The Wichita darting community, through the years, has always considered themselves a part of family of friends with a common interest that brings us all together. Many friendships are made and many great memories and stories have come from these relationships. Some of us have known these people for many years. Sadly, some of our friends have passed away over the years. I am posting this page in remembrance of our fellow darters who are no longer with us.All of my information is not complete so I am counting on all of you to provide any information that is missing. If any of you have someone that should be added to this page please let me know using the link below. I would also like to post any pictures or stories about these individuals to share with everyone.
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These are posted in no particular order.
Ronnie was a great guy and a great darter. He was there in the early days of the WDA and was a formidable opponent. He was one of a handful of people that inspired my darts and my love of the game. Ronnie could get three darts in a board faster that anyone I have ever played including Speedy. I had the pleasure of playing Ronnie many times and winning very few games. Ronnie was part of the Wichita WDA contingent that travelled to many out of state tournaments and represented our association well and with pride. I made quite a few of these trips as well and always enjoyed the big man's company. After a long illness Ronnie passed away on 8-28-11.
H.L.
Leanne Olsen
Leanne Olsen lost her courageous battle with cancer June 24, 2011. A beautiful person both inside and outside, she always had a smile and a hug for me. What a lovely and gracious woman. Please keep Steve and their families in your prayers. She will be truly missed.
by Rose Casey
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Dale de Scale Casey.
Dale Casey was a dear friend of mine and a true Lizzard in every sense of what we stand for. Dale was loved by everyone. He was always quick with a smile and a story. He was an avid darter and has competed with some of the greats and held his own. He was also an avid fisherman and one of his favorite sayings was "Women love me and fish fear me". My wife and I had some great times with Dale and his wife Rose who shared both a Carribbean Blues Cruise and an awesome trip to the Telluride, CO. Blues and Brews Festival. Two of the best vacations I have had the pleasure to take. Dale was loved his Lizzard dart team and was a huge part of the LizzardPaloozas as well as ChiliPaloozas. He also had a big spot in his heart for basketball and was a star player in his college days. Look at the photo. How can you not like the guy! He will be missed by his family and friends. RIP my friend! The Lizzards will never be the same.
H.L.
Lanny Ross
Lanny Ross was one of a kind. He loved darting with the Rats and was a big part of their family.He was a great competitor and knew the meaning of teamwork and comraderie. I knew Lanny for quite a few years and have shared some great times with him at the Winfield Bluegrass Festival, Chicken Coop, LizzardPalooza and ChiliPalooza. At the Chicken Coop he was the only person to get me down the river on the float trip without sinking the canoe. Once in the water he discovered I had no clue as to how to steer a canoe. Boy was he surprised. Lanny was always welcoming and easy to talk to. You knew you were talking to someone who was sincere and cared. Lanny served in the military and was honored at his memorial with a 21 gun salute. An American flag was presented to his wife Vicki to honor his memory. Lanny was a great guy and will be greatly missed.
H.L.
Mike Carl
Mike was a very nice guy, respected darter and member of the WDA for a number of years. He had not been throwing for several years. He passed in March of 2010 and will be missed by his friends and fellow darters.
Vincent Blanchat
Vince, hmm, what can I say about Vince. He was a one of a kind character in his day to day life as well as in his darting escapades. Vince always had a great adventure to relate and was quick with a smile. He and his wife Sherry made a perfect pair and a formidable dart team. The Laid Back Club would not have been the same without the two of them.
Butch "Butcher" Waggoner
If legendary applies to darts then Butch in my book rates in that category. Butch was an excellent darter competing both locally and in regional tournaments. The finals board at Wichita's Air Capital Open has a plaque commemorating our friend. He was always a great guy to hang out with. When you were playing Butch, or in my case getting my butt kicked, he was always quick to give you encouragement. The picture at the left is Butch canoeing at the Chicken Coop in Noel, Mo. I was fortunate enough to spend several Coops with Butch and they are very fond memories indeed.
Butch was no stranger to the Laid Back Club as is attested by the shirt in the photo and was brother-in-law to Juanita Taylor at one time.
