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207_14 | 1968
At the beginning of 1968, the western end of the fortified part of the barrier stretching from Khe Sanh through the special forces camp at Lang Vei, which was still under construction, was attacked by the multiple North Vietnamese troops. The special forces camp at Lang Vei was overrun and Khe Sanh was placed under a limited siege. The Battle of Khe Sanh lasted for 77 days. In July 1968, General Abrams, a newly appointed US commander in South Vietnam, ordered Khe Sanh and the surrounding area to be abandoned. The base was dismantled and all the infrastructure along Route 9 toward Laos, including roads and bridges, was systematically destroyed. |
207_15 | On October 29, 1968, all construction work on the physical barrier along the demilitarized zone on South Vietnam's side was ceased. The physical infrastructure created for the barrier was converted into a series of strong-points and support bases for the new strategy of mobile operations. This marked the end of the McNamara Line as an operational strategy. |
207_16 | Significance of the barrier strategy
In his memoirs, Robert McNamara insisted that the barrier, or the system, as he chose to call it, was able to cut to a degree an infiltration rate of the NVA to South Vietnam. However, constructed segments turned to be inefficient in stopping the NVA despite being costly to build and maintain. In March 1969, most of the strong points of the barrier manned by troops were abandoned. A system of sensors to provide surveillance of the truck routes coming from Laos was a success, but its counterpart for the foot trails was never deployed. Many special munitions ordered for the barrier turned to be ineffective or simply failed. In 1969, Defense Secretary Melvin R. Laird testified in Congress that goals set for the anti-infiltration barrier were not met despite high cost. |
207_17 | An official account of the Vietnam War, published in the Secretaries of Defense Historical Series, stated that the interdiction significance of the barrier remained contentious. At the same time, it reserved harsh words for McNamara's inability to listen to the opponents and called the so-called McNamara Line:
The strategic meaning of the Dye Marker, as well as a whole McNamara Line, which were to stretch westward into Laos, was to curb the infiltration of South Vietnam by the NVA forces. This would have allowed McNamara to scale back the American bombing of North Vietnam and start negotiations with Hanoi. However, the Tet Offensive demonstrated the futility of such plans.
The defensive barrier system was also criticized at the time of its inception for keeping American troops in static positions while facing mobile enemy forces. After the Tet Offensive, the criticism intensified, and Senator Stuart Symington (D-Missouri) called the barrier a "billion dollar Maginot line concept". |
207_18 | See also
De Lattre Line
Operation Igloo White
Operation Kentucky
Operation Buffalo (1967)
References
Further reading
Documents
Memo for Mr. Rostow from Gen E. G. Wheeler from Aqust 30, 1967. Declassified on Feb. 24, 1983. The Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University. |
207_19 | Books and articles
Brush, Peter. "The Story Behind the McNamara Line", Vietnam Magazine, February 1996, 18β24.
Deitchman, Seymour Jay. "The Electronic Battlefield in the Vietnam War", Journal of Military History 72 (July 2008), 869β887.
Gibbons, William Conrad. The U.S. Government and the Vietnam War: Executive and Legislative Roles and Relationships. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1986.
Reinstein, Thomas A. "Seeking a Second Opinion: Robert McNamara's Distrust of the U.S. Intelligence Community During Operation Rolling Thunder", Federal History 8 (2016), 26β47.
Stanton, Shalby L. The Rise and Fall of an American Army: US Ground Forces in Vietnam, 1965β1973. Novato, Calif: Presidio, 1995.
Twomey, Christopher T. "The McNamara Line and the Turning Point for Civilian Scientist-Advisers in American Defence Policy, 1966β1968", Minerva, Volume 37, Issue 3, p.Β 235β258. DOI 10.1023/A:1004741523654 |
207_20 | External links
The McNamara Line UShistory.com
Project Dye Marker, information by the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Military operations of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War sites
Fortifications in Vietnam |
208_0 | The People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China has had many divisions since it was officially established in 1949. |
208_1 | Infantry divisions
1st Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division β 1st Group Army, Nanjing Military Region. Listed in Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
2nd Infantry Division β division transferred to the People's Armed Police to become the 8690 Unit (often referred to as the 2nd Armed Police Mobile Division) in the 1990s.
3rd Division (1st Formation) of the 1st Group Army was deactivated in 1952.
3rd Division (2nd Formation) was formed in May 1969 and now active as 7th Armed Police Mobile Division.
3rd Division (3rd Formation) was renamed from the 7th Division in December 1969 and is now active as 3rd Motorized Infantry Brigade.
4th Division β Xinjiang Military District, Lanzhou Military Region - (Jane's Sentinel p.Β 91)
5th Division (1st Formation) is now the 5th Xinjiang Agriculture Construction Division.
5th Division (2nd Formation) was reduced to a brigade in 1985.
6th Division (1st Formation) is now 2nd Xinjiang Agriculture Construction Division. |
208_2 | 6th Division (2nd Formation) β Lanzhou Military Region.
7th Division (1st Formation) is now 3rd Motorized Infantry Brigade.
7th Division (2nd Formation) is now the 7th Armed Police Mobile Division.
8th Division (1st Formation) was disbanded in 1952 when the 3rd Corps was merged into the 1st Corps.
8th Division (2nd Formation) was formed in 1969 from 1st Cavalry Division. It's now 8th Motorized Infantry Division.
9th Division - disbanded in 1952.
10th Division - disbanded in 1952.
11th Motorized Infantry Division - Western Theater Command, formerly Lanzhou MR. Military district.
12th Division
13th Division
14th Division
15th Division
16th Division
17th Division
18th Division
19th Division
20th Division First formation 1949-50, became 7th Artillery Training Base. Reformed.
21st Division
22nd Division
23rd Division
24th Division |
208_3 | 25th Division - In May 1953, the 25th, 26th and 27th Divisions of the 9th Corps were reorganized as 7th, 8th and 9th Agriculture Construction Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, respectively.
26th Division
27th Division
28th Division - 28th Army Division to 1969. Then redesignated 205th Division.
29th Division β with 15th Army served in Korean War. Now as 56th Motorized Infantry Brigade.
30th Division (1st Formation)(People's Republic of China)
30th Infantry Division (2nd Formation)(People's Republic of China)
30th Army Division (3rd Formation)(People's Republic of China)
31st Division β with 11th Army during Sino-Vietnamese War. Chengdu MR JSENT p.Β 91. First formation became the 36th Motorized Infantry Brigade (People's Republic of China). Second formation remains the 31st Motorized Infantry Division (People's Republic of China).
32nd Division β with 11th Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict. |
208_4 | 33rd Division β Served in the Korean War as the 33rd Independent Division. Second Formation was 33rd Army Division (2nd Formation)(People's Republic of China) from 1979-85.
34th Division β 12th Army with 31st, 34th, and 35th Divisions entered Korea on March 25, 1951. Routed during the Battle of the Soyang River.
35th Division
36th Division
37th Division β with 13th Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict
38th Division β with 13th Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict
39th Division β with 13th Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict
40th Division β 14th Group Army - Chengdu MR. Served in S-V War with 14th Army (People's Republic of China). JSENT p.Β 91.
41st Division β served in Sino-Vietnamese War with 14th Army.
42nd Division β served in Sino-Vietnamese War with 14th Army.
43rd Division - formed 1949, disbanded 1950. |
208_5 | 43rd Airborne Division β 89th Division (People's Republic of China) reorganised as an airborne formation, renumbered, now airborne with 15th Airborne Army.
44th Airborne Division β now airborne with 15th Airborne Army. Served in Korea War. Entered Korea with 15th Army in February 1951.
45th Airborne Division β now airborne with 15th Airborne Army. Served in Korea War. Entered Korea with 15th Army in February 1951.
46th Division
47th Infantry Division
48th Infantry Division
49th Division
50th Division
51st Division Formed twice. Second formation became the Independent Division of Hubei Provincial Military District.
52nd Division Formed three times. Second formation became the 149th Motorized Infantry Division. Third formation became the 52nd Mountain Motorized Infantry Brigade.
