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Candidates for Election for 2005-2006

The details of conducting elections in the Gulf Coast Texas Division are specified by the Bylaws of the Division. The Bylaws specify the positions (both those which must and those which may be filled by election). The Bylaws specify the method of nomination and election. Note that USFA intervention in the 2005 election has been requested. Intervention could result in a change of 1) the date of the election (possibly made later in the year), 2) the method of conducting the election (possibly done with ballots mailed to all eligible voters instead of held at the Annual Meeting), 3) the nomination requirements (possibly resulting in nominations being reopened or completely redone), or 4) even what positions may be filled. However, until and unless there is information available about USFA intervention, what follows assumes that the election will proceed as described in the Bylaws, i.e., the election will be held at the Annual Meeting, and the Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with Divisionals (the meeting would be April 23rd, give or take a day), and the nominees will be limited to the candidates described below, whose nominations were by the deadline imposed by the Bylaws.

The Bylaws require each nominee to submit "a brief biography and statement of goals, to be disseminated to the voting membership". What follows are those submissions. Note that there is no more guidance for any candidate than "a brief biography and statement of goals" (and absolutely no experience from prior elections). So, the length, form, and content of the submissions vary greatly. No candidate should have it held against him that he submitted something nonstandard, as there is no standard! The words of each submission appear exactly as submitted except for adjustments to the layout.

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Chairman

The two candidates for Chairman appear in alphabetical order.

Louise Lepie

I am the mother of two fencers, The Executive Director of the Bayou City Fencing Academy, and the current Chair of the Gulf Coast Division. I have been active in fencing in this Division for over a decade. In December of 2001, I undertook a project to renovate a 22,000 square foot facility which is now known as the Houston Athletic Fencing Center. It is the venue for the Battle on the Bayou Tournament which is a cooperative effort by several clubs which share in the running and revenues of the event.

The projects undertaken by the committee which I chair have been those that could best benefit the membership in general. These have included referee seminars, armory workshops and a coaching seminar weekend by the Director of the USFA Coaches' College.

"Notes from the Chair" became my way of fostering better communication with the membership and a way to disseminate information.

I would like to see more information in seminars for parents new to fencing. Many parents from all clubs and divisions express a lack of knowledge about fencing in general. These seiminars might include information on tournaments, armory workshops, or informal question and answer forums.

For tournaments within the division, there needs to be a bout committee made up of a group of fencers and referees who share the responsibility of heading bout committees for all tournaments. There are also several persons within our section who might be asked to serve from time to time as chair of a bout committee. I have already asked Gerri Baumgart from the USFA if she would consider doing a seminar concerning bout committees, their responsibilies, who should serve, and what makes an effective bout committee. She has acknowledged that this would be a good idea for our division and is more than willing to help with this.

At the beginning of this fencing season, Brad Goldie from my club conducted a workshop on running a tournament and the computer programs used during tournaments. This workshop, which was open to all division members, was very well attended. I would like to see additional similar workshops so that more fencers, parents, and other volunteers might become more knowledgable on running tournaments and how to use the computer programs available for tournaments.

In addition, I would like to see more referee seminars not only for first time takers, but also for more observation time to increase the knowledge of those already rated this season. I have discussed this with Gary van de Wege, who conducted the seminars. The goal would be not only to have new, rated referees, but to make those who have recently been rated more proficient.

The recent NCAA event brought a lot of media attention to fencing. That media attention now needs to be cultivated for the benefit of all clubs within the division.

With the proliferation of clubs and tournaments, it would be helpful to have a workshop on scoring equipment maintenance and repair. This could also be a higher level armory clinic than what the division is now supporting. Our division can certainly use more armorers, and to that end, the division supported armory workshops should see an increase in the future.

Goals are generally what one would hope to see in place and the above are only a few of the goals that I see the executive committee undertaking.

I see the Executive Committee as a team working for what is best for the fencers, their parents, their supporters.

