EKTT Hall of Fame

The website where we honor the champions legendary players, administrators, contributors and others who have made an exceptional contribution to the development of Table Tennis in Eastern Kentucky.

Property
The Eastern Kentucky Hall of Fame (EKTTHoF) founded in 1997 is the property of the Eastern Kentucky Table Tennis.

Aims
Promote Table Tennis by encouraging publicity. Honour the champions, legendary players, and others who have made an exceptional contribution to the development of Table Tennis in Eastern Kentucky. To retain the history of Eastern Kentucky Table Tennis each year. The EKTTHoF Awards Panel will be responsible for bestowing the award and honor – to be inducted into the EKTTHoF. The first members of the EKTTHoF will be presented during the Eastern Kentucky Classic or an alternate yearly event. The number of members will increase over time, starting with players, but also including administrators and contributors.

Pre-requisites for consideration

• Championship titles, tournament championships, and achievements, Medals and extraordinary competition successes at EKTT events.
• Outstanding personal reputation and behaviour in sport with taking into account sportsmanship, fair play, and team spirit
• Remarkable contribution to the development and image of table tennis in Eastern Kentucky.
• Minimum active participation of 7 years as a table tennis player in Eastern Kentucky.

The Steering and Awards Panel
It shall be appointed by the EKTT Board, upon proposal by the EKTT president, for a term of four years and members shall be eligible for re-election. The Awards Panel will elect a Chair by simple majority. The Chair will be responsible for the orderly conduct of work and for the presentation of the EKTTHoF. The EKTT Secretariat will provide secretarial services for the Awards Panel and will be responsible for the necessary operational and promotional activities.

Members of the Panel
Mr. Byron Risner (Chair) Mr. Langley Franklin
Mr. Daniel Arnett (Vice Chair) Mr. Johnny Johnson
Mr. Dickie Williams Secretariat: Mr. Mike Crase

From 1987 to 1990 Risner competed in the WTTA, located at Wheel Rim, KY. In the early years, he played against some of the best in Eastern Kentucky and had a record reign as the Junior Champion that lasted over 15 months. “Even at that young age, we knew he was the future of the league,” said the late great former EKTT Chairman and President O.J. Crase. “He loved the sport more than anyone I’d met, and he was 110 percent reliable. That’s what you look for in a player and a future leader of the league (EKTT).” In the WTTA, Risner would become a Doubles Champion (with Dan Arnett) and a top contender for the Eastern Kentucky Championship held by Mark Risner and “Las Vegas” Wayne Crase. Risner became a member of “The First 10,” which is the original founding members of the league.

In 1991, the WTTA became Grand Prix Table Tennis (GPTT), and a new era began for EKTT. The GPTT Era featured a young roster of “The Legend” Byron Risner, “Warrior” John Perkins, “Reaper” Daniel Arnett, veteran “The Rock” Steve Patrick, “The Hammer” Charles Standifer, “Hitman” Brian Patrick, Chuck Easterling, and others, but this was the core group. Risner would become a perennial force winning the title consistently as there was a tremendous amount of parity from 1991-1995.

“The Rock” Steve Patrick explains, “we had a lot of young players, and they were all very, very good for the age. So, the league title changed hands a lot.” Risner won his first EKTT Championship on November 6 in Royalton, Kentucky from Brian “Hitman” Patrick, starting the premier rivalry of EKTT’s GPTT Era-the two would exchange the EKY Championship 8 times from 1991 to 1994. Risner won the EKTT Championship from Patrick for the final time in 1994 and Patrick retired from EKTT soon thereafter.

In 1992, Risner would become O.J. Crase’s Vice President, only 16 at the time, and begin to learn the craft of league administration, promotion, and public relations under the master, O.J. Crase. Risner would trade the EKTT Championship against what would end up as a who’s who of EKTT Champions and all-time greats during this time (those previously mentioned as the initial core group).

In 1993, at the Christian Church in West Liberty, KY, Risner would meet a player that would change his career and the league forever: “Dr. J” Johnny Johnson-a Hall of Famer, 21 x EKTT Champion, and 118 x EKTT Doubles Champion.

This rivalry would start in 1993 and continue until 2019, when “Dr. J” retired from the sport after a Hall of Fame career. “Dr. J is one of the best to ever pick up a paddle in Eastern Kentucky,” says Risner.” “I have nothing but respect for “The Doc” and we always brought out the best in each other. When these two met, it was more that players and fans expected a classic, than it was a random happening. In 1995, a player trained by “Dr. J” Johnny Johnson would also become what many would say is perhaps the greatest rivalry in EKTT history: “The Punisher” Junior Gullett. This rivalry began in 1995, and it is still going today; countless classics, wow moments, and spectacular plays have occurred by these two iconic EKTT players.

