Cc: Ward Lutz ; Paul Stewart ; Joe Faron ; Dick Hansen ; Barry Chapelle ; Mary Bastian

Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 11:52 AM

Subject: Your Ltr April 13, 2005

Thank you for expressing interest in trying to re-establish a horseshoe pitching base at the Joelton courts. Your proposal has been discussed among the NHPF and NHPA Directors and I imagine other parties you copied. While your goals are all good, the overall proposal and factors surrounding Joelton are not sufficiently compelling.

The NHPF was unable to make the outdoor courts available to you for a couple of reasons. While one related to personal items of Jack Freeman being stored in the locked enclosures to which we had no key, the prime reason was that the NHPF could not obtain insurance on the property. Even if we had been successful in finding an insurer, it is likely that your offer of $1500 a year would not have covered more than 1/4 of the annual premium based upon what Dr. Freeman paid when insurance was available. Add to that the annual property taxes, utilities and general maintenance and it is estimated that the NHPF would have a minimum expense of $20,000 per year just to open the facility to the THPA.

The NHPF Directors all regret the unforeseen circumstances brought on by the unexpected death of Jack Freeman. He was the reason the NHPF was there. His generous donations, his unfinished work to build the Hall of Fame and his efforts to expand the base horseshoe pitchers in the club and THPA. With his death, the lack of insurance and no active large club on site, the NHPF Directors and NHPA Officers feel it is best to move the Hall of Fame. In so doing, the Joelton property will have to be sold and regrettably, we don't know of another Jack Freeman who could purchase the courts to keep horseshoe pitching active there.

We all feel some sorrow in having to leave Joelton. It is a great facility at a location that unfortunately was not supported by a large segment of local pitchers or a majority of the NHPA membership. In the long run, the NHPA believes horseshoe pitching will be better served if the Hall of Fame and NHPF pitching facility is more centrally located with a large club available to utilize and maintain it.

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The Tennessee Horseshoe Pitchers Association would like to make a formal proposal to the NHPF. We would like the National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation to agree in writing not to sell the complex at Joelton, built and partially donated by Dr. Jack Freeman, for a minimum of three years.

Should the NHPF accept our proposal, the THPA is prepared to donate a minimum of $1500 per year for those three years for a minimum total of $4500 to the NHPF.

Recently the NHPF sighted "a lack of activity" at the courts as a reason to move. Since Dr. Freeman passed away the THPA has been unable to do anything there. How can "a lack of activity" be a reason to move, when what the NHPF did own was not available for use. Last year, the THPA was prepared to clean up the outdoor building, put in port-a-johns at THPA expense, lay a drive to the outdoor courts across NHPF land at THPA expense and were told the THPA could not use the courts.

Tennessee’s "small charter membership" was also stated as a reason to move. One needs to remember during the winter season, the Freeman courts traditionally has had pitchers from Kentucky, Indiana, and Alabama, to name a few, as well as those from Tennessee attending tournaments. Because the Freeman courts are centrally located, "snowbirds" from the northern states passing through on their way to warmer climates, schedule their visit to include a tournament.

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Joelton Courts (Email from Dave Loucks 14 Dec 04) Posted with permission from author

My NHPF articles in Newsline have pretty much covered the situation. The Jack Freeman Estate problems continue to have the courts in a lock-down. There are several factors involved. Personal property of the estate is stored in both the indoor and outdoor courts. Locks to the indoor courts have been changed. Utilities to the outdoor, NHPF owned courts, are controlled by the estate. The NHPF had made an offer to the estate to purchase the indoor courts only to find that the estate couldn't give the NHPF clear title because title was held by a Trust, separate from estate assets. Further, unexpected claims have apparently been made against the estate. My knowledge of the details and overall estate problems are limited by only what the attorney cares to share with me.

Because of the inactivity, the uncertainty of when things might be resolved, the lack of an active horseshoe club at Joelton and a small State membership, the NHPF Directors all feel the Hall of Fame might be better located in another State. I have therefore had discussions with other potential sites and last month, visited two. If an offer acceptable to the NHPF Directors were forthcoming from one of them in the near future, it is likely that the NHPF would enter into serious negotiation and put the Foundation owned property in Joelton on the market.

NHPF News & Views

by Dave Loucks

as published Mar/Apr 2005 Issue of NEWSLINE

There has finally been a breakthrough in the settlement of the Jack Freeman estate at least as far as the NHPF goes. Title to the indoor courts has apparently been cleared and a contract to purchase those is under review by NHPF attorney's in Nashville. Basically, the indoor courts and land on which they set, with an appraised value of $220,000, needed to sell for at least $200,000 in order for the estate to avoid further tax problems. After initially being told that the NHPF would not pay more than $100,000, the estate attorney offered a proposal. Would we pay $200,000 if the estate could arrange for $100,000 donation to be made to the NHPF? The Directors agreed and this is the basis of a lengthy real estate contract that is now under review. Should all go well, escrow should close some time in April. After that and pending an expected proposal from St. Charles County, MO, to locate the Hall of Fame there, the NHPF Directors will decide whether to stay in Joelton or put the property up "For Sale" and move the Hall of Fame elsewhere.

My last article stated that the year 2004 ended on a disappointing note as far as contributions went. That was basically true at the end of November when my article had to be in the hands of the Newsline editor. However, December improved and January continued well as a number of new contributors rang in, mostly from the State of Virginia. We also had two contributors reach the $500 level, Alice Garcia of California and Mel Yockstick from Colorado. With them, we now have 100 individuals, clubs or associations who have contributed $500 or more. If you look at the State Ranking list, it is sad to realize that these 100 have each contributed more than the totals for 12 different States. In fact, the 20 bottom States combined haven't yet reached 100 contributors.

Let's hope that during 2005 horseshoe pitching will grow in members and prosperity. The Joelton site issue should be resolved and a Hall of Fame location determined. The NHPF, by its non-profit tax-exempt charter, has to work for you, the NHPA and the development of Horseshoe Pitching. Make it a point this year to support our sport by sending your tax-deductible contribution to the NHPF at P.O. Box 1628, Penn Valley, CA 95946. Those that donate $25 or more will receive an acknowledgement letter of thanks.