William J. Trapani

Personal

  • Married to Anne Stanley Trapani, 21 years
  • Four children, ages 2 to 19
  • Father of Daniel, active fencing member of the Gulf Coast Division

Professional/Educational Background

  • 20-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, currently at the Bush Intercontinental Airport substation
  • Gang Intelligence Task Force, Third Ward Substation
  • William Paterson College, 1980, BA in History/Education
  • United States Army, First Infantry Division, Military Police Officer
  • United States Army, US Military Academy at West Point, Assistant Varsity Fencing Coach

Fencing Background

  • Indian Hills High School, Oakland, New Jersey. Member, New Jersey All State Foil Team, 1971-1972
  • United States Military Academy at West Point, West Point, New York, 1974 - 1975. Responsible for corps squad screening program, private lessons, and coaching of the plebe team.
  • Full fencing scholarship, William Paterson College (now University), Wayne, New Jersey, 1975 - 1980. Team captain, three years. Member, North Atlantic Foil Team Champions, 1976 and 1978. Member, AFLA (now USFA) New Jersey Division Epee Team Champions, 1979.
  • Coach, Knights of Trapani Fencing Academy, 1997 - present.

As I see it, the responsibility of our elected officials in all situations in our country is to first secure and protect the rights of the community that they serve. They are also charged with fostering and encouraging open and free commerce in an atmosphere of good will towards all, where every person has an opportunity to rise to whatever heights he or she wishes, unencumbered by unwarranted governmental interference. This is the basis on which our nation was founded. Therefore, I respectfully submit my nomination to the chairmanship of the Gulf Coast Division. My beliefs and goals are stated as follows:

FOCUS ON THE FENCER!

The state of our fencers is pre-eminent above all else. As Henry Ford II once said about the failures at Ford Motor Company in the 1970's, "We were too busy making money, and not building good cars."

Goals:

  • Reconcile the differences that presently exist in the division today.
  • Expand the active fencing membership of all our clubs, not the recruitment of inactive proxy voters.
  • Safeguard the integrity of all our tournaments by expanding the base of professionally trained referees and bout committee personnel.
  • Educate our fencers and parents in regards to proper sportsmanlike behavior by setting the example in the way clubs interact with one another.
  • Affording our recreational fencers and competitive fencers opportunities to come together in a fencing venue, emphasizing common interests we share.

Strengths

  • Integrity
  • Sense of Humor
  • Diplomatic
  • Desire to see all fencers and clubs succeed
  • Historical Perspective

To paraphrase the words of Abraham Lincoln, "with malice towards none and charity towards all, let us call upon the angels of our better nature to resolve our differences.+

Ever committed to fencing,
Bill Trapani

Vice Chairman

The two candidates for Vice Chairman appear in alphabetical order.

Jerry Dunaway

I am running for Vice Chair of the Gulf Coast Division of the USFA. My first goal for the division is to promote the sport of fencing at all levels, through positive coverage in the news media, and running sanctioned tournaments at all levels. My second goal is to help to bring seminars to our division to help members: coaches, fencers, armorers, and parents. My third goal is to work towards continuing to make our division a fine representative of the USFA and our communities. I will work with the other officers and members to make our division stronger.

I have been fencing since 1978. I have continued fencing and coaching at a number of clubs through out the years. Currently I am the coach at South Houston High School in the Pasadena Independent School District. In the twelve years at South Houston the program has grown from an after school club to a program that offers three in school classes. Two of which are physical education courses and the other is a Varsity fencing team that allows the students to letter in fencing. I have continued to produce ranked fencers as well as students who have gone on to become fencing coaches. I have also served on the board of directors at the Clear Lake Fencers Club. I am also continuing to work with the USFA in the Coaching Development Program, implementing fencing in the communities and in the schools.

I would appreciate your vote for Vice Chair of the Gulf Coast Division.

