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Egon E. Jolig, IKF Badge of Honour, passes away

Egon E. Jolig, IKF Badge of Honour, has passed away at the age of 86 on 14 July 2023. Mr. Jolig received the IKF Badge of Honour for his work on korfball development in Germany. He was long-time chairman of the Ballsports section of the Deutscher Turner Bund.

IKF President Jan Fransoo presented him the IKF Badge of Honour during the IKF World Youth Championships in Duisburg in 2004. Mr. Jolig was president of the organizing committee of that event.

Egon E. Jolig will be remembered as a passionate volunteer for various leisure organisations, and the IKF is grateful for his contribution to the development of korfball.

IKF Badge of Honour, Mr. Karel Verschoor, passes away

The IKF has learned with sadness about the passing of Mr. Karel Verschoor, bearer of the IKF Badge of Honour, at age 83 on 9 July 2023.

Mr. Verschoor was greatly involved in the development of korfball in Central Europe, especially in Czech Republic and Slovakia. As volunteer he put tremendous efforts into developing korfball in these regions in the 90s. He did so by visiting schools and clubs, organising seminars and helping korfball bodies in their early stages. For this, he was awarded the IKF Badge of Honour in March 1999. The IKF is grateful for his many contributions to the development of korfball.

For his efforts, Mr Verschoor was also indicted in the Czech Korfball Hall of Fame in 2019.

IKF Badge of Honour, Mr. Ruth Kool, passes away at age 83.

The IKF regrets to announce the passing of Mr Ruth Kool, bearer of the IKF Badge of Honour, at age 83 on 27 October 2022. Mr Kool was involved in the development of korfball on national and international level for many years, and has been involved with the IKF on multiple positions. After serving four years on the Finance Committee, Ruth became the IKF’s financial administrator in 1992. A task he has, as a volunteer, performed until the end of 2000. He will be remembered as a very involved, knowledgeable and humble volunteer. The IKF is grateful for his many contributions to the development of korfball.

IKF distinguishes long serving volunteers with Badge of Honour

The IKF has granted the IKF Badge of Honour to four retiring individuals. Mr Leo Heere served for many years a chair of the IKF Medical Committee and IKF Therapeutic Exemptions Committee. Mr Walter Eijsink and Mr Gerrit van der Beek had an extensive service as International Referee, and subsequently were a member of the IKF Referees committee and served as Referee educator and assessor. Finally, Mr Jan Sjardijn was recognized for his service as member of the IKf Playing Rules Committee, the IKF Competitions Committee, and for serving at many events as jury member, jury chair, and coordinating officer.

The distinctions were presented at the IKF General Meeting in Antwerp, Belgium. Mr. Leo Heere was not able to attend the General Meeting and therefore is also missing in the picture.

Photos by Gertrude the Vries

Max van Leeuwen, dies at 87

The IKF regrets to announce the passing of Mr Max van Leeuwen, bearer of the IKF Badge of Honor, at age 87 on 19 March 2019. Mr Van Leeuwen has spent a part of his life supporting the development of korfball, with in particular in the 20th century the emphasis as member of the IKF Promotion Committee, development in the United States of America and as president of the Swan Fund.

He was awarded the IKF Badge of Honor in 2000.

Mr Van Leeuwen is survived by his wife and two children. A mourning ceremony was held on 23 March 2019 in Capelle aan de IJssel, The Netherlands.

USA Korfball pioneer Ralph Davis passes away at 96

Today, the International Korfball Federation has been informed of the passing of Ralph Davis, holder of the IKF Badge of Honour, at the age of 96, amid his next of kin. Ralph Davis was one of the pioneers of korfball in the United States in the late 1970s. Many consider him one of the two founding fathers of US Korfball, together with Jan Broekhoff.

Davis was a coach of the Portland State University Korfball Team and served as President of the US Korfball Federation. Apart from korfball, he was very active in sports throughout his entire life.  He was a Seaside and Gearhart ocean-front lifeguard, credited with 250 life-saving rescues, physical education instructor at Portland State University, and a coach in football, track and cross country athletics. Further, he was founder and director of the Seaside Marathon and its summer Beach Run. The latter he created in 1966 together with his late wife Betty, who also was a former life guard. She supported him over many years in korfball activities. He was active in the gym until very recently continuing to practice sports.

His true dream, however, was a further growth of korfball in the US, which may happen now that The World Games have been awarded to Birmingham (AL, USA) in 2021. At those games, we will surely remember Ralph Davis’s most famous quote, with which he signed off all his letters: “If it isn’t korfball, it isn’t”.

The global korfball community have lost a pioneer in korfball and a friend of many. We send our condolences to Vaunda, Bryan, Scott and their families.