Hall of Fame

Inducted 2022 Nebraska

A coach for 33 years, Jennifer has emerged not only as an advocate for speech education but as an advocate for all children being in safe learning environments both mentally and physically. She has served on the Nebraska District Committee since 2004, with six years as district chair. Always doing her best to provide opportunities for her students, Jennifer is deeply involved with the NSDA and NCFL. As a four-diamond coach, she has served in the tab room for the NSDA Middle School Nationals from 2012 to 2014 and as a bud from 2015 to present. She has received a plethora of coaching awards including the Nebraska District Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018, the NSDA Nebraska Educator of the Year in 2018, as well as multiple Don Crabtree Distinguished Service Awards. In her role on the NSDA Board of Directors, Jennifer always strives to make decisions based on how a rule, a policy, or a standard will positively or negatively impact students. Her proudest moment as a coach occurred in 2019 when one of her students was named NSDA National Student of the Year.

Inducted 2022 Massachusetts

Anyone who knows Sheryl knows of her dedication to service to her students as well as to the community. Nearly every weekend of the competitive season, Sheryl volunteers her time working in tab rooms with the goal of maximizing competitive equity and ensuring fairness for students. Sheryl has served on multiple boards of local leagues in Massachusetts in her home at Lexington High School. Sheryl has also served as a member of the NSDA LD Wording Committee and in the Nationals tab room. She is a long standing member of the TOC Policy Advisory Committee and has served on the NDCA board. The number of state and national champions she has coached is numerous, but competitive success was never as important to her as empowering her students to be the best versions of themselves as possible. She unlocks the potential in young people to be forceful and passionate advocates for what is important and what is right—skills that persist long past their time as her students. Sheryl’s work with students fundamentally changes their lives for the better.

Inducted 2022 Louisiana

Josette has spent 45 years in education with more than 20 of those years as an active coach. For years, her squads at St. Thomas More and Teurlings Catholic dominated the competition in Louisiana. She coached state champions in Policy, LincolnDouglas, Congress, Extemp, Oratory, Declamation, Oral Interp, Humorous Interp, Duo, and Duet Acting during her time as an active coach. Her teams won 14 state championship sweepstakes awards. She coached first place winners at the Harvard Invitational in Duo and Dramatic Interp and finalists in Oratory. She had first place winners at the Glenbrook South Invitational in Oral Interp and finalists in Oratory. Her success at NCFL Nationals was also significant having coached numerous finalists in Duo Reading, Oral Interp, Declamation, Lincoln-Douglas, and Policy. Her students were NCFL Duo Reading Champions in 2013. Her squad won the NCFL Debate Sweepstakes in 1993. Josette is also a triple diamond coach who served on the Louisiana NSDA District Committee. To her credit, Josette coached numerous NSDA qualifiers in United States Extemp, International Extemp, Original Oratory, Duo Interp, and Dramatic Interp that resulted in a number of semifinalists and quarterfinalists. Her students were no strangers to the stage as she has the distinction of having coached the same two students to the final round of Duo Interp for three consecutive years. In addition, she coached the NSDA champion in Commentary (2001), the second place finalist in Expository (2000), and the second place finalist in Prose (2003). Her teams won the NSDA School of Excellence Award twice in 2004 and 2007.

Inducted 2022 Texas

Karen is an unsung leader and coach. She was an educator who expected excellence from all her students; it was the same standard she held for herself. Any student who had the honor of being taught by Mrs. Wilbanks walked away with a strong sense of self, ability, and what it meant to truly “do the work.” Karen served the speech and debate community for more than 30 years, earning five diamonds as an educator/coach. She served the NSDA Lone Star District Committee as chair for two years and was on the District Committee for more than 10. She served in the Nationals tab room for many years and served on the NSDA Interpretation Committee. She assisted with four National Tournaments held in GCISD and Dallas in 2006, 2011, 2015, and 2019. She coached five national champions and had many more finalists, a number of whom have gone on to careers in film, television, theater, and several who are household names. Her programs have been named National Schools of Outstanding Distinction as well as Schools of Excellence in Speech and in Debate. Karen also served her state community with distinction. She served on the Texas Forensic Association Executive Council, including a term as president. She was named to the TFA Hall of Fame and was Secondary Speech Teacher of the Year for TSCA. The PTA recognized Karen with a Lifetime Membership for Distinguished Service. During her tenure, her school was the #1 sweepstakes school at the TFA state tournament for 10 years in a row. She epitomized excellence to all fortunate to be her students or her colleagues. Through it all, Karen demonstrated leadership, extraordinary generosity, humility, and quiet strength and grace.

