History

Historical Record of the
South Carolina Horseshoe Pitchers Association
Late 1960’s Organized horseshoe pitching started in South Carolina.
AAU titles won by Ron Miller of York,
J.P.Reeves of Catawba, SC,
Cecil Williford of Rock Hill, SC,
Marshall Bryant of Ivey, SC
October, 1970 Charter issued by NHPA to South Carolina Horseshoe Pitchers Association
8 horseshoe courts erected at Joshlin Park at the bleachery in Rock Hill, SC site of the first SC singles state championship.
1971 Bill Gibby now of Gastonia, NC wins first SCHPA state championship
1972 Ralph Chambers of Rock Hill, SC wins men’s state championship
1973 Ralph Chambers becomes first state champion to win back to back titles.
1974 First ladies state champion crowned, Bert Stephens, Simpsonville, SC
First state champion jr.boys division, Sandy Stephens, Simpsonville, SC
1975 14 horseshoe courts erected in Simpsonville, SC and tournament play begins.
Bert Stephens wins her second womens state title.
J.P. Reeves of Catawba, SC became the first men’s state champion to break the 60% barrier (64.7%)
1976 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state men’s division
Bert Stephens wins her third consecutive title in the women’s division.
J. Tollison wins the jr. boys championship.
1977 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state men’s division.
Larry Miller wins jr.boys division.
1978 A.J. Nave wins state men’s division.
Randy Stephens wins jr.boys division.
1979 James Collins of Spartanburg, SC wins state men’s division.
Larry Miller wins his 2nd jr.boys title.
1980 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state men’s division, no other division played.
1981 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state men’s division, no other division played.
1982 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state men’s division, no other division played.
1983 Johnny Solesbee, of Greer, SC wins state men’s championship becoming the first player to break the 70% barrier. (70.7%)
1984 Willie Stephens of Gray Court, SC wins the men’s state championship, no other division played.
1985 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state men’s division, no other division played.
PCA horseshoe organizes and begins non sanction play.
1986 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state men’s division, no other division played
1987 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state men’s division.
Dean Broome, of Dacusville, SC wins the first of his record 10 consecutive jr.boys titles.
1988 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state men’s division.
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC wins jr.boys division.
Five regulation courts built by PCA horseshoe club at Clover Yarn Park.
1989 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state men’s division.
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC wins jr.boys division.
PCA horseshoe club becomes the state’s first sanctioned horseshoe club and holds it’s first sanctioned horseshoe tournament.
1990 10 horseshoe courts erected in Greenville, SC and tournament play begins.
Norman Kelley of Greenville, SC wins his first state championship.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins the womens division.
First state doubles held in Clover, SC, won by Norman Kelley & Cleve Moses.
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC wins the jr.boys division.
1991 Norman Kelley of Greenville, SC wins state mens division.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins the womens division.
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC wins the jr.boys division.
American Eagle horseshoe club of Rock Hill, SC erects six regulation courts.
Bullocks Creek horseshoe club of Sharon, SC erects twelve regulation courts.
PCA horseshoe club completes 12 new regulation courts at Clover Community Park.
1992 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state mens division.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins state womens division.
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC wins state jr.boys division.
Bill Penland of York, SC wins first elder state division.
First state preliminaries played.
First HOF committee meeting held on June,5th in Spartanburg, SC, Ron Taylor elected as first chairman.
First copies of Court Chatter issued on April, 9th.
June, Bullocks Creek holds first sanctioned tournament.
August, American Eagle holds first sanctioned tournament.
First sanctioned tournament played at 12 court facility at Clover Park.
A.J. Nave, Bill Gibby, J.P. Reeves, Ron Miller, and Willie Stephens elected as charter members of SCHPA Hall of Fame.
1993 Norman Kelley, of Greenville, SC wins the state mens division.
Betty Mills, of Campobello, SC wins the state womens division.
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC wins the state jr.boys division.
Lisa Quinn of Sharon wins first jr.girl state division ever played in SC.
Bill Penland of York, SC wins state elder mens division.
A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC and Tim Childers of Gaffney, SC wins state doubles.
William (Pee Wee) Murr elected to SCHPA Hall of Fame
1994 State membership breaks 100 mark, first time ever.
Norman Kelley of Greenville, SC wins state mens division.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins state womens division.
Highest game ever pitched in womens division, Barbara Taylor(93.7%) BC.
Norman Kelley of Greenville, SC and Leo Harris of Sharon, SC wins state doubles.
Missy Myers of Clover, SC wins state jr.girl division.
Bill Penland of York, SC wins state elder mens division.
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC wins state jr.boys division.
Lockhart Community Park installs 12 regulation horseshoe courts and begins sanctioned tournament play.
Norman Kelley and Cecil Williford elected to SCHPA Hall of Fame
1995 State membership reaches 139, most ever.
First state jackpot tournament played.
Norman Kelley of Greenville, SC wins state mens division.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins state womens division.
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC wins jr.boys division.
Pee Wee Murr of Rock Hill wins elder mens division.
Norman Kelley of Greenville, SC and Ron Taylor of Clover, SC win state doubles championship.
American Eagle horseshoe club ceases due to land dispute.
Bill Penland elected to SCHPA Hall of Fame
1996 Tom Westbrook of Edgemore, SC wins state mens championship.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins her sixth state womens championship.
