Inducted in 2023, Paul W. Smith, award winning broadcaster, has used his 50,000 watt powered microphone at WJR (fittingly “The Great Voice of the Great Lakes”) to enthusiastically support Mackinac Island and Stone Skipping for well over 25 years. “Before meeting Paul in person”, writes Eric Steiner, “we conducted phone interviews. When we eventually met, I knew I had found my broadcasting partner. Receiving a text from Paul W at 4:50 in the morning confirmed that I had found a great friend.” Eric’s beach-front reports to Paul W. Smith on Detroit radio station WJR (760 AM) were a key element of the tournament’s longevity.
That partnership between Paul W. Smith and Eric “The Voice” Steiner culminated in one of the greatest public relations event ever for Mackinac Island Stone Skipping… the broadcast of the 52nd Annual Mackinac Island Tournament in 2020 on ESPN8: The Ocho with Paul W. Smith and Eric Steiner partnering beach side for play-by-play and color commentary.
Inducted in 2023, Eric Steiner has been “The Voice” of Mackinac Island Stone Skipping for over 23 years. His live beach-front play-by-play commentary from the patio of Hotel Iroquois has entertained and educated throngs of stone skipping fans for almost a quarter century as professional stone skippers face off in the Invitation portion of the tournament conducted at high noon each year. After the death of legendary Michigan PR Man W. T. “Bill” Rabe, Eric carried on the PR torch, continuing to publicize the tournament world-wide. Under Eric’s tenure the 50th Annual Tournament was featured on NBC’s Today show and the 51st and 52nd Tournaments were broadcast on ESPN.
Hotel Iroquois, has been a stalwart supporter of The Mackinac Island 4th of July Stone Skipping Contest since it was moved to Windermere Beach in 1971. Proprietor Sam McIntire provided banners and pennants that drew tremendous crowds. He also facilitated W. T. Rabe’s Beach-Front Patio Press Room complete with telephone land-line that was instrumental in spreading the news of the growing sport via WJR, WWJ and other radio stations across the country. Most importantly, Hotel Iroquois’ waiters and waitresses have been efficiently quenching the thirst of Stone Skipping volunteers for 45 years. Hotel Iroquois was inducted into the MISSHOF in 2017.
Ryba’s Fudge contributed to the lure and legend by making “Fudge” and “Stone Skipping” synonymous. In the early 1970s Harry Ryba suggested that the Little David Trophy should be accompanied by a year’s supply of fudge. The delectable award has lured many now famed professionals to the sport with the rallying cry “Will Skip for Fudge”, made famous by former world record holder Russ Byars. Ryba generously donated the edible award and offered delivery in two ways, lump-sum of 52 pounds or monthly distributions of four pounds each. His business savy techniques later trickled-down to financial institutions and retirement plan investments where lump-sum distributions have become common practice. Ryba’s Fudge was inducted into the MISSHOF in 2017.
The historic Grand Hotel, owned and operated by three generations of the Musser family, has supported Stone Skipping for almost half a century. In the early 1970s, the hotel began the tradition of hosting the Annual Awards Banquet the evening before the 4th of July contest. Revered hotelier R.D. Musser, Jr. also underwrote the Winter Rules Committee Meeting held at The Detroit Press Club on the day after Thanksgiving for many years. In those early years, effective press exposure was key to the growing popularity of the sport. Grand Hotel was inducted into the MISSHOF in 2017.
Bud Cooper was the first official to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Bud was a Mackinac Island Stone Skipping Judge from 1984 to 1990 and Judge ad auxilium vocatus from 1990 to 1992. As Lake Superior State University’s Athletic Director for 26 years, “Bud” increased the rigor and legitimacy of Stone Skipping as a sport. Under his watchful eye Stone Skipping earned a stellar reputation as a “clean” sport, above the scandals that have plagued other major sports in America. Bud Cooper was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
Marilyn Black has been an active promoter of Stone Skipping for almost 25 years. She conceived the now famous Rock In River Festival Pennsylvania Qualifying Stone Skipping Tournament, held in Franklin, PA., a sanctioned qualifying event of the 4th of July Mackinac Island Stone Skipping Contest. Marilyn’s creative genius brought to light the Babe Ruth of stone skipping, six time World Champion and current World Record Holder, Pennsylvania native Russ “Rock Bottom” Byars. Marilyn has continued to promote responsible Stone Skipping and preservation of our great water ways. Marilyn was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
Since the founding of the Mackinac Island Stone Skipping Hall of Fame, the Tellefson Rock has been symbolic of the pinnacle of stone skipping. The base of the trophy is hand crafted from lumber harvested from a 35 foot white pine felled with a double-bit axe wielded by the great Commander E. M. Tellefson himself. The trophy is crowned with a rock excavated from the famed Point aux Pins on Mackinac Island Michigan.
Commander E. M. Tellefson was known as the “The grand old man of stone skipping” and was a legendary ambassador of the sport. His 17-skip stone at Point Aux Pins in 1932 stood unchallenged for 25 years and was the inspiration for the founding of the Mackinac Island Stone Skipping and Gerplunking Club in 1969. The commander opened the Mackinac Island 4th of July Stone Skipping Open Tournament annually with his traditional and now famous cry: “Let he who is without Frisbee cast the first stone.” The Commander was an inaugural inductee into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