Alexander Mihai Popovici

Alexander Mihai Popovici is Chief Executive Officer of 3DGeo, a state-of-the-art software, data processing and infrastructure provider for the upstream oil and gas industry. He holds Ph.D. (1995) and M.Sc. (1991) degrees in geophysics from Stanford University, and a B.S. (1985) in geophysical and geological engineering from University of Bucharest, Romania. He escaped from Romania in 1986, crossed two borders at night and spent a year in a refugee camp in Austria. He is a co-founder and has been with 3DGeo since 1995. At 3DGeo he is responsible for domestic and international market development and client relationships, capital fundraising, finance, equity distribution, corporate management, national and international contract negotiations, and technology development. He has been Principal Investigator on numerous National Science Foundation and Department of Energy research and development grants. He has several patents in the field, over 70 publications in conference proceedings, books, trade journals, and research reports and has given numerous invited talks at conferences, geophysical associations, and geophysical workshops.

Popovici is active in the community; he was president of Casa Romana (http://www.casaromana.org), a non-profit organization serving Americans of Romanian origin living in the Bay Area. He was elected to this position in 1997 and built the largest Romanian community center and church on the West Coast. Casa Romana was dedicated in 1998 by the president of Romania Emil Constantinescu. At present he is Honorary Vice Consul of Romania in Houston.

Popovici is director on the board of the Romanian Education Foundation (http://www.roed.org), which he co-founded in 1994, a charitable organization helping foreign students from impoverished families to apply at American and European universities. Over the years, Romanian Education Foundation has helped hundreds of students to pay for their SAT, GRE and TOEFL exams and many students after being admitted to Western Universities have become donors and are sponsoring newer students in return. A complete donations and disbursements report is online at http://www.roed.org/raport.12.2002.html).

He is a scuba diving instructor, active fencer (ranked number one in the Bay Area veteran division in 2003), plays paintball with one of the first established pro teams (The Wild Geese, founded 1985), practices karate, rock climbs, and is working on his private pilot license. He is co-founder of the Houston Cup organization (www.houstonfencing.com), a non-profit association organizing fencing competitions in the Houston Area.

Statement of goals:

Increase the number of fencing competitions in the Texas area and improve the ratings of the Texas fencers, promote the sport to increase national awareness.

Help the fencing community focus on the sport and business, decrease politics.

Secretary

The two candidates for Secretary appear in alphabetical order.

Matt Delevoryas

I began fencing in 1995 at the advanced age of 37. I compete in two weapons, and fence casually in the third. Despite competing, I see myself primarily as a recreational fencer. My support of fencing includes club committee and officer posts (including secretary and currently vice president), referee (three weapons), tournament planning, tournament administration (having been invited to do this by about half of all clubs in the Division, and others outside the Division), armoring and armory education, and volunteer coaching (although I will vigorously deny any allegations that I have any certification as a coach). I am the incumbent Secretary of the Division. I was elected Secretary for a one year term after having served a half term by appointment in 2003 by Chairman Andrey Geva. Much to my own surprise, this makes me currently the most senior Division Officer. I also serve the Division in some appointed roles (and my services would continue to be available to the Division without regard to the election for Secretary). I served as my club's representative on "The Committee" from its creation until my appointment as Secretary required expelling me from "The Committee". I served as my club's representative on the Division Board from its creation until a Bylaw amendment made me ineligible to be named by my club. Outside of fencing, my strengths are in science, mathematics, and computer programming. My experience includes service for a Texas not-for-profit special interest corporation with a membership slightly smaller than the Division (and finances an order of magnitude larger) as a director, treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president. I have served officially and unofficially as parliamentarian to that and to other organizations. My non-fencing recreations include astronomy, backpacking, photography, and sailing.