Inducted 2021 (TX)

Dr. Rich Edwards, a professor and past forensics coach at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, is an NSDA alum of Newton High School in Iowa. Dr. Edwards participated in four years of debate at the University of Iowa and earned his Ph.D. in Communication Studies in 1976. In high school circles, Dr. Edwards is most well-known for his creation of the TRPC and TRIEPC tournament tabulation software which revolutionized and modernized the facilitation of speech and debate competitions throughout the United States and internationally. In addition, Dr. Edwards has been one of the most prominent authors of publications in the field of speech, debate, and communication in the past four decades. As the author of the topic introduction issue of Forensic Quarterly since 1972 and an active member of the national Policy Debate topic wording process, Dr. Edwards has literally shaped the educational landscape of debate in and out of the classroom throughout his entire career. 

As a volunteer in the high school community, Rich has devoted hundreds of thousands of hours to running and facilitating local, state, and national level tournaments. When many would believe that his role in the activity could not get any more impactful, it was Dr. Edwards who created the first comprehensive system for tabulating the National Speech & Debate Tournament. His insight and revolutionary thinking allowed for levels of efficiency and accuracy that has led to thousands of students gaining access to the event.

Inducted 2021 (SC) Merit Date: 4/2/1985

As an incredible coach and excellent educator, Gail earned her NSDA membership in 1985, and in December of 2018, earned her fifth diamond award, joining her husband, Chuck, at that rare coaching level. Students from her school have qualified for 24 National Tournaments, including two NSDA national champions. She has served as district chair of South Carolina for more than 12 years, earning the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Gail, like many district leaders with lengthy tenures, tirelessly advocates for speech and debate, runs tournaments (including her own), and works with coaches to help build programs at the state level. At the national level, she has become a fixture in the tab room where she happily has labored for decades. Gail is a servant leader who was reflected in May of 2018 when she was honored with an Eleventh Distinguished Service Plaque. In the history of the NSDA, few individuals have more service citations than Gail Nicholas. She even served on the ad hoc committee that authored the NSDA Coaches Code of Ethics.

Inducted 2021 (IA)
Merit Date: 10/3/1996

Before successfully leading the National Speech & Debate Association for more than two decades and through some of the most challenging times the Association has ever experienced, J. Scott Wunn started his coaching career in small town Iowa with goals focused on helping students and spreading the activity of speech and debate. He developed two separate school programs, which each became the largest and most successful in the state. State and national championships followed in due course. In 2002, his student won the NSDA Humorous championship, and in 2003, his students placed third in Humorous Interpretation and second in Duo Interpretation.

Then, in 2003, Scott was selected by the Board of Directors to direct our organization, providing opportunities for students and coaches nationwide. His role changed, but his desire to expand opportunities and promote our activity remained the same. His leadership has helped meet the needs of our membership from the growth and funding of Public Forum to the creation of Informative, POI, and Big Questions. During his tenure, he has fostered recognition of our activity by moving to a more accurate brand and name and strengthened it by creating NSDE Day. Scott organized seven leadership and education conferences to encourage membership engagement and has made sure diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have been expanded to include coaches’ caucuses, a formal equity statement, and equity officers. When faced with the pandemic, he utilized problem solving and innovation to forge a successful path forward through virtual competition.

Inducted 2020 California

Jenny Cook is a coach and mentor that has modeled how to run a program whose core values are service, integrity, leadership, respect, and equity. There are countless students, coaches, and educators who can pinpoint how Jenny has improved their lives. Jenny isn’t just a champion human. She’s a champion coach who led students to become International Extemp Champion, NFL, Lincoln-Douglas Champion, NCFL, Public Forum Champion, TOC, Extemp Champion, NCFL, Domestic Extemp Runner-Up, NFL, International Extemp Third Place, NFL, Lincoln-Douglas Third Place, NCFL, Original Oratory Sixth Place, NFL, and helped numerous others reach championship/finalist appearances at the state and national level including the 2004 National Champion of Extemporaneous Speaking, Julia Cain, in Salt Lake City.