53rd Division. Formed twice. Second formation became 53rd Mountain Motorized Infantry Brigade.
54th Division |
208_6 | 55th Division. Originally 19th Corps. 19th Corps was in 1969 at Wuwei, Gansu with the 55th, 56th, and 57th Divisions.
56th Division
57th Division. Formed twice. First formation became 1st Fossil Oil Engineer Division. 57th Division (Second Formation).
58th Division β 20th Group Army, but commanded by the 50th Army during the Sino-Vietnamese War. Converted to a brigade in 1999.
59th Division β Component of 20th Army during Korean War. Disbanded 1985.
60th Division
61st Division β 21st Army served in Korea War. Now 21st Group Army, Shaanxi Province. JSENT p.Β 90 Listed FAS, 21st GA
62nd Division β 21st Army served in Korea War.
63rd Division β 21st Army served in Korea War.
64th Division
65th Division
66th Division
67th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 23rd Group Army, 'demobilised' during 2003 reductions cycle (Blasko 2006, 77). With 23rd Army in Korea.
68th Division β subordinate to Shenyang MR. Now 68th Motorized Infantry Brigade, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang (from 23rd Group Army). |
208_7 | 69th Division β Shenyang MR. JSENT p.Β 91 Listed FAS. With 23rd Army in Korea. Now 69th Motorized Infantry Division, Harbin, Heilongjiang (from 23rd Group Army).
70th Division β served with 24th Army in Korea. Now 3rd Guard Division.
71st Division. Disbanded. 71st Division formed later.
72nd Division β with 24th Army served in Korea War.
73rd Division β with 23rd Army served in Korea War.
74th Division β with 24th Army served in Korea War.
75th Division
76th Division
77th Division β 26th Army served in Korea War
78th Division β 26th Army served in Korea War
79th Division β 27th Army
80th Division β 27th Army
81st Division β 27th Army
82nd Division
83rd Division
84th Division
85th Division
86th Division β 31st Army. Second formation 86th Motorized Infantry Division (People's Republic of China) β 26th Army served in Korea War
87th Division
88th Division β 26th Army served in Korea War
89th Division β operating with 20th Army in Korea. Disband in February 1951.
90th Division, 1949β1950 |
208_8 | 90th Division, 1950β1952
91st Division β 31st Army
92nd Infantry Division β 31st Army
93rd Infantry Division β 31st Army
94th Division β with 27th Army served in Korea War. Disbanded in February 1951.
95th Division - In October 1950 32nd Corps was disbanded and the division was absorbed into the Air Force. On February 14, 1951, the division was reorganized and renamed as 14th Aviation Division.
96th Division
97th Division
105th Division
106th Division β 36th Army - Airfield construction labor during Korean War
107th Division
108th Division
109th Division β 37th Army - Airfield construction labor during Korean War
110th Division
111th Division
112th Division β 38th Army
113th Division β 38th Group Army
114th Division (People's Republic of China) - 38th Group Army
115th Division β 39th Army
116th Division
117th Division
118th Division - Part of 40th Army. 40th Army entered Korea on October 19, 1950 and was the first Chinese formation to make contact with UN forces in Korea. |
208_9 | 119th Division
120th Division
121st Division β 41st Army during Sino-Vietnamese War
122nd Division β 41st Army during Sino-Vietnamese War
123rd Division β 41st Army during Sino-Vietnamese War
124th Division β 42nd Army during Korean War and Sino-Vietnamese War
125th Division β 42nd Army during Korean War and Sino-Vietnamese War
126th Division β 42nd Army during Korean War and Sino-Vietnamese War
127th Division β fought in Korean War and with 43rd Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict
128th Division β with 43rd Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict
129th Division β with 43rd Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict
130th Division
131st Division
132nd Division- with 43rd and 44th Corps/Armies in the 1950s. Now on Hainan Island as 132nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade since 2003.
137th Division (People's Republic of China)137th Division
138th Division - probably originally with 46th Army. 1949-1953 disbanded and reorganised as PLAAF Second Aviation School. |
208_10 | 139th Division β 47th Group Army, Lanzhou Military Region
140th Division
141st Division
148th Division β 50th Army Entered Korea on October 26, 1950. Fought with 50th Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict.
149th Division β 13th GA - Suchuan Prov JSENT p.Β 90 Listed FAS, 13th GA. Belonged to 50th Army while it fought in Sino-Vietnamese border conflict
150th Division β 50th Army - Fought with 50th Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict.
153rd Division
154th Division
155th Division
156th Division - disbanded June 1949, Korean troops to 7th Division, KPA.
157th Division
158th Division
159th Division
160th Division β 54th Army, Sino-Vietnamese border conflict
161st Division β 54th Army, Sino-Vietnamese border conflict
162nd Division β 54th Group Army, Sino-Vietnamese border conflict - Jinan MR; JSENT p.Β 90.
163rd Division β with 55th Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict |
208_11 | 164th Division β 164th Division (1st Formation)(People's Republic of China) became 5th Division, KPA, 1949. Reformed twice. With 55th Army during Sino-Vietnamese War.
165th Division β with 55th Army during Sino-Vietnamese border conflict
167th Division β possibly existed under 56th Army according to US intelligence during the Korean War.
179th Division β 12th Group Army; fought in Korean War under 60th Army
180th Division β fought in Korean War under 60th Army.
181st Division β fought in Korean War under 60th Army
187th Division β 63rd Army during Korean War
188th Division β 63rd Army served in Korea War. Now Beijing Military Region.
189th Division β 63rd Army served in Korea War. 189th Infantry Division (1985β98), then reduced to 189th Motorized Infantry Brigade (1998-2003). Disbanded 2003.
190th Division β 64th Army served in Korea War. Listed by Blasko as with 39th Army, 2006.
191st Division |
208_12 | 192nd Division β listed by Blasko 2006 as the 'Liaoning Army Reserve 192nd Infantry Division, Shenyang,' Shenyang MR
193rd Division β 65th Army during Korean War. Entered Korea on February 23, 1951. Decimated during the Battle of the Imjin River.
194th Infantry Division (People's Republic of China)
195th Infantry Division (People's Republic of China)
196th Division β 66th Army Entered Korea on October 27, 1950. Served in Korea War
197th Division
198th Division β 66th Army
199th Division β 67th Army served in Korea War. 67th Army left Korea in September 1954.
200th Division β 67th Army served in Korea War
201st Division β 67th Army served in Korea War
202nd Division β 68th Army served in Korea War. 68th Army left Korea in April 1955.
203rd Division β 68th Army served in Korea War
204th Division β 68th Army served in Korea War.
205th Division
205th (II)
206th (I)
206th (II)
207th (I)
207th (II)
207th (III)
207th (IV)
208th
209th (I)
209th (II)
210th (I)
210th (II)
211th Division |
208_13 | 212th Division
213th Division
214th Division
215th
216th Division
217th Division - 1949-1952; deactivated to provide replacements for the People's Volunteer Army in Korea.
218th Division Active until October 1950 as part of 53rd Corps (People's Republic of China).
219th Infantry Division. Formed from 164th Division. Active 1952-60 and then 1960-70 as 219th Army Division, part of 55th Corps (People's Republic of China).
220th
250th |
208_14 | Armored divisions
1st Armoured Division - belong to Beijing MR
2nd Armored Brigade (People's Republic of China) - with 12th Group Army, Nanjing Military Region
3rd Armoured Division - with 39th Group Army,
4th Armoured Division (1998-2011), now 4th Armored Brigade
5th Tank Division (People's Republic of China) 1967-98
6th Armored Division (People's Republic of China)
8th Tank Division from 1967β98; Armored Division 1998-2011, 8th Armored Brigade from 2011.
