Eva L. McLain

When I was nine (9) years old, I saw my first Roller Derby game and fell in love with the game and the excitement!  Living in Los Angeles at the time, my opportunities to attend the games in person were far and few between due to the fact the games came to the Los Angeles area only on occasion.  However, when I was 16 years old, the Roller Derby became a permanent sport in the Los Angeles area and they opened a training school in the Hollywood area.  I joined the training school and upon graduation from High School was signed as a professional skater.

During my "roller derby career", I skated on the Los Angeles Braves, the Los Angeles Thunderbirds, the San Diego Clippers, the San Francisco Bay Bombers, and the Oakland Shamrocks.  A dream come true!

Each year, in early May, the Roller Derby now holds a "Roller Derby has Beens" reunion in Laughlin, Nevada.  This year it was held May 3-7.  Some of the all time greats in attendance were: Annis Jensen, Mary Youpelle, Jean Porter, George Copeland, Louis Sanchez, Sylvia Veramontes, Phyllis Whittenberg, Bucky Buckholtz, Loretta Behrens, Joe Canevari, Delores Doss, Joe Chaump and Jerry Abatello (celebrating their 50th year of marriage), Bill Driggers, Nellie Montague, John Hall, Mary Dyer, Cecil Hatfield, Joe Kosmal, Gloria Misfud, Frankie Macedo, Lory Halloran, Norma Rossner, Lou Sanchez, Bob Venter, George Vogt, Bert Wall, Bobbie Mateer, Beverly Wallace, Dyno Carerra, and none other than Mr. Roller Derby himself -- Billy Bogash!  My daughter, Eva, attended with me and was able to meet the skaters she has heard so much about throughout the years.  It was fun!  It is so nice to reunite with the Roller Derby Family once a year and to share a part of our lives with each other.  My time in the Roller Derby will always be one of my most memorable times of my life.  The skaters are truly a "Family" and I am blessed to be a part of that family.  I look forward to the Roller Derby Has Been Reunion 2005!