Mike Myers becomes editor of state newsletter.
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC wins his tenth jr.boys state title.
Bill Penland wins state elder division.
Bullocks Creek horseshoe club ceases due to land dispute.
York, SC city park builds 18 regulation courts and begins tournament play.
Largest tournament ever played in South Carolina, the Summerfest Open, a festival tournament is directed by Ron Taylor. (91 players)
Huberta Stephens and Barbara Taylor elected to SCHPA Hall of Fame
1997 Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC wins state mens championship.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins state womens championship.
Bobby Stewart of York, SC wins jr.boys state title.
Bill Penland wins state elder division.
Florence, SC begins work on horseshoe facility
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC and Joe Carver of Patrick, SC win doubles state championship
Fifth aniversary of SCHPA newsletter (Court Chatter), and SCHPA Hall of Fame
Ron Taylor elected to SCHPA Hall of Fame
1998 A.J. Nave of Greenville, SC wins state mens championship.
Joan Myers of Clover, SC wins state womens championship.
Will Sutton of Sharon, SC wins jr.boys state title.
Bill Penland wins state elder division.
Florence, SC begins play hosting 4 sanctioned tournaments
Dean Broome of Dacusville, SC and Charlie Williams of Rock Hill, SC win doubles state championship
“Summerfest” Tournament renamed “Summerfun” and location changed to Clover, SC
Jim Ramsey of Rock Hill, SC and Keith Queen of Lockhart, SC elected to SCHPA Hall of Fame
1999 Tom Westbrook, of Edgemore, SC wins state mens championship.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins state womens championship.
William Blackwell of Sharon, SC wins jr.boys state title.
Bobby Stewart wins state 30ft division.
Samantha Myers, of Goose Creek wins jr.Girs division.
Newberry, SC begins work on 12 sanctioned horseshoe courts.
Tom Westbrook, of Edgemore and Joe Carver, of Patrick, SC win doubles state championship.
Tom Westbrook, of Edgemore, SC wins 4th annual SummerFun tournament, as entries exceed 100 players for the first time in history.
2000 Terry Hudson, of Inman, SC wins state mens championship.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins state womens championship.
William Blackwell of Sharon, SC wins jr.boys state title.
Pee Wee Murr wins state 30ft division.
Newberry, SC holds first sanctioned tournaments on new 12 sanctioned horseshoe courts.
Jimmy and Dean Broome, of Liberty, SC win doubles state championship.
Tom Westbrook, of Edgemore, SC wins 5th annual SummerFun tournament, becoming the first back to back winner in the 40ft division, 112 players patricipate.
2001 Ronald Williams, of lockhart, SC wins state mens championship.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins 10th state womens championship.
Josh Jennings, of Union, SC wins jr.boys state title.
Pee Wee Murr wins state 30ft division.
SummerFun Tournament moved to the Newberry facility
Randy and Terry Hudson, of Inman, SC win doubles state championship.
Tommy Gann, of Stoneville, NC wins 6th annual SummerFun tournament, 126 entries.
Norman Kelley dies in tragic accident leaving SC tournament.
SCHPA President AJ Nave dies unexpectedly from illness
SCHPA 1st VP Tim Harris serves remainder of AJ Nave’s term as President of SCHPA
2002 Tom Westbrook, of Edgemoor, SC wins state mens championship.
Barbara Taylor of Clover, SC wins state womens championship.
William Blackwell, of Sharon, SC wins jr.boys state title.
Bobby Stewart, of York, SC wins state 30ft division.
Tom Westbrook & Joe Carver win 2nd doubles state championship.
Ron Deckard, of Tampa, FL wins 7th annual SummerFun tournament, 135 entries.
Joe Carver dies in accident
Ron Taylor elected President of SCHPA
Ronald Williams inducted into the SCHPA Hall of Fame
2003 Tom Westbrook, of Edgemoor, SC wins 5th state mens championship.
Jane Jordan, of Chester, SC wins 2nd state womens championship.
Josh Ammons, of Newberry, SC wins jr.boys state title.
Jimmy & Dean Broome, of Liberty, SC win 2nd doubles state championship.
Dean Broome, of Liberty, SC wins 8th annual SummerFun tournament, 143 entries.
Fay Myers elected SCHPA State Secretary
New 25 court facility opens in Honea Path and hosts the first annual SugarFoot classic.
Tournament Director Workshops and Strategic Planning session held during off season.
2004 Tom Westbrook, of Edgemoor, SC wins state mens championship.
Jane Jordan, of Chester, SC wins state womens championship.
Keith Queen, of Lockhart, SC winst state 30ft division.
Mary Hargett, of Hickory Grove, SC wins 2nd state Jr. girls state title.
Travis Duncan, of Newberry, SC wins jr.boys state title.
Jimmy & Dean Broome, of Liberty, SC win 3rd doubles state championship.
New facility opens in Florence and hosts first tournament on 4/24/2004.
Shannon Foster, of Chuckey, TN wins 9th annual SummerFun tournament and his mother Adalene Foster wins the 30ft division for a Foster-Foster tournament, 130 entries.
Joan Elmore, of Mt. Juliet, TN wins 2nd annual SugarFoot classic.
Mike Myers inducted into the SCHPA Hall of Fame.
State membership reaches 112 adults and 17 juniors.