RIP buddy!
Pat "Fat Pat" Byrnes
Pat was a great guy and a good competitor. He was throwing back in the beginning days of the WDA along with his brother Brian Byrnes. Both are from back east and have that New York State of Mind. Pat would, and Brian still will tell you exactly what is on their mind straight up. A good friend that will be missed. Judging by the photo Pat was a good fisherman as well.
Lee Nicholson
I can't think of the early days of Wichita darting without Lee Nicholson coming to mind. He was President of the WDA around 1982 when I started darting. Lee did a great job as president and was always friendly and well respected.
Don King
Another darter from the early days. Don was a wild one that came off a little scary but was actually a very nice guy.
Mel Carter
A great friend, a great person, and a huge supporter of darting in Wichita Mel is sorely missed. He was a very big supporter and a very good friend of the Lounge Lizzards. Mel shot with Bill Little's team for many years out of the Sportsman's Edition Club and was also the editor of the WDA Newsletter for a while.
Mike Wall
Mike was another darter from the very early days of the WDA. At the risk of being repetitive I will say that Mike was a nice guy. He had the distinction of being one of the slowest throwing darters in the history of the WDA. Mike would put the utmost time and thought into each dart he threw and it paid off for him. He was a tough competitor.
Janet Taton (second from the left)
Janet is pictured here with her old teammates including her daughter Stacey just to her right. She was a nice gal and a good darter shooting both locally and at regional tournaments.
Sid Sadowski (second from the right)
Sid was a good shooter and a very personable guy. I don't have a lot of information on Sid so if you have any thing to add or a story to tell send it to me please.
Terry Boushka (spelling may not be correct)
What a gentleman and a great supporter of the WDA. Raggedy's Club was one of the early and largest headquarters for darinting in Wichita. In the latter days of the club as darts were starting to be phased out Terry Boushka stepped in and took darting under his wing. Terry bent over backwards to make Mary's Club a hotspot for darts. Hosting blind draws, league play as well as many special events including Spring Flings and Turkey Shoots he was alway willing to do that little bit extra. He was a genuinly kind and friendly man and it was a great loss to our darting community when he passed.
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Jim Caffrey
Jim was throwing back in 1982 out of the 54 Lounge on East Kellogg. Along with his friend Steve Latrell they were a team to be reckoned with and an arch rival of my old team out of the New English Pub on Seneca. An easy going guy in a cowboy hat Jim was liked by everybody.
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Corky Sigwing
Corky was a good darter, a nice guy and an old teammate of mine (HL). Corky was very intense in his dart games and always went for the win. He was a tough competitor who started out in the early days of WDA. His brother Ronnie Sigwing is still around and was an awesome darter back in the day.
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Ron "Beast" Beasley
Ron was a big bear of a darter. A teddy bear would be more accurate. Ron was always fun to be around and formidable competition at the toe line. Ron is the only darter I have ever competed against that would flip off and curse every single dart he would throw be it a good shot or bad.
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Ted White
Ted was not a great darter by local standards but certainly not a bad darter either. He was a very nice man and a good competitor. Ted has the distinction of having his own patented dart shot named after him. The "Ted" dart as Wichita darters fondly refer to the shot is hitting a Triple 18 while shooting at the 20. Ted was notorious for the shot so the legend says. If you have heard someone say they threw a Ted dart now you will know what they meant. I have actually seen Ted tee shirts at our local Air Capital Open commemorating Ted and his perpensity for Triple 18.
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Bonnie Sinclair
Bonnie was quite a character who was there in the beginning days of WDA. My recollection is her at Raggedy's Club and at Mary's. She was a wild gal who was always fun to compete against.
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Alex Gelonek
Alex was a sweatheart of a gal. She was the wife of Dennis Gelonek and they threw together on various teams together for a number of seasons in the WDA. Alex also served on the WDA Executive Counsel for awhile.
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Jim Dutcher
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Roger Skinner
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Sue Williams
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Larry Baker
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