Evening star., 1943-11-21

AioFC WV oA eAlCAA llulllUcI lllRIlly
honored next year by the American
Contract Bridge League, the ma
tional body with which all organized
players are affiliated. Capt. r. H.
Skinner will be made president of
the league and Maj. Gen. Alfred M.
Gruenther will be cited as honorary
member for 1914, distinction con-
ferred on an outstanding member
every year. James H. Lemon is the
only other Washingtonian who has
ever been head of the ACBL.
Capt. Dick" is a New Englander
by birth, but has become thorough
ly acclimated = to Washington. He
spent large part of each year here
before he was commissioned in the
Army and assigned to duty here.
Local bridge players Immediately
adopted him as one of their own,
and he has been playing in their
games regularly, as we'll as repre-
senting them at various national and
regional tournaments.
His skill as player is we'll recog-
nized. He is now captain of the
Army team which is leading in the
team OF four series of the Federal
Bridge League. While the Leagues
election for next years officers has
not yet been held, the nominating
committee has made its selections,
which are always approved. The
election will occur Immediately after
the 17th annual championship tour
nament, which will be held in New
York during the first week of De-
cember.
Gen. Gruenther has been a WASH
lngton bridge player ever since he
was first lieutenant in the Army.
He continued his status while an
instructor at West Point Academy
and service as tournament director
for the national bridge organization
He has enjoyed rapid promotion in
the service and is now attached to
Gen. Eisenhower staff in North
Africa. The Gruenthers have a resi-
dence in Washington, and Mrs.
Gruenther is here during the great
er part Of her husbands absence
abroad.
The remaining officers designated
are Albert H. Morehead, now presi-
dent, AS chairman of the executive
committee; Capt Ben M. Colder.
Earl Ackerman and George A. Al
derton II, vice presidents. Ralph w.
Gresham, treasurer, and William E.
McKenney, executive secretary.
The 18th annual winter tourna-
ment of the American Contract
Bridge League, at which the ma
tional championship matches are
to be played, will start November
80 and continue through Deem
Der S. The location of the tourna-
ment is to be the Hotel Astor in
New York City. The last time
these events were held in the me-
tropolis was in 1884. In the mean
time, the meet has come to Wash
ington once, in 1887. Last year it
was held in Syracuse, and although
the conditions were not particu-
larly favorable because of transpor-
tation difficulties, there was
large attendance. This year the out
look is for an even greater turnout.
not only because of the increasing
interest in bridge, but because New
York abounds in expert players.
Many Washington fans are max
ing arrangements to be present.
The program will be the same as
IN former years-a womens team
OF four in two sessions: mixed pair
games in three sessions; the board
a-match team game in three ses-
slons; the open pairs in four sessions
and the amateur pairs in two ses-
sions. A feature of the tournament.
outside of the championship
matches, will be the Industrial and
Commercial team-of- four contests
in two sessions. The winners will
qualify for the final in the National
Open Pair team event. Last year
this match proved to be one of the
high points of the meet. It was
won by the Markson Furniture Co. S
team OF Syracuse, and as a result
the Hotel Onondaga Trophy was
named in honor of it, that hostelry
having been the place where the
tournament was held.
The Army foursome climbed back
into first place last week in the
team of four series of the Federal
Bridge League for the second tir,,e