10th
11th
12th
The IISS Military Balance 2012 listed nine armoured divisions as part of the People's Liberation Army. |
208_15 | Artillery divisions
1st Artillery Division
2nd Artillery Division
3rd Artillery Division
7th Artillery Division
8th Artillery Division
9th Artillery Division (1st Group Army)
21st Rocket Artillery Division
22nd Rocket Artillery Division
31st Anti-Tank Artillery Division
33rd Anti-Tank Artillery Division
61st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
62nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
63rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
64th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
65th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
70th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
102nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division |
208_16 | Aviation divisions
1st Fighter Division - stationed at Anshan, Liaoning
2nd Fighter Division - stationed at Suixi, Guangdong
3rd Fighter Division - stationed at Wuhu, Anhui
4th Aviation Division - division disbanded as a fighter formation in 2003, with 10th Regiment going to 30th Division as 89th Regiment. It was re-established as a transport division at Qionglai Air Base in 2004.
5th Aviation Division Seemingly disbanded between 2014 and 2017.
6th Fighter Division - stationed at Yinchuan, Ningxia
7th Fighter Division - established December 1950 flying fighters, at Dongfeng, Jilin. - stationed at Datong, Shanxi |
208_17 | 8th Aviation Division - established in December 1950 flying bombers at Siping, Jilin. Originally had 22nd and 24th Regiments. Scramble.nl, accessed mid 2015, indicates there are at least six regiments of H-6 bombers. All three regiments of the division fly the aircraft - the 22nd, 23rd (former 143rd Regt/48th Div), and 24th. On November 11, 1965, Li Xianbin (T:ζι‘―ζ, S:ζζΎζ), a PLAAF Ilyushin Il-28 captain of the division flew his bomber numbered 0195 from Jianqiao (T:η§ζ©, S:η¬ζ‘₯) air base in Hangzhou to Taoyuan County, Taiwan (now Taoyuan City), and this became the first fully operational Il-28 in western hands. The radio operator / tail gunner Lian Baosheng (ε»δΏη) was found dead at the scene and the navigator Li Caiwang (ζζζΊ) was captured alive after a suicide attempt. Both survivors were honored and rewarded with positions in the Republic of China Air Force. |
208_18 | 9th Aviation Division - established in December 1950 as a fighter division at Jilin, Jilin. Transferred to PLA Naval Aviation as 5th Naval Aviation Division in September 1955; reestablished at Ganzhou in March 1956. Stationed at Foshan, Guangdong
10th Aviation Division - established at Nanjing, Jiangsu in January 1951 as a bomber-flying division. In the Eastern Theatre Command.
11th Aviation Division - established in February 1951 as a ground-attack formation in Xuzhou, Jiangsu. Long part of the Shenyang Military Region. Stationed at Siping, Jilin
12th Fighter Division - established in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang in December 1950 as a fighter unit. Stationed at Yantai, Shandong
13th Aviation Division - stationed at Wuhan, Hubei |
208_19 | 14th Fighter Division - formed February 1951 at Beijing Nanyuan Airport from elements of the disbanding 95th Division. Stationed at Nanchang, Jiangxi. The division fought in Korea, as a mixed MiG-9/MiG-15 fighter unit. Started its second combat tour in April 1953 and ceased combat in July 1953. It appears that in September 1992 the 146th Regiment of the disbanding 49th Air Division may have become the 42nd Regiment.
15th Fighter Division absorbed the 41st Division in 1985.
16th Aviation Division Originally established as 19th Inf Div. In August 1988, the division became the Shenyang Military Region Air Force Aviation Training Base, and the regiments were successively changed to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Regiments of that Base.
17th Aviation Division; on 26 October 1988 the division was reorganized into the Beijing MR Training Base.
18th Aviation Division (People's Republic of China) - stationed at Nanning, Guangxi |
208_20 | 19th Aviation Division (People's Republic of China) - stationed at Zhengzhou, Henan The 57th Regiment, 19th Air Division, at Lianyungang, was re-established from 2nd Regiment, Jinan MR Training Base, in 2010 with J11 after it had been previously disbanded in 1988. However it became a regiment of the reformed 32nd Division in 2012.
20th Aviation Division (People's Republic of China)
21st Aviation Division (People's Republic of China) - stationed at Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang; absorbed 39th Aviation Division in 1998.
22nd Aviation Division - transferred to Shenyang MRAF 1985; disbanded in September 1992. Merged into the 11th Aviation Division; 33rd Aviation Regiment disbanded; 65th and 66th Regiments became "Kong 32 and 33" regiments of the 11th Aviation Division.
23rd Aviation Division (People's Republic of China) - division disbanded on August 27, 1985, along with its 67th and 69th Regiments.
24th Fighter Division - stationed at Tianjin. |
208_21 | 28th Aviation Division - stationed at Hangzhou, Zhejiang
29th Fighter Division - stationed at Hangzhou, Zhejiang
30th Fighter Division - stationed at Dandong, Liaoning
31st Aviation Division - formed May 1960 in the Jinan Military Region.
32nd Aviation Division In 2012 the 57th Regiment, 19th Division got subordinated to the re-formed 32nd Division as 95th Regiment.
33rd Fighter Division - stationed at Chongqing
34th Transport Division - stationed in Beijing
36th Fighter Division - stationed at Xi'an, Shaanxi
37th Fighter Division - established August 1966, stationed at ΓrΓΌmqi, Xinjiang
38th Aviation Division - established June 1967.
39th Aviation Division - established June 1967; absorbed into 21st Aviation Division and disbanded 1998.
40th Aviation Division - established July 1969. |
208_22 | 41st Aviation Division - established in JulyβAugust 1969 in Inner Mongolia, seemingly from training units. Disbanded on November 17, 1985, with the 121st Regiment becoming the 44th Regiment in another division, and the 122nd and 123rd Regiments disbanding.
47th Aviation Division - merged with 6th Aviation Division, no longer active.
48th Aviation Division - established April 1971
49th Aviation Division - established April 1971
50th Aviation Division - established April 1971; merged with 8th Aviation Division in 1985. in August 1985, the 149th Regiment of this division was reassigned to the 8th Aviation Division. |
208_23 | Engineering divisions
1st Railway Engineer Division
2nd Railway Engineer Division
3rd Railway Engineer Division
4th Railway Engineer Division
5th Railway Engineer Division
6th Railway Engineer Division
7th Railway Engineer Division
9th Railway Engineer Division
10th Railway Engineer Division
11th Railway Engineer Division
52nd Engineer Division (People's Republic of China)
See also
Chinese People's Volunteer Army order of battle
References
Citations
Sources
xvii, 228 pp.
Jane's Sentinel, China/North East Asia, JuneβDec 2000.
External links
Andrew Chan, PLA forces during the Sino-Vietnam clashes, Orbat.com, v.1.0 July 29, 2001.
http://www.militaryobservation.info/across-the-vast-to-18-from-70-infantry-army-group-army/
People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army divisions |
209_0 | U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee "USOPC" under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating Union ("ISU"). Although the name of the organization is βthe United States Figure Skating Associationβ it is now known as and conducts business under the name βU.S. Figure Skating.β Founded in 1921, U.S. Figure Skating regulates and governs the sport and defines and maintains the standard of skating proficiency. It specifies the rules for testing, competitions, and all other figure skating related activities. U.S. Figure Skating promotes interest and participation in the sport by assisting member clubs, skaters, and athletes, appointing officials, organizing competitions, exhibitions, and other figure skating pursuits, and offering a wide variety of programs. |
209_1 | Athletes and officials who represent the United States at international figure skating competitions are selected by U.S. Figure Skating.
The Association is a non-profit organization.
History
In 1921 the United States Figure Skating Association was formed and became a member of the International Skating Union. At the time of its formation, the Association was composed of seven (7) charter member clubs including: Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club, The Skating Club of Boston, Chicago Figure Skating Club The Skating Club of New York, Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society, Sno Birds of Lake Placid, and Twin City Figure Skating Club (which became the Figure Skating Club of Minneapolis in 1929). |
209_2 | Since its inception through 1947, the governance activities of the Association were centered in New York City. The annual Governing Council meetings, as well as the annual Executive Committee meetings, were all held in New York City. In 1949 the Association transferred its offices to Chicago, Illinois. The offices were again moved, this time to Boston, in 1950. In 1979, the Association moved into its current headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This followed the USOC's move to Colorado Springs a year earlier in July 1978.