Beyond her coaching accolades, Jenny has been a servant leader to the speech and debate community. She has been a district leader, state leader, and local leader in the NFL, NCFL, FFL, and more. She helped host NFL and NCFL Nationals, led workshops at the NSDA National Tournament, presented at the Education Conference, and answered every call she’s ever received to support speech and debate. — Compiled from nomination bio

Inducted 2020 Minnesota

Chris McDonald has been a devoted speech and debate coach since 1988. A four-diamond coach from Eagan, Chris serves the mission of the NSDA at his school, in Minnesota, and across the nation.

Chris has coached multiple state champions in multiple speech and debate events in Minnesota. He’s coached numerous students to the NSDA National Tournament in multiple events with three Policy teams finishing in the top 10, a semifinalist in Policy Debate, and three national champions in Extemporaneous Speaking. Additionally, he’s coached a student as the NCFL Grand Nationals national champion in Extemporaneous Speaking. For his excellence in coaching he has earned the Coach of the Year award in Minnesota from both the Minnesota Speech Coaches Association and the Minnesota Debate Teachers Association.

Along with over three decades of exemplary coaching and teaching, Chris has served the NSDA for more than 20 years on the Southern Minnesota board, with 12 of them as chair. Additionally, Chris has served two terms as president of the Minnesota Debate Teachers Association, one term on the MSHSL Board of Directors, as well as a term on the NSDA Board of Directors. Further, Chris has done a great deal of work for the NSDA on committees for Extemporaneous Speaking and Public Forum Debate. Because of his service, he was awarded the James Graupner Distinguished Service Award from the Minnesota Debate Teachers Association. — Compiled from nomination bio

Inducted 2020 Indiana

Renowned coach and legend Jim Copeland said that NFL/NSDA founder Bruno E. Jacob believed the Hall of Fame should be based on three factors: district success, state success, and National Tournament qualifying success. Jim Cavallo is a four-diamond coach who achieved all three. Jim coached both speech and debate from 1971 until he retired in 2009. He spent three of those years coaching at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, Indiana. From 1997 to 2009, he was Chesterton’s Program Director. He actively coached speech events, but his focus was in Congress and, primarily, Policy Debate.

Jim had a legendary career as a teacher and was considered a steady influence with students and helped them develop leadership skills as well as  political awareness and a willingness to use time and social skills to serve. Jim served on the Indiana High School League Board of Directors for 10 years, was a member of the Indiana High School Forensic League Hall of Fame, and even helped design the IHSFL State Debate Tournament format. He coached 13 Policy Debate state champions, 4 Congress state champions, 15 Congressional Debate and 34 Policy Debate national qualifiers with many of these teams and individuals advancing to outrounds and national recognition.

 On a larger scale, Jim was a Chesterton High School coach of record when Chesterton won five consecutive team national championships in the late 1980s and 90s. He also was noted when Chesterton won an NFL/NSDA National School of Excellence Award—and, in 2009 Jim received the Odom Commendation when Chesterton won its third Bruno E. Jacob award.

Additionally, in the early 1970s, Jim was one of the first Policy Debate coaches to break from the “boys club” mentality and encourage, promote, and recruit young women to do Policy Debate. To Jim, every student had talent, potential, and the ability to contribute to constructive argumentation.

— Compiled from nomination bio

Inducted 2020 Texas

John F. Kennedy once said: “The time for people to embrace their passion is now.” Cheryl Potts manifests this statement to its greatest extent. Cheryl Potts is an educator who has an ethical foundation and understands the importance of communication and how to mentor other educational professionals to be their best.

“Potts” is intelligent and thorough and should be titled, “The lady who can change the world.” Cheryl’s participation in the national, state, and local speech community, committees, and other activities makes her well-rounded and begs the question, “Are there that many hours in the day?” Her competitive success as a coach has amassed numerous awards from local, state, and national levels. Cheryl is a Fourth Diamond Coach that has coached 120 NSDA national qualifiers, multiple UIL state champions, many TFA state champions, and 2 IPPF world championship teams.