My goals specifically as Secretary are simple and unsurprising. There are few actual choices available to be made by the Secretary, other than whether to do the job or not, whether to be prompt or not, and whether or not to use the knowledge and the personal contacts which go with the office to try to solve any problems relating to individual members and the USFA. Of course I intend to do all of these. But, the Secretary is also a member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee has considerable choice available. My goals for the Executive Committee are modest. To such extent as the USFA will allow, I see the true source of the vitality of the Division to be its membership and the members' clubs. I see the true calling of the Executive Committee to be facilitating of the activities of the membership, arranging what might not be possible without a sufficient economy of scale, and handling and guiding the bureaucracy of fencing life to minimize burdens for the members and the clubs. I do not want the Executive Committee to dictate how fencing will be in the Division, but rather to accommodate, facilitate, and extend the umbrella of any needed official sanction to the desires of the membership of the Division.

Marty Wysocki

Marty Wysocki Biography:

Marty Wysocki is a Senior Staff Geologist exploring the offshore Gulf of Mexico for Samson, a mid size oil and gas company. He holds a MS in Geology. He is a founding board member of Young Elites of Houston, the newest club in the division which operates out of two locations in the Houston's poorest neighborhoods, the third and fifth ward, and is headed by U.S. Sydney Olympian Akhnaten Spencer-El. Marty organizes 'Saber Night in Texas' a multi-club effort to bring together saber fencers throughout the division to fence each other on a regular basis in a non-competitive environment, share tactics and constructive criticism, promote the development of saber directors and raise the level of saber fencing at all clubs in the division. He is a member of the division board where he represents Young Elites of Houston. He has studied for and intends to pursue a rating as a saber director once his children no longer compete regularly in the Houston area. The Wysocki's have been married for 23 years and have three children; Jennifer age 20, a college student; Joseph age 17 (a saber fencer who in on the USFA Junior and Senior men's national point standings) and Sarah age 16, a level 9 gymnast and former RYC women's saber champion. Marty has served two terms as moderator of the South Texas Presbytery, Presbyterian Church in America where he was forced to attain a working knowledge of Robert's Rules of Order, and has served as secretary for the candidates and credentials committee for a 4 year period. Additionally he served as clerk/secretary on the ruling board of two local churches for a period of 15 years.

Goals if elected:

  • Promote unity within the division and better inter club relations
  • Help facilitate a unified tournament schedule supported by all clubs
  • Better our public image
  • Promote and expand veteran fencing programs within the division
  • Promote recreational and school fencing programs throughout the division
  • Investigate the potential of developing a wheelchair fencing program within the division
  • Investigate the potential for formation of a Special Olympics program within the division
  • Establish a quarterly newsletter for division members
  • Promote fencing in the general division area by increasing public awareness
  • Support by-law committee in all ways possible to produce functional, USFA approved, easy to understand by-laws
  • Work towards a goal of assisting local tournament committees as much as possible to assure tournament sanctioning

Treasurer

The two candidates for Treasurer appear in alphabetical order.

Rachel El-Saleh

My name is Rachel El-Saleh. I will be turning 51 this May and I am originally from Sheffield, England. I am the Boss of an environmental engineering firm named Sound Environmental Solutions which has been running strong for over 10 years. I am married to Mr. Mudafar El-Saleh and we have two children, Rebecca, 17, and Michael, 15. Michael is an internationally competitive foil fencer and Rebecca is a nationally competitive epee fencer. I, however, am a nationally competitive foil, epee, and sabre fencer.

My goals are to create a greater understanding of fencing by the general public. Seen normally as swashbuckling, fencing is to many an "intelligent" sport. I seek to make this side of fencing more open to those who currently know little. I am also looking to draw more young children into fencing so as to increase the number of people in the competitive world. This would provide for bouting experiences with many more people thus increasing the level of fencing.