In the 1930s, the Association made an effort to increase the number of competitive events by creating the three sectional championships, Eastern (1938), Midwestern (1933), and Pacific Coast (1936). |
209_3 | In 1959, the Eastern and Pacific Coast Sections expanded their qualifying competitions by adding three Sub-Sectionals Championships each. The Eastern Section created the New England, North Atlantic, and South Atlantic Regions, while the Pacific Coast Section established the Central Pacific, Northwest, and Southwest Pacific Regions. It wasn't until 1962 that the Midwestern Sectional finally added their regional championships to the qualifying competition cycle.
The abbreviated name, "USFSA" was first used in April 1921 and trademarked in 1972. The distinctive shield logo was adopted in 1964 and used until 2003 when U.S. Figure Skating instituted its current logo.
In 2006, the Executive Committee was eliminated. At the same time the Board of Directors was reduced to sixteen members from its previous 29 members.
As of May 5, 2007, the Association officially adopted the name "U.S. Figure Skating" and dropped the abbreviated name of "USFSA". |
209_4 | Governance
U.S. Figure Skating is an association of clubs, governed by its members and its elected officers at national, regional and club levels. As of June 2011, U.S. Figure Skating had 688 member, collegiate, and school-affiliated clubs and a membership of 180,452. Each member club may send delegates to the annual Governing Council meeting.
Governing Council
U.S. Figure Skating has a representational government. Clubs and individual members appoint delegates. The number of delegates representing a club and the individual members depends on the prior year's paid registered member. Athlete delegate representation is required to be 20 percent of the prior year's registered delegate and proxy votes. Collectively these delegates meet annually (typically early May) to review, amend and ratify the actions taken by the Board since the prior year's Governing Council. This annual meeting of the appointed delegates is called the Governing Council. |
209_5 | Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is charged with the management of the business and affairs of U.S. Figure Skating. It is currently composed of sixteen (16) members including: the president, three (3) vice presidents (one from each section), the secretary, the treasurer, four (4) group coordinators, two (2) coaches, and four (4) athletes.
Presidents
Anne Cammett is the current president of U.S. Figure Skating. She began her term in 2018. The prior presidents are listed below.
Past presidents
Committees
Committees, in particular the Permanent Committees, are responsible for proposing and enforcing the rules of the U.S. Figure Skating. Other special committees may undertake other projects, such as nominations and other ad hoc matters.
Permanent committees
The following table shows the Association's permanent committees: |
209_6 | Mission statement
βAs the national governing body, the mission of the United States Figure Skating Association is to provide programs to encourage participation and achievement in the sport of figure skating on ice.β
Operations
Executive Director
The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of U.S. Figure Skating. Mr. David Raith is currently serving in that capacity and has done so since 2005. He is charged with carrying out the policies, programs, and goals of the association as approved by the Board of Directors.
Departments
The departments that support U.S. Figure Skating's operations reside at its headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. These departments are staffed by full-time employees. They administer and manage the association's day-to-day affairs. |
209_7 | Finance
The Association is a non-profit organization. As of June 30, 2011, U.S. Figure Skating had revenue, support, and gains of approximately $24.9 million derived primarily from dues, admissions and activity fees, skating events, sponsorships, broadcast and licensing, publications, grants, and other sources. The association expended approximately $12.9 million on its various programs and services plus an additional $2.4 million on management and general administrative expenses, under which the departments listed under the βOperations β Departmentsβ are included. |
209_8 | Officials
Member clubs arrange to hold test sessions and competitions. The competitions are conducted under the supervision and authority of U.S. Figure Skating appointed officials. The member club (for competitions, the club is sometimes called the local organizing committee or βLOCβ) is responsible for many of the ancillary functions of the test session or competition (registration, transportation, event monitoring, hospitality, messengers, copying, etc.). For national and international events, U.S. Figure Skating headquarters staff also provides logistics and event support. The officials are responsible for actually running the test sessions, competitions, and associated individual events. All the officials at test sessions and competitions are unpaid volunteers. |
209_9 | Officials receive their appointments from U.S. Figure Skating after demonstrating a certain level of proficiency, and in some cases, after trialing or taking written examinations. In most cases, officials are appointed at three (3) levels; regional, sectional, and national.
Below is a list of officials at a typical large competition. For the 2012 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, 70 officials were assigned along with over 50 alternate officials. The parenthetical number is how many people were assigned to the respective positions. If there is no number, only one person was assigned.
Organization
U.S. Figure Skating's members, clubs, and qualifying competitions are divided into three (3) geographical sections, that are further divided into nine (9) regions.
Eastern Section
1Erie, PA
2excluding Erie, PA
Midwestern Section
1excluded for Synchronized only
2Upper Peninsula
3Lower Peninsula
4excluding Kansas City and St. Joseph's
5excluding Chattanooga
6Kansas City and St. Joseph's |
209_10 | Pacific Coast Section
1all cities north of and including Visalia
2for Synchronized only
3all cities south of Visalia
4Las Vegas
5excluding Las Vegas
Types of membership
U.S. Figure Skating has nine (9) types of membership:
U.S. Figure Skating programs
U.S. Figure Skating offers many programs to accommodate a wide range of skill and interest levels. |
209_11 | Testing |
209_12 | Testing allows figure skaters to demonstrate that they have achieved a certain level of skating proficiency. Tests progress in increasing difficulty and focus on power, strength, speed, quickness, flow, extension, and edge quality and control. Tests are conducted under the auspices of member clubs and administered during test sessions. Usually, three (3) test judges (the judge panel), of appropriate level, determine the outcome of the tests on a pass / retry basis. Tests up to a certain level may be judged by a single, sufficiently qualified, judge. Some higher-level dance tests require judges certified in dance judging to attend. The member club is responsible for reporting the results to U.S. Figure Skating. U.S. Figure appoints test judges at various levels (bronze, silver, and gold) based on trial judging and their judging experience. According to their level, test judges are qualified to determine the outcome of increasingly difficult tests. Test judges are invited by the member |
209_13 | club to participate in a given test session. Skatersβ testing levels passed determines at what level they may compete. For qualifying competitions, skaters must pass the free skate test at the level for which they intend to compete. U.S. Figure Skating still offers tests in compulsory figures, however, this discipline was last competed at a national championship competition in 1999. |
209_14 | Singles and adult skaters must show they are proficient at a given level by passing two (2) tests at each level, moves in the field ("MIF") and free skate ("FS"). Additional test are conducted in the pairs skating, free dance and pattern dance discipline. Each member of a synchronized skating team must pass the appropriate test of single's competitor.
Tests must be completed in the order of increasing difficulty. They may not be taken out of turn. However, a singles skater may take as many moves-in-the-field tests before taking any free skate tests. Once a free skate test is passed, a competitor may only compete at that level at qualifying competitions. There are four (4) test levels specific to adult figure skating. Adult skater must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older.
Standard track levels |
209_15 | 1The test panel consists of three test judges of these levels or higher, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS.
2The test panel consists of three dance test judges of these levels or higher.
3A single bronze or higher test judge, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS, may also judge this level.
4A single silver or higher test judge, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS, may also judge this level.
5A single silver or higher dance test judge may also judge this level.
Adult track levels |
209_16 | 1The test panel consists of three test judges of these levels or higher, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS.
2The test panel consists of three dance test judges of these levels or higher.
3A single bronze or higher test judge, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS, may also judge this level.
4A single silver or higher dance test judge may also judge this level.
5A single silver or higher test judge, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS, may also judge this level.
Pattern dance
The Compulsory dance was renamed pattern dance.
Each level of pattern dance, with the exception of international, consists of three or four individual dances. Preliminary skaters must pass the Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango, and Rhythm Blues, while gold-level skaters must pass the Viennese Waltz, Westminster Waltz, Quickstep, and Argentine Tango. There are currently ten dances at the international level. |
209_17 | 1The test panel consists of three dance test judges of these levels or higher.