Today we look for “loyal” people, and Cheryl Potts is as loyal as they come. She has a “spirit” and drive and an ability to make the impossible possible. Her work with children has left a legacy at Plano Senior High School that all speech educators can hold up as a model of achievement. She has amassed many honors and awards including, Teacher of the Year for Plano Senior HS in 2006,  Mirabeau B. Lamar Award of Excellence-Grand Lodge of Texas 2003, Schwan Honors School of Excellence Awards for speech and debate in 2006 and 2007,  and was a finalist for National Educator of the Year in 2017. — Compiled from nomination bio

Inducted 2013 Washington

Our Hall of Fame has many members who are expert judges, but only one expert referee! Mike Burton, former coach at Auburn High School, then at Eastside Catholic in Bellevue, WA mixes a career of speech and debate coaching and athletic officiating. This unusual combination has won top honors in both fields: Washington State Teacher of the Year, 1994; Washington Interscholastic Activities Hall of Fame; Washington Forensics Hall of Fame; Washington Officials Hall of Fame; National Federation of High Schools Hall of Fame; and Tournament of Champions Hall of Fame. Mike served seven terms as district chair, winning the Distinguished Service Plaque – Sixth Honors, and as National Council alternate. He earned five diamonds. Burton also served a term as president of the National Federation of Officials, a group aiding scholastic sports officials. Coach Burton has produced winners at the state level (36 state championships) and on the national circuit. The year 2000 was particularly gratifying, when Mike’s student Andy O’Connell was a multiple winner of national Lincoln-Douglas invitationals: Glenbrooks; Berkley; Barkley Forum; Minneapple; and Tournament of Champions (TOC). Mike’s greatest regret is not coaching a National Tournament winner. But he officiated a national championship college game! Like the great athletic coaches, Burton stresses the team concept. “We are a team, and a win by an individual is a win for the team,” explains Burton. “Cooperation within the team is mandated and required.” Another athletic principle demanded is fair play. Burton’s rule: “Ethics are the most important thing for an individual.” A final team precept required is respect for all people. Mike the coach and Mike the referee are also Mike the mentor. During his outstanding 39-year career, he has again and again stepped forward to help others. In the classroom, at the tournament, on the court, or on the field, Mike Burton has promoted excellence and ethics. A teacher, a coach, a referee would never settle for less. — Compiled by James Copeland

Inducted 2013 Kansas

Vickie Fellers, a five-diamond coach and co-host of the 2007 Wichita Nationals, has been an exemplary coach of speech and debate. The first half of her 34-year career was at Goddard High School, and the past 17 years have been at Wichita East High School. Vickie is the epitome of integrity and dedication as an ethical educator in her classroom as well as service as a district committee member and Policy Debate tab chair to the NSDA.

Vickie qualified more than 158 students to the National Tournament. Her coaching has propelled 12 students to finish in the top 12 of various events, earning five School of Excellence trophies. During her tenure, the Wichita East chapter has won 16 consecutive National Forensic League Sweepstakes awards and leading chapter awards in 2001 and 2008.

Vickie is not only a successful coach at the national level; her achievements are legendary across the state. She has placed Policy Debate teams at regional contests 12 times since 2000. She’s garnered 14 individual state championships in forensics, one in debate, and placed teams in the top six at state competition for the past 15 years. Vickie is currently serving as chairperson for the KSCA Speech Liaison committee to the KSHSAA, and recently, KSCA inducted Vickie Fellers into their prestigious Hall of Fame. She has twice been named

the DCI Coach of the Year before being welcomed into Hall of Fame status in 2010.

Inducted 2013 Florida

Three-time NSDA national champion Josh Gad wrote, “Bob Marks gave me the resources no other teacher ever provided… Without the guidance and instruction of Bob Marks, my dreams and goals would have had countless limitations… Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Marks, I finally understand how to use my writing skills in such ways as to improve myself and the world around me.” In the book It Doesn’t take A Genius, Hall of Fame members Randall McCutcheon and Dr. Tommie Lindsey, Jr., write, “Bob Marks may well have been the best high school speech coach in America.” Bob has earned his reputation as an outstanding educator and mentor of students and teachers in forensics and theater arts. He helped teams to win 29 state championships and numerous NSDA Awards of Excellence. In the past 35 years, he coached 68 students to final rounds, where 21 were named national champions. However, there is a side of Bob’s work which is not as apparent or quantifiable. Through forensics, he has successfully worked with at-risk students, committing himself to helping students of all abilities, not just “stars.” In 1998, Bob Marks was a Martin Luther King Award winner for his commitment to diversity in education. Bob coached at West Des Moines Valley, Albuquerque Academy, and James Logan, as well as other schools. He served on the Board of Directors for the National Speech Forum, as the Associate Director of the National Speech Forum, and as Director of the Florida Forensic Institute and National Coaches Institute. In “retirement,” he continues to serve the forensic community as a consultant to several programs. Bob’s accolades include the University of Iowa Man of the Year, Outstanding Young Iowan, Outstanding Young American, and Florida’s Historic State Theatre Executive Director’s Award.