Tom Bone

Personal:

Tom Bone's son John is an up and coming cadet epeeist. His wife Kathy is a talented tournament director and has recently taken up the blade herself. Tom supports his home club with weapons repair, and is trying to hone his skills as a referee. Tom has served the greater good of the Division membership on the Division Board and at various ad hoc Membership meetings over the past year. Tom is a beginning fencer at epee and foil with about 6 months cumulative experience. Those are his priorities, in order of importance to Tom, and if elected to the Executive Committee his goal would be the betterment of fencing in Houston for his son and all competitive and recreational fencers in this area.

Professional:

Tom is an engineer and builds ships and offshore and subsea systems for Oceaneering International. He has 30 years experience in project management and multi-discipline problem solving in shipyards around the world, which involves working with people and personalities far more than technology. Tom plays well with others and is uniquely qualified to help build an equitable tournament schedule and foster a quality fencing environment for all.

Tom has no financial interest in any fencing club within the Division, other than the personal cash drain for equipment, lessons and tournament travel.

Goals for Fencing in the Texas Gulf Coast area:

Tom intends to aid and promote the following agenda over the next two seasons:

  • The mission and intent of the Executive Committee should be to promote quality competitive and recreational fencing in the Houston and Gulf Coast area.
  • The Division should develop new by-laws in concise language aligned with the national USFA by-laws for approval by the Membership.
  • Scheduling and structure of all tournaments within the Division where USFA ratings are sought should be equitable to all area fencers and members of the Division. The sanction of such tournaments and ratings by the national USFA should be protected.
  • The Executive Committee should promote the development of rated referees within the Division ranks.

Additional Members of the Executive Committee

The nine candidates appear in alphabetical order. Note that there are six positions, and none of the positions are required to be filled. Each voter will be allowed the chance to vote for up to six different candidates. Any improper ballots will be set aside but blank ballots retained, and a majority of all retained ballots will be required to win. If six or fewer candidates receive a majority (even if no candidates receive a majority), the election is over. If more than six candidates receive a majority, the six with the most votes win and the election is over. Only if there is a vote tie for sixth place when more than six receive a majority will there be another ballot cast, setting aside the positions and candidates already elected without being tied.

Beau Brunson

Fencing since September 1999
Vice President of the A&M Fencing Club 2000-2002
President of the A&M Fencing Club 2002-2003
Tournament Representative 2003-2004
Fencing Referee 2004-Present

Goals for the division:

Focusing on Division Unity
Limit the in-fighting among clubs in the Houston
Support the expansion of the Houston Cup
Push for web accountability

Main goals:

Put the Fencing back in Fencing
We have one of the greatest cities in the world! If we can stop fighting each other off the strip, there is no limit to what our division can achieve. There is no reason why Houston should not host a NAC almost every year, and no reason why we should not host the National Championships!

Thanks and Gig 'Em!

Andrey Geva

Personal Information:

  • Born and raised in Leningrad (St. Petersbourg), Russia
  • Diploma in airport management from Leningrad Airport Institute
  • Courses in biochemistry at Leningrad Chemical Technology Institute
  • Physical Education diploma from St.Petersbourg Institute of Physical Education
  • Coaching certificate from Wingate Sport Institute School of Coaching, Natanya, Israel
  • US resident (green card).

Fencing Background:

  • Member of several USSR national fencing teams.
  • Recipient of USSR "Master of Sport" award (1982).
  • 4 times Israeli National Fencing Champion
  • Medallist and participant in 15+ World Cup Tournaments, two World Championships, two University World Championships, and other international fencing events.
  • Coach of the Israeli National Fencing Team (5 years)
  • Inducted in the Cosell Sports Hall of Fame (1998)
  • Developed 5 Junior World Cup and World Championship medallists.
  • Developed 4 USA National Champions, 7 "A" rated fencers and about 30 nationally ranked fencers.
  • Level 4 USFA rated referee (one of the highest in the Gulf Coast Division)
  • Cofounder of the Houston Cup Fencing Circuit.
  • Chairman of the Gulf Caoast Division (2003-4)
  • Head Coach and Owner of Alliance Fencing Academy.

