|
Don and DeVerle Little
Don Little began his bridge life in the playpen while his parents played bridge. This made no bridge impression. His first bridge experience came while a freshman at the College of William and Mary. Someone said “We need a fourth,” and he was drafted.
His interest was stimulated and followed him to the United States Military Academy. During his sophomore summer at camp in the evenings, he partnered with another cadet and they were good (never aware of how little they really knew). His first duplicate game occurred in 1957 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with his late wife Carole.
When he was assigned to duty in Germany, they continued play. There they competed in a team competition with teammate “Mrs. Abrams.” Her husband, Creighton, went on to four stars, led U.S. forces in Vietnam, and became Chief of Staff, U.S. Army.
Serious bridge began in Frederick, Maryland in the 1970s. Don partnered with Jim Occhipinti and with Jim he won his only A-level event....a Senior Pairs game in Washington, D.C. Too many times, defender Jim would not cover declarer’s finessing lead of a queen, thus causing Don’s ten to not become a winner. Don named this “The Occhipinti duck.”
More entertaining than this was the Paul Soloway story. While Don and Carole were at a tournament at Myrtle Beach, a friend talked them into a team competition. At that time, the lowest seeded team played the top seed. Don and Carole were playing a convention developed by Soloway. Once seated, they saw their teammates sitting with Paul Soloway and Ron Anderson (among best pairs in country at that time). Twice Carole and Don reached a minor suit slam while 3 notrump was played by Paul and Ron. Their table opponents asked what secret was behind their bidding minor suit slams. Don’s simple reply was “We play the Paul Soloway Jump shift bidding system.” Apparently top players sometimes abandon their own creations. The latest evidence of this was in 2010 at a Regional Tournament. Don and DeVerle, playing modified Cappelletti, asked him [Cappelletti] about it. His reply “I play Meckwell.”
On the other side of things, DeVerle’s life did not center on bridge until Don came along. Although, like Don, I would be the fourth at college bridge. I earned a BA in Journalism at The Ohio State University. I was especially glad having chosen this as a major because I had the enviable opportunity to interview the great Woody Hayes. I was so nervous I don’t remember what the subject was.
In the meantime and long before Don, I worked for Globe Industries in Dayton, Ohio. They built the pump that rotated the film of the camera worked by Ed White during his first space walk. There I had the opportunity to view first-hand that unique accomplishment.
Taking a position with the Internal Revenue Service (where I worked for 29 years) enabled me to return to West Virginia and Washington, DC. Washington remains my favorite city of all of those I have visited. While an Internal Revenuer I was honored with the Information Systems Woman of Distinction of Award for my contributions to the community and individual work ethic.
Together with my former husband and in addition to my daytime job, we completed the land development for three subdivisions in West Virginia; and designed, built, or remodeled seven homes.
While living in Trinity, FL, I volunteered for 3 ½ years for the Salvation Army Domestic Violence Program at their safe house. An enlightening, but depressing, experience.
I regard each day an adventure and look forward to what lies ahead.
DeVerle Little
June 2011
| 