Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2006 18:37:01 -0400
From: Ted White <twhite8 at cox.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Former WSFANs get a Worldcon
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

Michael Walsh wrote:

> > --- Ted White <twhite8 at cox.net> wrote:
> >
[about Ron Bennett:]
> >>
> >> He became a fan in the mid-'50s, in the UK.  Won TAFF in 1958,
> >> which is how I met him.  He rode back to the east coast from the
> >> Worldcon in Los Angeles in Bob Pavlat's car (just to tie this a
> >> bit closer to WSFA),
>
>  It just occured to me.... how many WSFAns know who Bob Pavlat was?

Good question.  Are present-day WSFAns aware that Bob was one of the
founders of this club?  Or that he was married to Peggy Rae, siring a
son, Eric, with her?

Like most of the club's founders, Bob had stopped coming to meetings by
1954, when I joined. He was still an active fan, however, and he and
Bill Evans and Chick Derry started coming to meetings again that fall.
I immodestly credit myself:  I was then an active fan and Bob knew of me
that way.  When I started bringing other active fans, friends of mine,
to WSFA meetings, it rejuvenated the club and Bob's (and Bill's and
Chick's) interest in it.  This resurgence of interest in the club on
their part led directly to the revival of Disclave in 1958, and to the
club's decision to bid again for a Worldcon, which was done
unsuccessfully in 1960 and successfully 1962 (for 1963).

Bob was a good friend of mine.  We drove together to Cincinnati for a
Midwestcon in 1957 (my first Midwestcon), and out to Los Angeles in 1958
for the Worldcon.  That cross-country trip was done in coordination with
fans from New York City, Detroit and Chicago, in four or five cars.  We
met up each evening at a prearranged place (a motel), went out to dinner
together, and had an early party each night.  Virtually a traveling
party.  Great fun.

--Ted White