Goals:

  • Follow the mission of the USFA "...to develop fencers to achieve international success and to administer and promote the sport in the USA."
  • Increase the number and quality of fencers in the Gulf Coast Division by starting new fencing programs run by professional fencing instructors for beginners to the most competitive levels of fencing for all ages and all people interested in fencing
  • Cooperation with other clubs, coaches, and fencers in the Division, based on honesty, integrity, and an open exchange of ideas and programs.
  • Sponsorship programs for elite and low-income fencers

Fencing is life ... all the rest is detail

Oliver Diaz

I've been involved in fencing for about 10 years, and am currently one of three head coaches at Salle Mauro. I am well respected throughout the local and sectional community and have a strong interest in developing the Division to its maximum potential.

Daniel Gorman

Hello, I'm Daniel Gorman, and I'd like to run for an at large position on the executive committee.

My goals for the Division are simple.

  • For the executive committee to put out a competitive schedule for the division as early as possible with little interference in the scheduling of individual club tournaments.
  • A system needs to be in place for getting a bout committee representative to each of the tournaments on a weekend with as little disruption to local events as possible.
  • The executive committee needs to develop a means of dealing with those who attack fencers, coaches, and clubs anonymously. At this time, I do not know what the best method would be.
  • The writing of new by-laws which are fair to all members of the division.

I started fencing at Purdue University in the Fall of 1990 eventually teaching saber and beginner classes. In August, 1995, my wife and I moved to Texas and started fencing at Texas A&M. I taught saber to the club members there and served on the Division's executice committee in several capacities. I am a rated referee in foil, epee, and saber, and have refereed at several NACs and Summer Nationals. I currently work as the coach in all three weapons at Texas A&M and as an assistant saber coach at Salle Mauro. I enjoy helping people and hope to be able to help the division as it grows.

Don Jarvis

I will bring over thirty years of business experience to the Executive Committee having been President of a small Data Communications company during that time.

Our entire family has been actively involved in fencing since 2000 when our two junior high school boys began fencing. We have been involved in many of the fencing tournaments in the area assisting in a variety of volunteer positions.

As an Executive Committee member, I will strive for fairness, cooperation, and a sense of community among all of the clubs in our Division.

Susan McNamara

My name is Susan McNamara and I am seeking a Director-at-Large position on the Executive Committee of the USFA's Gulf Coast Division.

I am the mother of three children all of whom are members of Salle Mauro Fencing Academy. I first became involved in fencing six years ago when my then five-year old son joined a club in Dallas. Over the years, my involvement has grown from head chauffeur, sponsor and chief boo-boo kisser to include various volunteer efforts at club and regional tournaments. Along the way, I have met many wonderful people from clubs all over the nation and have taken great pleasure in watching my children and many others mature and grow not only as athletes - but also as human beings. Patient and thoughtful guidance received from coaches, directors, armorers, and fellow fencers everywhere made that growth possible. Without question a diverse (and sometimes conflicting) array of opinions and approaches, but all of them shared one common thread - engagement. Their commitment and engagement is what has propelled me to seek greater involvement in the sport by seeking this position.

Aside from my own interest and club experiences, I also bring a variety of problem resolution, organization, and interpersonal skills developed in my professional career. I currently am devoting my career to working as a Special Education teacher for children with severe learning disabilities, many of whom have additional emotional or physical disabilities. Through this commitment, I have developed a high level of patience and perseverance in dealing with truly difficult problems. Prior to my move into teaching a few years ago, I had spent the bulk of my career in the IT field where I moved from entry level programming roles into executive positions. When I reflect on the many skills I developed over those years I believe the dispute resolution, problem solving, negotiation, and planning experiences will be most beneficial in a role on the Gulf Coast Division Executive Committee. Other potentially relevant experiences include membership in the Texas Executive Women's Council, a BA (MIS and Accounting) and an MBA from The University of Tulsa.

