Macon Magazine

December 2025/January 2026 | maconmagazine.com 31 Exped qui iumqui audam aut et verit volor re eumqui cus, que premqui si conse nese. been my bridge partner for many years but died tragically in 1997. The funds were raised quickly, construction began, and on Sept. 27, 2002, the Henry Tift Bridge Center was officially dedicated. Henry's family was in attendance for the celebratory opening. Our dream came true. MDBC was now housed in a modern building with a kitchen, restrooms, an office, and 3,000 square feet of playing space. The ACBL sponsors three types of tournaments: Nationals, Regionals, and Sectionals. Nationals are the largest, running ten days. There are three of these a year, held in major metropolitan areas. Regionals run for a week, and there is at least one regional being held every week. Sectionals are the smallest and usually take place over a weekend. The MDBC had for some time been holding two sectional tournaments a year in a hotel or motel in Macon. After completion of our new bridge house, we were able to hold these sectionals in our own space.Under the leadership of Tom Wight, these tournaments have become some of the favorite sectionals in Georgia. Delicious goodies furnished "Looking back on my 55 years as a member of MDBC, I have many fond memories. Most significant are the friendships..." Call 478-474-4414 for information on details of how to get started. by the great cooks in our club help this to be the case. MDBC has also held four regional tournaments since 2013. Two were in the Macon Centreplex and two were in Callaway Gardens. Len Perkins, Emory Whitaker, and Ray Stalvey were the chairpersons of these events. Getting involved The members of MDBC are wonderful in their willingness to volunteer. None of these tournaments would have been possible without the help of the membership. The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on most areas of our lives that involved social interaction. Duplicate bridge was no exception. Many members of the ACBL began playing online, and attendance at face-to-face games has still not returned to pre-COVID levels. In our 75th year, MDBC has games at 1 p.m. on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. The club offers lessons for those who would like to learn to play. Looking back on my 55 years as a member of MDBC, I have many fond memories. Most significant are the friendships that have lasted for years, the laughter we have shared, the fun parties with great food, the support of the members for each other, and the celebration when someone has reached a coveted bridge rank. If you are looking for a new activity or social outlet, give duplicate bridge a try. Our players are friendly and eager to help new players. clubhouse on Riverside Drive. For the next 22 years, MDBC moved to various locations around Macon, including Vineville Christian Towers, St. Paul's Apartments, St. Paul's Parish House, the Macon Hilton, and the Pilot House on Rogers Avenue. Finding a home In 1992, under the leadership of President Betty Wilcox, MDBC purchased property owned by Southern Natural Gas at 1070 Southshore Place. The purchase included a 2,000-square- foot building and 11 surrounding acres. MDBC had a place of its own. The purchased building was the former office space for Southern Natural Gas, and much work needed to make it ready. Our club members were equal to the task — cleaning, painting, paneling, and all the other work necessary to convert the space. When completed, the playing area had capacity for about 14 tables. By 1999, membership had reached 108, but the club wanted even more. Club member Gil Bateman offered to teach free bridge lessons to the public and introduce them to Duplicate. This program had more success than we could have imagined. The classes drew about 20 women who were recent empty nesters looking for a new activity. They fell in love with duplicate bridge and became vital members. They were known as "Gil's Girls," and their enthusiasm rubbed off on the rest of us. As the turn of the millennium approached, a group of Gil's Girls made a beach trip to Amelia Island. While there, they decided to drive down to Jacksonville Beach to play in the new bridge club building there. The Maconites, including Sandy Barrow and Mary May, were impressed by the clubhouse, and the idea of building such a facility in Macon was born. MDBC had plenty of land for such a project, but funds were another issue. Sandy, Mary, and other club members spearheaded a fundraising drive to come up with the needed money. Dinners were held in members' homes where the project was explained, and pledges were sought. Enthusiasm was high among the membership. A major donation was made by the family of Henry Tift IV. Henry, the headmaster of Stratford Academy, had

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