Duplicate Bridge Association of Atlanta

Unit 253 Goodwill Nominee – 2025

Tom Drinkard

Unit 253 is proud to nominate Tom Drinkard to become a member of the District 7 Goodwill Committee. 

During college Tom and his partner won a Regional Student tournament and won a trip to the Nationals in that event.  After college he lived in Boston before settling in Atlanta in 1977.  Tom took a sabbatical from bridge after he retired from tournament directing in 1991, but fortunately for us he has returned.

Tom has made significant contributions to our bridge community over the years.  He is both a fine player and a gentleman in all respects, with a dry self-deprecating sense of humor.  It is always a pleasure to see him coming to the table, even if it means bad boards for us.  Tom continues to give back to the game of bridge as a super volunteer.  He has served several years on the Board of Unit 253, and of course now has the important leadership role of President.

Tom is a well-deserving, long overdue nominee to become a member of the Goodwill Committee.

Unit 253 Goodwill Nominee – 2025

Rich Overholt

Rich Overholt is an outstanding nominee to become a member of the District 7 Goodwill Committee.

First and surely foremost it is a pleasure to play at the same table with Rich, whether as a partner or opponent.  He is always jovial, courteous and nice to be around.  He has a great sense of humor that is appreciated by all.  Rich’s enthusiasm for the game and eagerness to learn is beyond comparison.  Please don’t mention your favorite bridge book to him; he’ll probably buy it the next day.  His persistence has paid off, as he is now a versatile partner and a formidable opponent.  While playing ability by itself is not a principal metric for a Goodwill nomination, it does show his incredible devotion to bridge.

Rich has added a lot to our bridge community.  He became a director not long after moving to the area, and now directs at Bridge Club of Atlanta.  In addition, he teaches both at the club and on cruise ships. 

Lastly, Rich volunteers his time for our game.  In addition to working most days at the 2023 Atlanta NABC, he participated in the DBAA mentor program and continues to mentor beyond the program timeframe. 

 GOODWILL COMMITTEE

The Duplicate Bridge Association of Atlanta is proud to support both the ACBL and District 7 Goodwill Programs.

The Goodwill Committee exists to promote the concepts of goodwill within the game of bridge and to recognize ACBL members who demonstrate the highest standards of sportsmanship, volunteerism and ethical behavior.  The District 7 Goodwill Comittee includes members who were appointed to the ACBL Goodwill Committee by their District Director and members who were nominated hy their Unit

District 7 accepts nominations of new Goodwill members from the Units in odd-numbered years.  These individuals are honored for their exemplary behavior and volunteer work that can range from helping at tournaments and clubs, mentoring, teaching, and/or promoting bridge through various means such as fundraising or administrative work.  Members who are selected from their Unit receive a District 7 Goodwill Committee pin and are invited to attend an induction ceremony at the Goodwill banquet, which is held biennially in odd-numbered years at the Greenville Regional.

Additional information on the Goodwill Committee may be found at the links below, or by contacting Judy Fendrick at bobfendh@bellsouth.net.

http://district7bridge.org/home/goodwill-message/

Awards & Recognition • American Contract Bridge League (acbl.org) 

The listings below reflect the Unit 253 Goodwill members as of September 1, 2024.