Inducted 2013 Indiana

David McKenzie started his NFL/NSDA experience as a high school speaker at Northfield High School in Wabash, Indiana. After majoring in English and Communications at Manchester College, David set out to be a forensic coach. In fact, he hosted his first tournament while a student at Manchester College during his junior year. He has been the Director of Speech and Debate at Plymouth High School since 2000. Before that, he coached at Northfield High School, Oak Hill High School, and Columbia City High School, all in Indiana.

During his tenure, he has been successful as a coach on the local, state, and national levels. David has recorded one Class A state championship, five Class AA state championships, and five Ralph Lawson Trophies for the overall state championship. David was named the National Forensic League Coach of the Year in 2007 and was Indiana’s choice for the National Federation Coach of the Year in addition to being an inductee into the Indiana Hall of Fame. David has coached more than 30 individual state champions, numerous NFL/NSDA national qualifiers, nine national finalists, and national champions in Duo and Oratory. He also coached multiple national champions at the NCFL Tournament. He credits much of his success to his mentors from Indiana, many of whom are in the national Hall of Fame as well. Finally, the phenomenal coaches who worked as assistants at both Northfield and Plymouth contributed significantly to their programs’ successes as well. He wished to recognize that no successful coach does it alone.

David is currently a member of the IHSFA Executive Council, where he serves as a Sectional Representative and member of the Board of Directors. He also served three terms as Board President for the IHSFA. For the NFL/NSDA, he served as district chair of the Northwest Indiana District for over a decade and directed/hosted the District Congress, District Debate, and District Solo Tournaments numerous times. During his time in Northwest Indiana, his program was moved to Northeast Indiana where he now serves on the District Committee and frequently hosts the District Congress and Solo tournaments. 

Additionally, for David, this activity has been a family affair. His wife Sarah has coached with him their entire marriage and is the first NFL/NSDA coach to earn a diamond at the high school level as well as the equivalent award at the middle school level. Each of their children, Emily and Trent, worked in tournament offices when they were old enough to walk and learned their alphabet while sorting critiques. The entire family also worked with coaches from throughout Indiana when David volunteered to host the 2012 Indianapolis Crossroads of America Nationals along with a great group of Indiana coaches. Both of their children graduated high school after earning multiple opportunities to represent Plymouth High School at the NSDA National Tournament and continue to use skills they developed through speech and debate.

With all of his success, David still takes the time to mentor new coaches every year, puts on presentations at the state speech coaches’ conference, and is an exemplary teacher at Plymouth High School where he teaches speech and broadcasting.

“Randy has figured out how to teach someone else… he is one of the greats…” (Eric Liu, speechwriter for President Clinton)

“A lively style that can take care of itself.” (John Updike, Pulitzer Prize winning author)

Inducted 2000
Tennessee

William Woods Tate, Jr., was a Southern gentleman: impressive, courtly, and smart. He played tournament bridge and could visualize the place of every card; he was politically savvy and held high office at his college, in his fraternity, and in the NFL/NSDA; he could call from memory the name of every person he met; and details of every Alabama football game he had seen.

Billy lived large. His delight was food. Many thought he was a gourmand. Not so! Billy was a gourmet in the classic sense. Whether enjoying fried vegetables at a tiny restaurant in Alabama, or tucking in at a five-star restaurant, Billy knew great taste! His hobby was antiques, especially brilliantine glass from the turn of the last century. His collection was one of America’s finest.

Billy’s sport was Alabama football. He intensely followed every game: exultant in victory;
depressed in defeat. Coach Tate’s passion was winning: in football, in politics, in debate.

On the national circuit, his team won the Glenbrooks and made late rounds at the TOC and the Barkley Forum. Tate hosted the Southern Bell Forum, a circuit event of unequaled hospitality.

At Nationals, his Montgomery Bell Academy Policy Debate team finished second in 1999. In 2005, MBA was the first team in history to close out the NFL Policy Debate final round!

The MBA program was hugely successful: the largest Chapter in Tennessee eight times and three-time winner of the Leading Chapter Award. Tate was honored with five diamonds, the Distinguished Service Key and Plaque (Third Honors), a Barkley Forum Key, a TOC Hall of Fame Induction, and the Pelham commendation.

