American Contract Bridge League
Unit 484   District 20

Profile

Phil Thurston

(Published November, 2001)

Phil Thurston is a multi-talented member of our Unit Board. He shines with more skills than merely bidding correctly and leading the right card. He's from New York, born on Long Island. His dad was in construction and the family moved often, living in seven states before he was five years old. Eventually, they returned to the East, to New Jersey. Phil went to Cornell University, majoring in zoology. He earned an MD, and practiced Internal Medicine in New Jersey for 16 years at one of the country's first HMO's.

Phil and Jenny (wife of 25 years), tried for a Hawaiian paradise, but escaped after a year. In 1997, they ventured to the Rogue Valley and discovered their Shangri-La. They bought a house immediately and wouldn't think of living elsewhere.

Phil's mom and dad played social bridge, and young Phil assuming that all grownups did, learned a bit about the game, and played a little in college. His career kept him away from the tables until he moved here. In spite of putting the game on hold for over 20 years, Phil kept up his membership in the ACBL. He finds the local members ''wonderful''; he is thrilled with the friendliness of the people. "Midtown New York bridge players are the opposite," says Phil. "We don't know what nasty means until we play at one of those clubs."

The Thurstons are great dog lovers! For years they owned Hungarian sheepdogs-puli. These show dogs won five
championships. Now, however, they are crazy about a couple of mutts picked up from the shelter named Charlie (Goren?) and Mimi. One is a Maltese and one is a Lab hybrid.

Phil has artistic leanings. Laid up with a broken knee in his younger days gave him time to try his hand and brush at painting and drawing. His real love now is portraiture, but he also paints landscapes. Also, he took up the viola shortly after retiring to the Rogue Valley; he is playing in a local orchestra! Modest about his achievements, he says: "I'm just learning."

Serving on the Board is a "good educational experience," Phil says. We need to recruit and keep a few good brains.

Duplicate bridge is much more than "shuffle, deal, and play;" it is an organization of people, an organization with a life of its own. Bridge in the Valley is organized as a Unit-one of over 300 in the country. Each Unit elects its own Board that is responsible for: supervising the clubs within its jurisdiction, supporting the programs and goals of the ACBL, and sponsoring and assuring successful Sectional tournaments.

Phil and Jenny play social bridge. Phil loves playing with many wonderful partners at the duplicate clubs. His expertise at the

bridge table has earned him over 350 master points. He remembers a time in Honolulu at the Nationals in the '60s when he had a pick-up partner and "placed!" He remembers the thrill of seeing his name in the Bridge Bulletin.

Phil ends his term as treasurer of the Unit this December, but he'll remain Manager of the Ashland Club next year.

The Rogue Valley Unit is indeed fortunate to have Phil on its Board of Directors and at the bridge tables at the clubs.

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