Risner would become the EKTT President in 1999 as President O.J. Crase won a unanimous vote to become Chairman of EKTT and the two began a coordinated effort to make EKTT into one of the best table tennis clubs in Kentucky.

Risner became consistently dominant starting in 1996 when he won his first of 19 Eastern Kentucky Classics (the longest running and most prestigious tournament in EKTT). In the 2000’s, he became even more dominant.

Risner had a 3 and a half year run as EKTT Champion from 2001 to 2004 (147-0 title defenses/ .1000) and had a winning streak of 126 matches during the decade (still the record). Risner also had several one year runs as champion during the 2000s. Risner defeated one of the state’s top players Rick Adams 4-0 in 1997, which only increased his star power and presence in Eastern Kentucky Table Tennis.

The 2010’s saw another incredible decade of accomplishments for “The Legend.” Multiple reigns as EKTT Champion, record title reigns, and domination of the Eastern Kentucky Classic, King of the Table (multiple tournament wins. Risner again held the EKTT Championship for another 3 1/2 year plus EKTT Championship reign.

The 2010’s saw Risner in classic battles with Jonathan Howard, Junior Gullett, Tyler Adkins (2016), Cody “Tex” Risner, Greg Helton, Josh Frisby and arguably the best match in EKTT history versus “Dr. J” Johnny Johnson in October of 2018-an edge shot determined the match in the fifth and final game, with Risner winning 15-13. Also teamed up with “Dr. J” Johnny Johnson to accumulate 12 Doubles Championships in the 2010s and the longest combined doubles title reign in EKTT history.

Risner lost the title to 2019 to Perry Franklin, who has become one of the best players in EKTT history, as of this writing, he is a 4x EKTT Champion and ended Risner’s long reign at the top. Risner regained the title and held it through Covid, eventually losing to Franklin in 2022. Risner then went on to win a couple of more EKTT Championships in 2024, battling a new rival in Caleb Lemaster.

Risner continues to play and win at a high level in EKTT. In the 2020s he has racked up wins for the EKTT Championship, GPTT Championship and many other league tournament championships. The Legend is synonymous with EKTT and vice versa, it’s difficult to image one without the other. Another major milestone in his promotional career was securing and reviving the Bluegrass State Games Table Tennis as State Commissioner of Table Tennis. EKTT has now hosted two successful Bluegrass Games Table Tennis with West Liberty Tourism.

The highlight of Risner’s tenure of EKTT President and Chair was hosting and directing the Butterfly Dan Seemiller Classic, the official tournament of 5x National Champion Dan Seemiller. It was the largest, most covered, and recognized tournament in EKTT history. President Risner worked with Mr. Seemiller to secure the tournament, and it is now regarded as the best new premier table tennis tournament in America. This will be a recurring tournament hosted each year by EKTT at the Morgan County Wellness Center.

Risner bridged the match-up era of EKTT with the round robin era, which the league currently uses as its primary format. As his career continues, he remains one of the top players in EKTT and its most decorated player of all time. Without question, Risner is the GOAT of EKTT.

ACCOLADES:

• 95 x EKTT Champion (1991-2024)
• Grand Prix Grand Champion 1x
• Career Record Matches: 3683-347/ .916 %
• Games W-L: 9,877-628/ .943 %
• Eastern KY Classic Championships: 22x
• Eastern Kentucky Classic Final 4: 27
• King of the Table Championships: 21x
• 49 x EKTT Inter-County Championship
• 173 x EKTT Doubles Championship
• Consecutive Events Played Ironman Record: 1404
• 13 x EKTT Regional Championship
• Ironman Attendance Streak: 833 Straight Meets 1987-2006
• All-time Win Streak Singles: 107 matches
• Longest EKTT Championship Reign: 3 years 6 months 14 days.
• WTTA Champion 3x
• 17x EKTT I-C Doubles Champion
• EKTT Player of the Year: 1992-2018
• EKTT Match of the Year Winner 31x
• Grand Stand Showcase Match Winner 4x
• EKTT Junior Champion: 1987-88
• EKTT Rookie of the Year: 1987
• Eastern KY Classic Doubles Champion: 15x
• OJ Crase Doubles Classic Winner: 9x
• EKTT Morgan County Champion 1x
• West Liberty Giant Round Robin 2x
• League Tournaments Won: 208 (most all-time)

Administration:

• EKTT Vice President: 1992-1999
• EKTT President: 1999-present
• EKTT Chairman: 2011-present

Coming Soon, profiles for the following HOF Members: Daniel Arnett, Charles Standifer, Johnny Johnson, Junior Gullett, Steve Patrick, Langley Franklin.