American Contract Bridge League
Unit 484   District 20

Profile

Stan Fancher

(Published May 2001)

I sat down with Stan on a recent Monday morning at the Rogue Club to learn a little bit about him. (It turned out to be a day of accurate bidding and skillful play. Stan, paired with Tony Alfano, eclipsed the would-be stars while earning a 71 % game. This outstanding score was gained without a rabbit's foot in his pocket, a four-leaf clover in his billfold, or excessive caffeine in his veins.)

Stan is a relative newcomer to duplicate bridge. He took lessons from Phil and Diane Selby in 1994. He joined the ACBL and began playing in 1996. Since then he has amassed over 225 Master Points. Stan loves the game and finds it a great arena for meeting nice people and making friends. Bridge is not as demanding, physically, as golf-his passion of yesteryear.

Stan still remembers some awesome hands he played in Sectionals and Regionals. First-place wins have escaped him, but runner-up is his friend.

Stan serves us as Unit Vice President. He has served in other capacities as well. Last year he was Membership Chairman and Treasurer. In addition, he held a two-year term as President of the Ashland Club Board.

orn in the small town of New England, North Dakota, young Stan and his family played whist for entertainment. He lived all his early life in North Dakota, and he attended the University of North Dakota before joining the Navy for a three-year hitch. Once out of the Navy, he earned the rank of "Railroad Conductor" and worked in this capacity for ten years. He was subsequently promoted to "Federal Railroad Investigator," a position he held for twenty-five years.

Stan and his wife, Audrey, are retired. They have been living in Ashland for fifteen years. They have one grown daughter.

Turning to a general ACBL problem, I asked Stan, "How can we increase our membership?" He was quick to reply. "Easybridge! This program that we're instituting in the Valley seems to be a winner. Hopefully, because of it, new members will flock to us."

Stan is concerned about the questionable behavior of a few of our members. Once these problems are solved, new members will surely be attracted.

We all appreciate Stan's contributions to our game. He's earned an overall rating, not of 7 I %, but of 100%. And of course, he ranks first.

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