2The test panel consists of one or three dance test judges of these levels or higher.
3A single bronze or higher dance test judge may also judge this level.
4A single silver or higher dance test judge may also judge this level.
Synchronized skating
Synchronized skating teams are not required to pass any tests as a whole. Each individual team member must have passed the appropriate moves-in-the-field test.
1Preliminary moves in the field, dance, or figure is also acceptable.
Qualifying and international competitions
Every year, U.S. Figure Skating sanctions numerous non-qualifying competitions, shows, and carnivals. In addition, it annually sanctions qualifying regional and sectional competitions, in various disciplines, that lead up to championship competitions. The Association also selects those athletes and officials that represent the United States at international competitions. |
209_18 | Regional competitions
The following regional competitions are held in singles skating:
Sectional competitions
The following sectional competitions are held in singles, pairs, ice dance, adult, and synchronized skating:
Championship competitions
The following championship competitions are held in singles, pairs, ice dance, synchronized, adult, and collegiate skating:
* Effective September 1, 2012, the U.S. Junior Championships (for Juvenile and Intermediate level competitors) was eliminated and those levels are held in conjunction with the U.S. Championships. |
209_19 | International competitions |
209_20 | U.S. Figure Skating selects the athletes and officials that represent the United States at international figure skating competitions (Team USA). These competitions include the ISU Junior Grand Prix, Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, the ISU Grand Prix, the World Synchronized Skating Championships, the World Figure Skating Championships, and the Olympic Games. Although the participants for Worlds and the Olympics are most often the top placers at US Nationals, there have been several times when other skaters have been selected due to injuries preventing them from competing at Nationals; Nancy Kerrigan being selected for the 1994 Olympics over 2nd-place finisher Michelle Kwan is one example. Most recently 2014 4th-place finisher Ashley Wagner was selected over 3rd place Mirai Nagasu ostensibly because of Wagner's more consistent international record; however because of Wagner's many endorsement contracts her selection has raised concerns about the fairness of the process |
209_21 | (since U.S. Championships are not used as a straightforward Olympic trials). |
209_22 | Sponsors
U.S. Figure Skating has a number of sponsors, suppliers, and licensees that provide support to the association either financially or by supplying other goods and services. U.S. Figure Skating also makes available its logo and sanctioned content, primarily competitions, to various licensees.
Media
Skating magazine is the official publication of U.S. Figure Skating. Established in 1923, 11 issues are published annually.
The association also houses the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame in its headquarters building in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
U.S. Figure Skating maintains two Internet domains, usfsa.org, established in 1997 and usfigureskating.org, established in 2003.
U.S. Figure Skating also has Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace accounts as well and a YouTube channel and Flickr website.
The association has an RSS feed and can push alerts and content via text messaging. |
209_23 | Ice Network
In 2005, U.S. Figure Skating partnered with MLB Advanced Media to set up Ice Network, LLC. Ice Network, LLC is a wholly owned by U.S. Figure Skating. In 2018, Ice Network's website closed.
Memorial Fund
Formation and purpose
On February 15, 1961, the entire United States figure skating team was killed when Sabena Flight 548 crashed en route from New York City to Brussels, Belgium. The team was going to participate in the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Among the team members that perished were 18 athletes, seven coaches and managers, three judges and referees, and six team family members. Within one week of the tragedy, the association announced the formation of a memorial fund in honor of the lost team members. |
209_24 | "The mission of the Memorial Fund is to provide qualified U.S. Figure Skating members in need of financial aid with monetary assistance to pursue their goals both inside and outside the competitive arena. The fund is committed to awarding skating and academic scholarships to those athletes who have demonstrated excellent competitive results and/or academic achievements, and who have potential in national and international competitions." |
209_25 | RISE
In 2009, U.S. Figure Skating commissioned the production of a full-length feature documentary film commemorating the 50th anniversary of the loss of the 1961 U.S. World Figure Skating Championship team and exalting figure skating in the U.S. The movie, RISE, was produced and directed by the Emmy-award-winning company, Lookalike Productions of Englewood, NJ. The film was released on February 17, 2011, for a one-night presentation through NCM Fathom. It was shown again for an encore presentation on March 7, 2011. Proceeds of the movie were used to further the mission of the Memorial Fund.
See also
Sabena Flight 548
Footnotes
References
Further reading
External links
Web Site
U.S. Figure Skating
RISE - Can the end of one dream give rise to another? |
209_26 | Social media
U.S. Figure Skating's Facebook Page
U.S. Figure Skating's Twitter Page
U.S. Figure Skating's YouTube Channel
U.S. Figure skating's Flickr Photostream
U.S. Figure Skating's Myspace Page
U.S. Figure Skating's RSS Feed
U.S. Figure Skating's Text Alerts
Figure skating in the United States
Figure skating organizations
Figure
Sports in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Organizations based in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Sports organizations established in 1921 |
210_0 | Clarence Lee Brandley (September 24, 1951 β September 2, 2018) was an American who was wrongly convicted of the rape and murder of Cheryl Dee Fergeson in 1981. Brandley was working as a janitor supervisor at Conroe High School in Conroe, Texas where Fergeson was a 16-year-old student athlete visiting the school from Bellville, Texas. Brandley was held for nine years on death row. After lengthy legal proceedings and community outcry that eventually ended in the Supreme Court of the United States, Clarence Brandley was freed in 1990. After his release, Brandley was involved in further legal proceedings over child support payments that had accrued over his time in prison, and ultimately with an unsuccessful $120 million lawsuit against various agencies of the State of Texas.
The crime |
210_1 | Cheryl Dee Fergeson, a 16-year-old junior at Bellville High School, was murdered on August 23, 1980. Fergeson was part of a school volleyball team playing a match against another high school in Conroe, Texas. Her body was found in the loft above the school auditorium.
Suspicion immediately fell on two of the custodians, Brandley and Henry (Icky) Peace, who had found the body. During their joint interrogation β as Peace would recount β Texas Ranger Wesley Styles told them, "One of you is going to have to hang for this" and then, turning to Brandley, added, "Since you're the nigger, you're elected."
Investigation |
210_2 | Co-workers' statements
The three claimed to have seen the victim enter a girls' restroom near the school gymnasium, and then to have seen Brandley walking toward the restroom with an armload of toilet paper. They claimed that they told Brandley there was a girl in the restroom, and that he replied that he was taking the toilet paper to the boys' restroom. They did not see him again until about 45 minutes later, after a search had begun for the missing student. The fourth white custodian, Peace, subsequently added that Brandley was insistent on immediately searching the loft and, when they found the body, calmly checked for a pulse and then notified the authorities. All four said that only Brandley had keys to the auditorium where the body was found. |
210_3 | Brandley's statements
Before an all-white Montgomery County grand jury on August 28, 1980, five days after the crime, Brandley professed innocence. Although he contradicted his white co-workers in several respects, he acknowledged that he had disappeared for perhaps 30 minutes about the time the murder was believed to have occurred. He said he was in the custodian's office smoking and listening to music alone. He also testified that a number of other persons had master keys that would open the auditorium and, in any event, that doors near the stage usually were propped open with a two-by-four.
Trials |
210_4 | December 1980
Brandley went on trial in December 1980 before an all-white jury. The prosecution's case was based entirely on circumstantial evidence and witness statements, as there was no physical evidence linking Brandley to the crime. Pubic hair with so-called "negroid characteristics" were allegedly found on the body, but no expert testimony was given at trial to indicate they belonged to Brandley. These hairs were subsequently lost from the prosecution's exhibits and have never been recovered. Spermatozoa recovered from the victim's body had been destroyed β without having been tested to determine whether Brandley could have been its source. Moreover, a fresh blood spot had been found on the victim's blouse that had not come from her and could not have come from Brandley. The spot was Type A, but Brandley had Type O blood. |
210_5 | One juror found the evidence insufficient to establish guilt, forcing Judge Sam Robertson, Jr. to declare a mistrial. The name of the holdout juror, William Shreck, became public knowledge, leading to anonymous harassing telephone calls. One man, whose anonymous communication was monitored by police, threatened Shreck, "We're going to get you, nigger lover."
February 1981
Brandley's second trial in February 1981 was held before a different judge, but another all-white jury. The prosecution did not call John Sessum, one of the original witnesses. Later it was discovered that the prosecution had decided not to use Sessum because he no longer was willing to support the other custodians' versions of events, even though he had been threatened with being charged with perjury if he refused to go along. |
210_6 | The prosecution presented a different witness who had not testified previously. He was Danny Taylor, a junior at the school, who had worked briefly as a custodian but was fired before the crime. Taylor claimed that Brandley had once commented β after a group of white female students walked past them β "If I got one of them alone, ain't no tellin' what I might do." |
210_7 | Dr. Joseph Jachimczyk, medical examiner for Harris County, testified that the victim had died of strangulation and that a belt belonging to Brandley was consistent with the ligature used in the crime. In closing argument, District attorney James Keeshan mentioned that Brandley had a second job at a funeral home and suggested that perhaps he was a necrophiliac and had raped Fergeson after she was dead β an argument that could not have been made in good faith because Keeshan had a report stating that Brandley only did odd jobs at the funeral home and had never been involved in the preparation of bodies for burial. The defense objected to Keeshan's remark as inflammatory, but Judge John Martin overruled the objection. |
210_8 | Post-conviction
Eleven months after Brandley was convicted and sentenced to death, his appellate lawyers discovered that exculpatory evidence had disappeared while in the custody of the prosecution, including a Caucasian pubic hair and other hairs recovered from Fergeson's body that were neither hers nor Brandley's. Also missing were photographs taken of Brandley on the day of the crime showing that he was not wearing the belt that the prosecution claimed had been the murder weapon. The missing evidence was all the more troubling in light of the pretrial destruction of the spermatozoa. |
210_9 | Much was made of the willful destruction and disappearance of the potentially exculpatory evidence in Brandley's appellate briefs, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and death sentence without mentioning the issue. "No reasonable hypothesis is presented by the evidence to even suggest that someone other than [Brandley] committed the crime", said the court. Brandley V. Texas, 691 S.W.2d 699 (1985). |
210_10 | Brenda Medina, who lived in the nearby town of Cut and Shoot, Texas, saw a television broadcast about the Brandley case. Saying she had been unaware of the case until then, she told a neighbor that her former live-in boyfriend, James Dexter Robinson, had told her in 1980 that he had committed such a crime. Robinson had previously worked as a janitor at Conroe High School. Medina said she had not believed Robinson at the time, but now it made sense. At the neighbor's suggestion, she went to see an attorney, who took her to see District Attorney Peter Speers III, who had succeeded Keeshan in the job when Keeshan ascended to the Texas District Court bench. Speers quickly concluded, or so he said, that Medina was unreliable, and therefore that he had no obligation to inform Brandley's lawyers. The private attorney she had consulted thought otherwise, however, and brought her to the attention of the defense. |
210_11 | State habeas corpus sought
After obtaining Medina's sworn statement, Brandley's lawyers petitioned the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for a writ of habeas corpus. The court ordered an evidentiary hearing, which was conducted by District Court Judge Ernest A. Coker.
Before calling Medina to testify at the evidentiary hearing, Brandley's defense team called Edward Payne, father-in-law of Gary Acreman, one of the school custodians who had testified at both Brandley trials and who was now suspected by the defense of having been a co-perpetrator of the crime with Robinson. Payne testified that Acreman had told him where Fergeson's clothes had been hidden two days before the authorities found them. |
210_12 | After Medina related details of Robinson's purported confession, Brandley's lawyers called John Sessum, the custodian who had testified at the first trial but not the second. Sessum's testimony was in sharp contrast to what he had said at the first trial. He now said he had seen Acreman follow Cheryl Fergeson up a staircase leading to the auditorium and then heard her scream, "No" and "Don't." Later that day, Acreman warned Sessum not to tell anyone what he had seen. But Sessum said he did tell someone: Wesley Styles, the Texas Ranger who was leading the investigation. That was a mistake. Styles, according to Sessum, responded by threatening him with arrest if he did not tell a story consistent with Acreman's. |
210_13 | Community activism and result
Despite the accumulation of new evidence, Judge Coker recommended that Brandley be denied a new trial β a recommendation perfunctorily accepted by the Court of Criminal Appeals on December 22, 1986. But by now civil rights activists, including Reverend Jew Don Boney, had coalesced and raised $80,000 to help finance further efforts on Brandley's behalf. The Rev. Boney was the Chairman of the Houston, Texas-based "Coalition to Free Clarence Lee Brandley" and spearheaded community efforts to have Brandley receive a fair trial. Boney was interviewed on numerous national news outlets and brought significant media and community attention to the case. National Advocate James McCloskey, of Centurion Ministries in Princeton, New Jersey, also took on the case. |
210_14 | Working with a private investigator, McCloskey soon obtained a video-taped statement from Acreman stating that Robinson had killed Cheryl Fergeson and that he had seen Robinson place her clothes in a dumpster where they were found; that is how Acreman knew where the clothes were before they were found. Although Acreman soon recanted that video statement, two witnesses had come forward attesting that they had heard Acreman say he knew who killed Fergeson, that it was not Brandley, but that he would never tell who did it. Based on these statements, with Brandley's execution only six days away, Coker granted a stay.
A fair hearing
After further investigation, Brandley's lawyers petitioned for another evidentiary hearing, which the Court of Criminal Appeals granted on June 30, 1987. The new hearing was conducted by Special State District Judge Perry Pickett. Robinson, Acerman, and Styles testified for the prosecution, each seeming to help rather than hurt Brandley's case. |
210_15 | Robinson admitted he had told Brenda Medina in 1980 that he had killed the young woman in Conroe, but claimed he had said that only to frighten Medina. She had been pressuring him because she was pregnant, he said, and he simply wanted her to stop pestering him. Acreman stuck by what he had said at both trials, although he admitted that Robinson had been at Conroe High School the morning of the murder. Incidentally, Robinson and Acreman, unlike Brandley, had Type A blood β consistent with the spot on Fergeson's blouse.
Texas Ranger Styles, while denying he had done anything improper, acknowledged that even before he had interviewed any witnesses, Brandley was his only suspect. When pressed about why he had not obtained a hair sample from Acreman to compare with the Caucasian pubic hair and other hairs found on the victim, Styles stammered, "Let's say I didn't do it and it wasn't done, and why it wasn't done, I don't know." |
210_16 | On October 9, 1987, Judge Pickett recommended that the Court of Criminal Appeals grant Brandley a new trial, declaring: "The litany of events graphically described by the witnesses, some of it chilling and shocking, leads me to the conclusion the pervasive shadow of darkness has obscured the light of fundamental decency and human rights." Picket went on to say, that in his thirty-year career, "no case has presented a more shocking scenario of the effects of racial prejudice, perjured testimony, witness intimidation [and] an investigation the outcome of which was predetermined." The Court of Criminal Appeals, after sitting on the case for 14 months, finally accepting Picket's recommendation with a sharply split en banc decision on December 13, 1989 (Ex Parte Brandley, 781 S.W.2d 886 (1989)). |
210_17 | The prosecution appealed, delaying disposition of the case another 10 months. But within hours of the U.S. Supreme Court's denial of certiorari on October 1, 1990 (Texas v. Brandley, 498 U.S. 817 (1990)), they dropped all charges. A few months later, Brandley was ordained as a Baptist minister, and a few months after that he was married. The officials involved in the case were not disciplined, nor did they apologize. Prosecutors in the case still insist they convicted the right man.
See also
List of exonerated death row inmates
List of wrongful convictions in the United States
Notes
References
Davies, Nick (1991). White Lies: The True Story of Clarence Brandley, Presumed Guilty in the American South, |
210_18 | Gordon, Cathy (1986). "Woman's Testimony May Help Death-Row Inmate." Houston Chronicle. July 18.
