New England Hall of Fame
/Leon O'Dell// Organizer/Player		1999
Leon O'Dell became interested in horseshoe pitching by watching others pitch during lunch breaks where he worked. In 1965, a neighbor and friend by the name of Fred Butler (himself a Hall of Famer) would pitch shoes with Leon in his back yard. Not only did Leon learn to pitch, but within a few short years, he became an elegant one, averaging in the 50 - 55% range. Leon and his wife, Carol lives in Shaftsbury, Vermont. They have one child, Susan and three grandchildren, Aaron, Alyssa, and Emily. Leon has been a member of the Vermont Horseshoe Pitchers Association and the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association for some twenty - eight years. Leon won the "Most Improved Player Award" in 1986, and played in two World Horseshoe Tournaments in 1987 and 1988. In 1989, Leon was inducted into the Vermont Horseshoe Pitchers Association's Hall of Fame as an "Organizer". Perhaps his most notable accomplishment dates back to 1971. In that year, Leon and a few horseshoe buddies worked endless nights and weekends laying out and creating the "BENNINGTON HORSESHOE CLUB" and forming a league. Sometimes working by himself for a few hours at a time. Leon has kept the club together over the years. He was Vice-President in 1970-1971 of the " BENNINGTON HORSESHOE CLUB", became President of that club in 1971 and held that office until 1982. In 1985, Leon became President again and has held that office to date in 1999.