Dear Hall of Fame Supporter,
Thank you for helping make the 2025 U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Dinner at the Los Angeles Table Tennis Association (LATTA) such a meaningful event. With Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) as our title sponsor and Tawny Banh as our host, the evening felt like a true celebration of our sport’s history and community.
We honored four remarkable individuals:
Betty Henry (Link)
Bronze medalist in Women’s Singles at the 1938 World Championships in London at age 15 years, 10 months. She remains the youngest singles medalist in World Championship history. The Henry family, led by Dennis Henry, helped bring her story back into the spotlight after many years.
David Del Vecchio
For more than a decade, David has been the backbone of table tennis broadcasting in the United States. His direction and live streaming work for major events allowed players and fans around the world to follow our sport at a high level.
Stellan Bengtsson
The 1971 World Men’s Singles Champion. We were pleased to recognize his Hall of Fame induction in person this year after travel issues kept him away in 2024. His influence as a coach and mentor continues to shape generations of players.
Connie Sweeris – Mark Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award
A member of the original Ping-Pong Diplomacy Team and a champion over many decades. Connie has devoted her life to playing, organizing, and promoting table tennis, often working side by side with her husband, Dell, including their leadership roles in hosting the U.S. Open in Grand Rapids.
Many Hall of Famers attended, including Dell Sweeris, Donna and David Sakai, Insook Bhushan and Shekhar, Angie Bengtsson, Wei Wang and Diego Schaaf, Patty Martinez Kahn, Wendy Hicks, Larry Hodges, Christian Lillieroos, and our host Tawny Banh. We were also honored to have Pete May present, Master of Ceremonies Derek May guiding the program, and NCTTA’s Joseph Wells helping with induction duties. South Bend’s Brad Balmer spoke about the importance of clubs in building both strong players and strong communities, which remains central to our mission.
We extend a special thank you to a number of our long-time supporters:
Major League Table Tennis
Senoda, Inc.
Bowie Martin of Bowmar Table Tennis / Butterfly
Ryan Hoarfrost of Paddle Palace
Todd Sweeris
Dennis Davis
Dennis Taylor
Roman Tinyszin
Their generous annual donations help us recognize inductees properly, support youth events, and preserve our shared history.
In Memory
As we close this year, we also pause to remember members of our Hall of Fame family who left us all too soon:
Yim Gee, father of Hall of Fame inductees Diana Gee (2009) and Lisa Gee (2014)
Chuck Hoey, 2008 inductee and respected historian
Dean Johnson, 2015 inductee
Norman Bass, Jr., 2018 inductee
Sebastian DeFrancesco, 2021 inductee
Dick Hicks, 2001 inductee
Their impact on players, clubs, and the larger table tennis community will not be forgotten.
Looking Ahead
In the coming year, the U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame will continue to:
• Support the Minnesota High School Team Championships, directed by Hall of Famer Mitchell Seidenfeld.
• Assist with the Si and Patty Wasserman Youth Event.
• Preserve archives, stories, photos, and video that tell the history of table tennis in the United States.
• Connect our Hall of Fame legacy with grassroots projects that reach new players and communities.
How You Can Help
The U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your contribution is tax deductible. Your support allows us to fund induction activities, youth initiatives, and preservation work.
You may donate online at:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=JNQQUTV7A5DJC
or mail a contribution to:
U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame
7055 SW Leslie Street
Portland, OR 97223
We will share video highlights from this year’s induction dinner soon. I hope they bring back good memories and show how strong our community is when we come together.
Thank you for your continued support of the U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame.
With appreciation,
Sean P. O’Neill
President, U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame
