Saturday June 21, 2008 I went to Carbondale, IL after hearing that and old friend would be giving a seminar at the 2008 Alliance Nationals / 4th Annual So. Illinois Open Martial Arts Classic. I knew that I wouldn't be rembered but I just wanted to visit and talk about the old days. The person I was going to see was the legendary Bill "Superfoot" Wallace someone I had not seen in thirty plus years. It wasn't a dissapointment that he didn't remember me. It was just good that we could talk about the times in tournaments when tournaments really were tournaments.Of course we knew all the same people and I guess because I dropped out or the circuit for as long as I did it could be hard to remember. We never got the chance in those days to compete against each other. He was a middle weight and I was a heavyweight fighter. In those days the only time a middleweight might compete against a heavyweight was if each competitor won they're division and then you'd fight for grandchampion. All in all it was a great day talking and having fun. He has never lost his great humor and is still exciting to watch.

While there I met some old friends and some new friends. It was fun to reminisce the times when Grandmaster Perry, Wynn & Taylor and others competed. 

 Pictured below are some of the old and new friends

Bill "Superfoot" Wallace with Master Hawkins at the 2008 Alliance Nationals                                                    Superfoot, Vera Harrison and Master Hawkins

Master Hawkins with Steve Aldus from Peoria, IL. Mr. Aldus teaches Tai Chi in Peoria                           New friends: Wayne Talley, Sensei Bert Haynes, Rebekah Reyling and Tammy Launay 

Tammy Launay after her first place win in free-sparring. Wayne Talley was second in sparring              Rebekah Reyling 1st forms 4th in sparring. Sensei Haynes and students are from Mt. Vernon, IL