Gross, Alexandra
Haines, Herbert (1996). Against Capital Punishment: The Anti-Death Penalty Movement in America, 1972β1994. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
United States Congress Committee on the Judiciary (1994). Innocence and the Death Penalty: Assessing the Danger of Mistaken Executions. Washington, DC.
Radelet, Michael, Hugo Adam Bedau et al. (1992). In Spite of Innocence. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
External links
2018 deaths
Overturned convictions in the United States
1951 births
People from Conroe, Texas
People wrongfully convicted of murder |
211_0 | Ohad (Odi) Ashkenazi (born December 22, 1971) is an Israeli TV and Theater director, comedy and entertainment creator, producer and writer.
Early life and education
Ashkenazi was born in the city of Kireon, Israel to Orina Raanan and Professor Israel Ashkenazi. His maternal grandfather was Mordechai Raanan; the former Irgun district commander in Jerusalem and his paternal grandfather was Shlomo Pinchas Ashkenazi; author and researcher of Judaism.
Growing up, Ashkenazi was a member of the Israeli National theater group, "Habima Teen", and also a part of "Friends of the Habima" a society of theater professionals engaging the Habima Theater resources with special theater projects throughout the community. |
211_1 | Ashkenazi served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as a paramedic. In 1993, Ashkenazi attended the Beit Zvi School of Performing Arts; a leading arts academy in Israel. In 1994, he was awarded with a scholarship from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and relocated to the United Kingdom, where he achieved his director diploma at the Drama Studio London. |
211_2 | TV career
In 1999, while he was already part of the Beit Lessin Theater team in Tel Aviv, Ashkenazi was chosen to direct the Israeli Theater Academy Award ceremony. The success of this event led Ashkenazi to direct the next two consecutive annual ceremonies. In 2000, he directed the annual Golden Heart Fundraiser event: "Variety Children Organization" produced by the Reshet Broadcasting Company. In 2001, he returned once again to direct the Annual Golden Heart ceremony as well as the Israeli film Academy Award. That same year, Ashkenazi directed the Keshet Broadcast Company "People of the Year Awards". In 2002, he directed the "Sports People of the Year Awards" for the Israeli Sports Channel as well as the talent show "Bravo", produced by the Children's Network Channel and the Telad Broadcasting Company. |
211_3 | During the 2002β2003 TV season, Ashkenazi began his role as the editor for the entertainment talk show "Erev Adir", hosted by Adir Miller for Reshet. He proceeded to work with Miller to develop the hit comedy sitcom, "Ramzor".
Between the years 2004β2006, Ashkenazi served as Head Manager of the Israeli Comedy Channel "Bip (channel)", owned by Keshet Broadcast Company and Hot, an Israeli cable communication group. During that time, he created the successful satire show, "The Strip" (HaRetsua in Hebrew), hosted by Uri Gottlieb. The show lasted 4 years and 189 episodes. |
211_4 | Between the years 2005β2006, Ashkenazi created the Ali G inspired comedy show "Pascal's World". During this time, as Bip Channel Head Manager, he also contributed to the following successful comedy shows: "The Maestro", a reality TV show that followed the life of legendary Israeli Pop icon, Tzvika Pik; "Double Date", a wacky dating show; "Fight for Your Rights", Israel's first ever wrestling show, and "Yom Tov", a stand-up comedy and sketch marathon, starring top Israeli stand-up comedians. |
211_5 | Between the years 2006β2007, Ashkenazi was part of the Keshet Broadcast Company team developing original comedy, entertainment, and talk shows.
In 2008, Ashkenazi once again joined forces with the Reshet Broadcasting Company and co-created with Yoav Gross the hit show "Comedians at Work". The successful show was placed on prime time television for seven consecutive seasons. The format was sold and later produced in Russia, France and Germany. In 2008, Ashkenazi continued to create and edit another hit comedy show, "Shavua Sof". |
211_6 | Other successful shows Ashkenazi created for the Reshet Broadcasting Company include: "Oblivious", a game show, "Family Business" and "Power of 10". In August 2010, Ashkenazi was appointed Head Manager of the Israeli division of Viacom's Comedy Central Channel. He was in charge of the successful launch of the channel in Israel in 2011, and continued to develop more original comedy shows for the channel including: "Comeback", "The Wedding Seasons", the TV sitcom "Red Band"(Season 2) and a comedy strip called, "The Comedy Central University". Ashkenazi played a pivotal role in the acquisition of future, English-speaking Comedy Central shows. |
211_7 | In 2012, under Ashkenazi's management, the Comedy Central Channel aired two more original comedy shows: "Outlawed", a stand-up comedy show with Roei Levi and Lucy Aharish, and "Singles", a humoristic dating show. That same year, Ashkenazi co-developed the innovative sketch show "The Green Project" alongside acclaimed animator Eyal Be. The show format was later sold to Lithuania, Uruguay, China and other countries throughout the world. It was also in this year that Ashkenazi was invited to join the International Development Team of Comedy Central, led by Jill Offman, the International Head of the Comedy Central brand.
In 2013, Ashkenazi developed the reality sitcom "The Life of Avi The Singer", and the talk show, "Creatures of the Night". In 2014, Ashkenazi began collaborating with internet celebrities and produced the comedy project, "Zero Movie", by internet comedians Or Paz and Tom Treger. That year, Ashkenazi also produced the dating game show, "Babe Magnet". |
211_8 | Theater career
Ashkenazi took his first steps in theater in 1994, as an Assistant Director of the musical "Grease", starring Aki Avni, Zvika Hadar and others. He continued as an Assistant Director of the play, "The Importance of Being Earnest", starring Hanna Maron. Upon his return to Israel following his studies in England, Ashkenazi became one of the youngest in Israel to achieve a Director's role in a repertory theater.
His choice of plays often touched controversial subjects. He directed the play "Burning Blue" by D.M.W. Greer. The play, starring Lior Ashkenazi, and produced by Beit Lessin Theater, dealt with the delicate subject of homosexuality in the American Navy. |
211_9 | In 1998, Ashkenazi translated and directed the musical, "Assassins", by Stephen Sondheim. The extravagant production was also launched at the Beit Lessin Theater. Later that year, the show won the Israeli Theater Academy Award for Best Musical.
That same year, Ashkenazi wrote "Kaytek the Wizard", an adaptation of Janusz Korczak book of the same name.
In 2000, Ashkenazi directed the Pulitzer Prize winning play, "Dinner with Friends" by Donald Margulies, The play was nominated for Best Comedy Award. In 2002, Ashkenazi directed the Be'er Sheva Theater production "Boy Gets Girl" by Rebecca Gilman.
In 2014, Ashkenazi directed a concert version of the musical "Damascus Square" in New York City. The play, written by Sarah Hirsch and Shai Baitel, starred Broadway actors Richard Blake and Tovah Feldush. The musical was displayed on stages at the famous Waldorf Astoria and the Broadway cabaret club "54 Below" |
211_10 | Commercial Theater career
In 1997, Ashkenazi wrote the musical "Hugo", which was produced by the Tevet Production Company. The same year, he also directed the "Oleg Popov Circus" Israel tour, hosted by stars of the Israeli Children's Channel and produced by Talit Productions. In 1999, he translated and directed the musical "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change", a musical comedy with lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts; produced by the Yochelman-Asher Production Company.
Personal life
Ashkenazi met his wife, actress Maria Cregeen when she played the main role in the play "Games in the Backyard", which he directed as part of his final project for The Drama Studio London. Maria Cregeen is the daughter of Peter Cregeen; A British Television executive. The couple have been married since 1998 and have three children together.
