Birthday
Tribute to Judy From Gary Powers of the NRDHOF August 6, 2010
Judith Lynn Arnold was born on this day, August 6, in 1944. And yep, we always
identify Judy as women's captain of the legendary PHILADELPHIA WARRIORS and for
being Roller Games' first true superstar, but think about her birth year for a
moment and then you begin to be overwhelmed by the accomplishments of this
superstar of the banked track.
As a fan, she loved the skating ability and showmanship of both Hall-of-Famers
ANN CALVELLO & CHALRIE O'CONNELL, two stars of the late 50s Bay Bombers, and she
would later combine the best part of each into her own skating persona. This
San Francisco native was 'Rookie-of-the-Year' with the BAY BOMBERS in 1961. She
was first named women's captain of the HAWAIIAN Warriors in 1965, taking over
from Hall-of-Famer MARY LOU PALERMO. Trained and nurtured by the original
Roller Derby, she kept moving back and forth from one league to another,
wherever her considerable young talents were needed, doing whatever was asked of
her as she learned her craft from ANNIS 'Big Red' JENSEN, SHIRLEY HARDMAN & JOAN
WESTON. She spent the '66 campaign backing up Weton on the Bay Bombers, then
headed back to National, eventually coming East with the Warriors in the Fall of
'67.
There's no doubt these Warriors were strong and powerful and laden with skating
talent. As we've said time and time again, they were the most 'Derby' team in
the history of National, but the young, blonde Judy Arnold (already a veteran at
the astounding age of twenty-three) captivated an entire region with her
agility, gracefulness and personality. Not only did the fans become enthralled
with her, but the sports media did, too. She was not only attractive, not at
all the stereotype with which some brazenly categorized Roller Derby women, but
she seemed to possess a talent that made it all seem too easy. Everyone - other
skaters, fans and the media - wanted to be in her orbit and she accepted all
this with a kindness and graciousness that made her all the more endearing. The
true measure of her greatness on the banked track is when other legendary stars
of the game like JUDY SOWINSKI and JAN VALLOW and SALLY VEGA and DIANE SYVERSON
express how they loved skating against Arnold because Judy always brought out
the best in them.
Judy Arnold was arguably the best all-around female skater when she retired in
the summer of '75, the same month as her 31st birthday. She had devoted half
her life to the banked track sport and now it was time to take her 'giving back'
to another level. Judy Arnold has spent the second half of her life inspiring
others to improve their lives and to be all they can be. For those of us who
watched her for so many years as the premier star of Roller Derby, it came as no
surprise.
When the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame & Museum reopened in September,
2004, JUDY ARNOLD was one of the first new inductees alongside JOAN WESTON,
JULIE PATRICK and JUDY SOWINSKI, three women who had nurtured her and provided
her with some of the best competition. Many will tell you she was the best of
the best, ranking right up there with GERRY MURRAY & MIDGE 'Toughie' BRASUHN.
That we got to see her week-after-week in Philadelphia with the Warriors was an
unexpected and profound gift. That we continue to experience the wonder of Judy
Arnold is a blessing indeed. She will always be one of the greatest ladies in
the history of Roller Derby and one of God's most divine creations.
Happy Birthday, Judy Arnold! Thanks for the memories.