My goal as a Director-at-Large member is simple. I want to ensure that fencing remains fun and healthy for all of our youth and adult fencers. To accomplish this I intend to work diligently to ensure we enact fair and equitable measures and resolve disputes in an open and above-board manner. Differences do and will exist between members and between clubs, but if we do not begin now to work together and resolve them we will lose still more fencers to other activities - further diminishing the fun-factor that brought us into the sport in the first place.

Thank you for your consideration,

Susan McNamara

Manuel S. Rodriguez

I fenced while in college in the 1960's and continue to fence in the Boston area after my graduation from Wentworth Institute of Technology. My fencing coach was Zigurds Kaktins who was a member of the Latvian National Fencing Team. I relocated to Billerica Massachusetts and began my career as a research Radio-Pharmaceutical Chemist for New England Nuclear Corporation. During the 70's I formed a fencing club and coached for several years. I enjoyed being a coach and feel strongly about making a positive contribution to fencing as it has bought me many pleasant memories and I've made many friends which I still keep in touch throughout all these years.

I had a rewarding career at Shell Oil. I am the proud owner of seven patents (some are still pending) dealing with the invention of new molecules used in grafting to polyolefins via free radical initiated reactions to make super adhesives. Other patents, deals with the use of stable phosphine ligands used to convert olefins to alcohols . I was also the production manager in a project which we made iridium based heterogeneous catalyst for the Air Force, which was used as a secondary power source for the Air Force F-16 jet fighter. We also supplied NASA with similar catalyst power system used in the attitude adjustment of the Space Shuttle. This catalyst was also used to power electrical systems in the land rover now on the surface of mars.

Since my retirement I have been helping coach August, owner of Katy Blades with his intermediate and advance fencing classes. I have been sharpening my fencing skills by taking lessons from Augie and Sabina (Alliance Fencing Academy). Also. Kamilla (BCFA) has been helping me sharpen my skills as a referee in foil.

August Skopik

Personal Information:

  • Married to wife Sandi for 22+ years with three sons, Lance, Chase and Bryce.
  • Active fencer still on the Veteran and Open competitions in Epee, Foil and Sabre

Fencing Biography:

  • Began fencing at Texas A&M in 1980.
  • Seven time state champion in foil, epee and also two time three weapon champion.
  • Sectional champion in foil.
  • National Vet 40 epee champion 2003.

Fencing Administrative Background:

  • Texas A&M club president two years.
  • Gulf Coast Division Chairman
  • Southwest Section Chairman
  • Bayou City Blades President
  • 1986 Olympic Festival Venue Coordinator
  • A level 3 in foil and epee directing before my second knee injury in 1980.
  • Trained in bout committee by Nancy Anderson, and trained many of the people that trained the current bout committee members.
  • Club founder of Katy Blades Fencing Academy, a non-profit fencing club in Katy, Texas.
  • One of the administrative founders of the Houston Cup Fencing Circuit.

Goals for Fencing:

  • Increase fencing membership in the Gulf Coast Division by 50% through increased beginning class programs.
  • Increase tournament opportunities and training opportunities in the Gulf Coast Division in each age group and division competed on the national level.
  • Increase collegiate opportunities in fencing.
  • Increase opportunities in fencing for low and moderate-income individuals.
  • Provide increased competitive opportunities for nationally ranked fencers.
  • Work with various city groups in bringing in additional national tournaments.

Russell A. Stovall Ph.D.

I am not new to competition wrestling both in college and for the Marine Corps and being National Champion in Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Wild Horse race, although some what new to fencing I fence both Epee and Saber as will as some times Foil. I have the same drive I did in all the other sports at becoming the best I can possibly be. I have recently taken the testing needed so I could become a rated director in both Saber and Epee.

I am putting in for a Position at large so I can do whatever I can to help make this Division run as smoothly as possible as well as becoming a truly notable fencing community.