has played for the Lucky Horseshoe Caballeros for all 24 seasons of his SFPA career. After joining, he improved in a very short time to become one of the premier players in the league. During his career in SFPA, Skinner has earned too many trophies to count. He has won titles in the Luby Invitational Tournament, City Individuals Tournament (5 times), 8-Ball Tournament and 9-Ball Tournament (4 times). In addition to his outstanding play, he has received recognition in the form of the Jim Tingle Sportsmanship Award. Skinner has also served on the SFPA's Board of Officers. Skinner's participation in the West Coast Challenge has also been impressive. His presence here at WCC 78 marks the 12th time he has participated in Open Individuals. In his previous elven appearances, he has walked home with a trophy 8 times. We are proud of Skinner and his accomplishments, and we are honored to induct Skinner Castagnola-Arteaga into the West Coast Challenge Hall of Fame.
Mike Maxwell (San Francisco) January 2017
Mike joined the San Francisco Pool Association in 2005, and has played for the Raw Hides all 24 seasons of his SFPA career. AZer joining, he improved at lightning speed to become one of the premier players in the league, finishing with the best record in the league this season (Fall 2016). During his career in SFPA, Mike earned a total of 46 trophies. He won titles in SFPA’s Luby Tournament, Hi-Lo Tournament (4 times), MVP Tournament (3 times), City Individuals Tournament (4 times), 8-Ball and 9-Ball Tournaments (2 times each) and the All-Star Tournament (4 times). In the 2013 Fall Season, Mike became the second person in SFPA history to win 1st Place in every tournament held in one season. During the 2016 Spring Season, Mike joined the ranks of only 15 other SFPA members in the history of SFPA to win with three table runs in one night of league play. Mike’s West Coast Challenge participation has also been an impressive one. He has represented San Francisco with the Raw Hides on multiple occasions, including Fall 2015 when he won the 8-ball tie-breaker game in both of the final two matches to bring home the team trophy for San Francisco. He has received a total of 8 WCC trophies in a short amount of time – 1st Place Team and 1st Place Hi-Lo Team three times as well as four Individuals trophies.
Bob Simon (San Francisco) January 2015
Bob came onto the San Francisco Pool Association (SFPA) pool league scene in 2003. During his 20+ seasons with SFPA, Bob and his various teammates collected a total of 18 SFPA City Championship 1st Place trophies. Bob and his teams have also had the honor of receiving 1st Place Team trophies at 7 West Coast Challenges during his SFPA pool career. His most recent and significant contribution to the SFPA was his ongoing efforts in making sure we were granted our 501(c)3 tax‐exempt status. As a result of his hard work and determination, today we are recognized as an official Non‐Profit Organization.
Dave Timko (San Francisco) January 2013
Dave Timko (San Francisco) January 2013 I started playing pool in Madison, Illinois in 1965, when I was hired at age 14 to work in the local pool hall. My pay was $25.00 for a 60-hour work week plus all the pool I could play. I played a lot. At 15 I became the house player and won a county pool championship. I was fortunate to work where good local players played and they taught me a lot about pool and sharking. By age 16 I swore off playing for money. When I went to college at SIU-Edwardsville I got a job in the rec center where I could play all the pool I wanted for free. In 1983, having just moved to San Francisco I was recruited by Wayne Karmitz to play for the Deluxe Powergliders in the SFPA. I lived half a block from the Deluxe. In 1984 we won the SFPA city championship, and I went to my first West Coast Challenge in 1984 in San Diego. My fondest memories of the SFPA and the WCC was comradery and friendliness of the players I met. In 1983 and 1984 I won the SFPA nine-ball championships winning all my matches. I think I also have the SFPA record for a seasonal average of 35 and 1. My only loss was to one of my favorite opponents, Danny Mullen. I have participated in over 15 WCC: as a team player (winning at least 3 times); individuals over 6 times; and, in the Hi-LO one time.
Tom Seymour (San Francisco) January 2009
In 1978, the San Francisco Pool Association (SFPA) was formed and Tom played for the Cinch on Polk Street. In 1979, he qualified to play in his first major tournament, the BCA National 8-ball Tournament in Louisville, KY, by winning a qualifier sponsored by his good friend, Luby Pelletier. He won the WCC team at WCCIII in San Diego. Elected to the SFPA Hall of Fame in 2004. He also served as a board member for the SFPA for several seasons. Competing at numerous West Coast Challenges over many years, Tom has represented San Francisco on several teams, selected WCC MVP five times, won the Open Individuals 3 times, won at least 3 team championships, and the Hi-Lo.
Marquita Booth (San Francisco) January 2007
Marquita has been a member of the SFPA since 1983, first playing on Maud’s Squad for Rikki Streicher. She has won three SFPA Women’s Tournaments and finished in the top four many times. She has also been a frequent player in the WCC Women’s Tournament, winning three times (July 1993, July 1997, July 1998) and taking 2nd (twice), 3rd, and 4th. In January 1995 she was a member of Cinchtrifical Farce, winners of the WCC team competition. Marquita has also been a frequent Gay Games participant, winning a team gold medal in San Francisco in 1986, and team gold and bronze medals in Vancouver in 1990, In the Police Summer Games of 1998, in New York, she took the bronze medal.