Billy Tate and the Tennessee District hosted the elegant Nashville National Tournament in 1988. As NFL president, Billy served longer than any other president except Senator Karl Mundt. His presidential initiatives included the formation of the National Junior Forensic League, recruitment of new sponsors, and selection of National Tournament sites. He was immensely popular with students and coaches alike.

Hosting a District Congress in 2013, Billy’s great heart stopped. The NSDA will never again meet such a man.

— Compiled by James Copeland

Inducted 2000
Wisconsin

Two great passions guided the life of Kenneth Thames: church and debate. Ken was the youngest elder in his Lutheran Church and a lifetime student of the Holy Bible. He began his debate career as a college debater for the fine coach Ruth McGaffey at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Ken’s coaching career began at Homestead High School (WI), where his team won the state championship. In 1973, he joined the staff at Marquette University High School, where his debate teams won three Wisconsin state CX debate championships and four NFL National Sweepstakes championships. Later, he would teach and coach at DeLong Middle School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. There, his ninth-grade students would win the Wisconsin high school state standard debate (four-person) championship—a remarkable feat achieved not once, but twice!

In 1985, Mr. Thames assisted his two good friends and colleagues, Hall of Fame member Art McMillion and his wife Ruth Laws McMillion, to host the NFL (now NSDA) National Tournament at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. For many years, Ken assisted Hall of Fame coach Ron Steinhorst running the WSCA speech tournament.
Tragedy twice entered Ken’s life: when he was badly injured in an auto collision on a snowy Minnesota highway, causing a life of severe back pain; and when his daughter, a champion diver, had her Olympic dreams ended by a staph infection, caused by broken glass.

Thames was a superb tournament director who initially computerized the judge assignment system and the student pairing process at the National Tournament. His programming was vital for the expansion and efficient management of the tournament. For years, Hall of Fame members James Hawker, Marilyn Hageman, and Carol Zanto had worked all night to hand assign judges.
Kenneth Thames was a man who loved his Lord, loved coaching debate, and loved serving his community. He is missed by everyone who worked with him or knew him.

— Compiled by James Copeland

“My candle burns at both ends; It shall not last the night; But ah! my foes and oh, my friends— It gives a lovely light.”

Inducted 1987 Georgia

Glenn Pelham was an impressive figure with an artistic wife and an academically talented son. Glenn Pelham was a renaissance man: he graduated from the John Marshall School of Law and served as Georgia State Senator and County Judge. He studied at the Juilliard School of Music, directed church choirs, and wrote choral music. He was interested in historical preservation. Glenn Pelham was an educator: high school teacher and debate coach, director of the Barkley Forum at Emory University, and chair of the Georgia State Senate Education Committee.

Mr. Pelham—few called him Glenn; it was always “Mr. Pelham” or “G.P” for the favored—believed that “the purpose of life was to serve.” He was a friend, confidante, and adviser to all who honored him with their friendship, including President Jimmy Carter.

At the 1967 NSDA (then NFL) National Tournament, James Unger introduced Pelham to Brother René Sterner and James Copeland. Pelham asked for their help to expand his tournament, the Barkley Forum for High Schools, from a southern focused-event to a national-focused event.

Pelham’s vision was soon realized: Northern debate teams from Bronx Science, the Glenbrooks, and Pittsburgh Central Catholic came, as did Southern teams Pace, Calhoun, MBA, and Woodward. Hall of Fame coach Ted Belch spoke of a “debate triple crown: NFL and NCFL Nationals and the Barkley Forum.” NFL Vice President Phyllis Barton called the Emory tournament “The Masters.”

Always the educator, Glenn Pelham wished to honor exceptional teachers. He founded the Gold Key Society, where each year at a special dinner, coaches elected by their peers were presented a large Gold Key on a ribbon to be worn around their neck during the tournament and a lapel key to be worn forever—signs that their colleagues had proclaimed their excellence.

He authored Stage Fright be Damned (1979) and Manual of Contemporary Debate (1969). Other honors during life include kudos from the Atlanta Constitution as “the most outstanding member of the [Georgia State] Senate”; national honorary membership in the National Forensic League [now NSDA]; and mentions in Who’s Who, Outstanding Young Men in America, Who’s Who in American Politics, and the Dictionary of International Biography.

Thomas Glenn Pelham is now gone. His great service yielded results that will never be forgotten!

— Compiled by James Copeland