References |
211_11 | External links
Head, Development: Ananey Communications, on Variety
The best Israeli satirist you've never heard of, on Haaretz
Tovah Feldshuh, Richard Blake, Bradley Dean, Etai BenShlomo Will Be Part of Workshop of New Musical Damascus Square, on Playbill
Israeli theatre directors
Israeli film directors
Living people
1971 births |
212_0 | Aegan is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language action masala film directed and co-written by Raju Sundaram and produced by Ayngaran International. It stars Ajith Kumar and Nayanthara in the lead roles, with Suman, Jayaram, Nassar, Navdeep, and Piaa Bajpai in supporting roles. The music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja with cinematography by Arjun Jena and editing by V. T. Vijayan. It is based on the 2004 Indian film, Main Hoon Na.
The film revolves around a daredevil cop who, on behalf of his ailing father and the ambition of a lieutenant general, returns to college in Ooty. Whilst protecting the general's daughter, he attempts to reconcile with his stepbrother from his father's marriage. Furthermore, he has to ward off an international criminal who is trying to kill the general, an ex-aide of his who has turned police approver. How the cop manages to solve all three problems forms the crux of the story. |
212_1 | The film opened to Indian audiences on 25 October 2008, coinciding with the Diwali season. Upon release, it received mixed reviews but had a decent run at the box office. The film was dubbed into Hindi language as Jaanbaaz Commando.
Plot
The film's story is based around Shiva, a CB-CID officer, and his efforts to foil the terrorist John Chinnappa. Shiva is simultaneously attempting to mend relations with his father's estranged first wife and his half-brother Narain. However, complications ensue.
Major John Chinnappa is a scientist who had created tablets by operating on human guinea pigs. His ploys have always been controversial but inconclusive due to the lack of witnesses. However, an ex-gang member, General Ram Prasad, became a police approver and is on the verge of revealing John's ploys to the police. However, he is on the run to avoid charges. The case falls to Commissioner Karthikeyan, Shiva's father, who assigns his son to go and help solve the mission. |
212_2 | Karthik tells Shiva to attend college in Tamil Nadu β St. John's College, Ooty β to protect Ram's daughter, Pooja, from meeting with her father. Shiva pleads that he has never undertaken this type of a mission before and does not know much about the current generation. The general points out that, by a strange coincidence, Pooja attends school in the same town where Ram is hiding. Shiva can protect Pooja and look for Ram at the same time. Shiva goes undercover as a student returning to college after many years away from taking care of the family business. He is much older than the other students, who at first make fun of him because of his lack of new-generation styles. He also has to deal with the many goofy teachers as well as Albert Aadiyapatham, the idiotic and forgetful principal of the college. |
212_3 | Soon, Shiva finds Narain, who is later revealed to be his brother. Pooja is Narain's best friend, and she is secretly jealous that other girls can get his attention, but she cannot. Shiva saves Pooja from John's men, who kidnap her, while Narain and others think that it is a prank. He later becomes a sensation among the students and teachers. He befriends Narain and Pooja and falls in love with the chemistry teacher Mallika, after being attracted by her beauty and in a bid to convince other students that he is one of them. During his regular jogging, sessions Shiva spots Ram and chases him until he escapes with the help of an helmet-clad bike rider, who is later revealed to be Narain. Pooja discovers that Narain has been helping her father and feels cheated by him. |
212_4 | Narain tries to apologise to Pooja many times, but she refuses to talk to him. Irked by this, Narain drinks and explains his actions when John's men come again to kidnap Pooja. They beat up Narain, but Shiva comes to their rescue. Narain and Pooja patch up after the fight sequences. Shiva takes Narain to his home, where he learns that Narain is his brother and meets his mother Kasthuri. The flashback sequences describe Shiva's childhood (he is an orphan) and explain why his mother and father live separately.
The next day, when Pooja introduces Ram to Shiva, Shiva arrests him β much to the disappointment of Pooja and Narain. Then everyone in the college, including Mallika, learns that Shiva is a policeman. Shiva then drives Ram straight to John's hiding place, avoiding the traps that he had set. A fight ensues between Shiva and John's men in which John is finally killed. |
212_5 | In the final scenes, Mallika is shown with Shiva's parents and brother, while Shiva has gone to Afghanistan as part of another mission.
Cast
Ajith Kumar as Shiva, a CB-CID officer
Nayanthara as Mallika, a chemistry teacher
Piaa Bajpai as Pooja, Narain's love interest
Jayaram as Albert Aadiyapatham, the college principal
Navdeep as Narain, Shiva's brother
Suman as Major John Chinnappa, a scientist and terrorist
Nassar as Commissioner Karthikeyan, Shiva's foster father
Suhasini as Kasthuri, Shiva's foster mother
Devan as Ram Prasad, Pooja's father
Avinash as John's friend
Cochin Haneefa as Hanifa, Karthikeyan's assistant
Livingston as Kamalakannan, a professor
Sathyan as Mani, a college peon
Sriman as John's bodyguard
Production |
212_6 | Development
In September 2007, early indications suggested that Ayngaran International were set to make a film starring Ajith Kumar and directed by Venkat Prabhu, however the chance went to first-time director Raju Sundaram, in a project titled Akbar. Despite denying the title, Ajith confirmed the project and stating that he had put on weight and grew a beard for his participation in the project. Following the success of Billa, Ajith Kumar waited till the birth of his first child, in January 2008, before commencing his shoot for the film.
The 40-member unit consisting of Ajith, director Raju Sundaram, cinematographer Arjun Jena, action choreographer Stun Siva, and a few stuntmen from Chennai flew to Hong Kong on 14 January 2008 and began their first schedule for a 10-day stint. |
212_7 | The portions in Hong Kong were shot showing Ajith's introduction stunt scene set against the skyscrapers, Hong Kong airport, and the sea with the help of Chinese action choreographers. The crew shot schedules in Theni and Ooty and other locations in South India during the filming. The film finished its talkie portion in early September 2008, and the songs were canned in India as well as parts of Switzerland. The film, initially described as a "musical action comedy". The film previously referred to as Akbar, Ramakrishnan and Anthony Gonsalves was christened as Aegan, a name of Shiva. |
212_8 | Casting
Following the announcement of the project, tentatively titled as Akbar, Shriya Saran was rumoured to be the heroine, following her successful role in Sivaji: The Boss. However, due to differences, Saran was ousted from the project due to her limited call sheets, as she had to fly to and from America where she was then shooting for her Hollywood film, The Other End of the Line. However other indications claimed that Saran was ousted from the project due to her involvement in Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan, in which she appeared in an item number, which Ajith Kumar was unhappy with due to previous feuds with the lead, Vadivelu of that film. Reports indicated that Parvati Melton had replaced Saran but later denied it signalling that she was not approached. |
212_9 | Suhani Kalita was announced as the second heroine of the project but was later removed for unknown reasons. Several Bollywood heroines including Deepika Padukone, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Ayesha Takia, Ileana D'Cruz, Tanushree Dutta and Sneha Ullal were linked to the role, as well as reports that Shriya Saran would reprise the role after making up with Ajith. The role eventually was given to Katrina Kaif, who was set to make her debut in Tamil films with Aegan, however she later opted out due to callsheet clashes. It was announced that Nayantara would play the role of the heroine in the film, following her role opposite Ajith in Billa. In February 2008, it was confirmed that Navdeep would play a role in the film as well as Suman, who will appear in a villainous role. Malayalam actor Jayaram will also play a role in the film, which will be co-produced by actor Arun Pandian. |
212_10 | Nassar and Suhasini were selected to play the roles of the parents of Ajith, whilst Raju Sundaram's younger brother, Prabhu Deva was given a chance to make a cameo appearance in the film as a dancer but politely refused. Supporting actors Livingston, Sathyan and Sriman also play roles in Aegan, as does model Piaa Bajpai, who appears as the ladylove to Navdeep. Sivakarthikeyan and Arunraja Kamaraj shot for the film for one day as comedians portraying spies, but following changes to the script, their roles were removed. Yuvan Shankar Raja was signed on as the music composer whilst Arjun Jena was the cinematographer for the project and Milan, who did the art direction for Billa, renews his association with Ajith in the film.
Soundtrack |
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