Mark Miller (San Francisco) January 2007
Mark joined our league in 1989, two years after moving to San Francisco and a year after taking up the game. He has won the SFPA All-Star Tournament twice and thirteen other SFPA tournaments. At WCC he has won both the Open Individual (July 1997) and Hi/Lo titles (Jan 1997) , and also has 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 8th (twice ) in Open Individual. He was co-director (with Jack Dunbar) of WCC XXX and XXXIV.season and has served many seasons on the SFPA board. He is currently Vice-President.
Rick Bradford (San Francisco) Charter Member July 2005
Born and raised in Michigan , Rick and his partner Dennis left Detroit in March 1983 and never looked back. That summer, Rick found a sign-up notice at his local bar (Deluxe) about a pool league. The rest is history. Having just completed his 44th consecutive season in the SFPA, Rick has become the longest-serving board member in SFPA history. Known more for his leadership qualities (and his green visor) than his pool game (though he's working on changing that), Rick has participated in more than three dozen West Coast Challenges, playing in a few but generally working behind the scenes to help keep the show running smoothly. He has been a part of the SFPA's three-member representatives on the WCC board during that time.
Lisa Duncan (San Francisco) Charter Member July 2005
Lisa was born in Richmond , Calif. and grew up in Healdsburg , Calif. She has lived in San Francisco since 1982. She joined the SFPA in 1983 under the guidance and inspiration of Lauren Ward. Lisa is still a current member. Lisa has been on 8 city championship teams that led her to the West Coast Challenge. Two of them resulting in WCC championships in 1987 with the Deluxe Ducks and in 1990 with Cafe San Marcos Quackers. Lisa's many individual accomplishments have also let her to the West Coast Challenge. Lisa has competed in 8 open individuals WCC events and 8 WCC Women's Tournaments placing 5 times. All in all Lisa has competed 24 times in the West Coast Challenge. Lisa has served 11 seasons on the SFPA board and was inducted into the SFPA hall of fame in 1997.
Rick Mariani (San Francisco) Charter Member July 2005
Rick is a nativie of San Francisco and now lives in Vallejo (just south of Napa valley) where he owns a commercial photography studio. Rick began his SFPA experience in the Spring of 1980 and retired from league play in the Fall of 2004 for a total of 50 seasons. Rick was a member of 21 SF Championship teams and played each of those seasons. He also competed in the West Coast Challenge Individuals many times finishing second twice, third twice, as well as sixth. Rick competed 27 times in West Coast Challenge events. Rick has been a SFPA board member, financial contributor, and a sponsor of the Rickspix pool teams for many years. Rick also created photo trophies and t-shirts for WCC XXX which were treasured by all who won them.
Gene Miller (San Francisco) July 2005
Pool fascinated me from the first moment I saw the shiny balls bouncing around the cushions. I was 12 and my uncle Elmer had just put a table in his house. He wanted me to join his team. The next season, Fall 1979, I joined Bruno's team, playing for the Arena, a Folsom Street bar. In Spring 1980 I joined Luby Pelletier's team, playing out of his little pool hall at Valencia and Duboce. That summer our team won the first West Coast Challenge, competing against teams from Los Angeles and San Diego . In 1982, after two years as league secretary for the SFPA, the league voted to pay me $50 per season, and I became its first salaried employee. I am honored to be included in the WCC Hall of Fame.
Luby Pelletier (San Francisco) Charter Member July 2005
Luby was instrumental in putting together the tournaments leading up to the first official West Coast Challenge. Without his vision, the WCC may never have occurred. He was a wonderful man who had the patience and willingness to teach potential players the game of pool, for which he was so fond. He played in at lease a dozen Challenges, helping six of those teams to the title.
Lynn Westhoven (San Francisco) Charter Member July 2005
Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1959, raised in Huron, Ohio, where I lost much of my paper route and lawn care job money paying for table time, so the town's pool 'masters' could run tables on me (don't tell Mom!). Attended University of Toledo and Ohio State and moved to Denver in 1982. Spent many a Friday controlling the pool table at the Foxhole bar in Denver . Moved to SF Bay area in 1984 and started running into SFPA league players at the Badlands bar. West Coast Challenge 1st Place team wins: July '93, Jan. '94, Jan. '95, Jan. 2000, Jan. 2001, Jan. 2003. WCC MVP award: in '90, '93, '94, '98 & 2000. WCC 1st Place Individuals Tournament: Jan. '98 & July 2001. There has not been a more fun, familial, stressful, challenging and rewarding pool experience (in my life) than the West Coast Challenge!
Elliot "EZ" Zalta (San Francisco) Charter Member July 2005
As a youngster growing up in Florida , I was fascinated by a pool table in my cousin's house. It was rarely used for pool, as my uncles and older cousins often played craps on it. Then, at age 15 in Brooklyn , NY, I lied about my age to get into the local pool room. I practically lived there the next 4 years. Didn't play much again until 1978. On a warm day in SF, I dropped into the Rainbow Cattle Co. for a beer. After winning about 15 games of 8-ball in a row, a man came up to me and asked if I wanted to play in a league. That man was Luby Pelletier, and the rest is history. I played on the first West Coast Challenge championship team, Luby's "A". During the next 25 years I have played in about 40 WCC's. Teams I have been a part of have won 9 championships. Individually, I have won 2 first place titles, been 2nd five times and third three times.
