Dan “Red” Beckman (middle) is shown in the early 1980s IFT in Atlantic Mine with the Queen City Flyers. Teammates Steve “Desi” Desjardins (left) and Scott Anderson (right) are also pictured. (Photo provided)

CALUMET — The International Frisbee/USA Guts Hall of Fame inducted five new members this past weekend.

The 2024 honorees run the gamut from Guts to Ultimate to international disc leadership. Induction ceremonies were held Saturday night at the Bonfire within the Continental Fire Company in Houghton.

Mark Barry

Skilled offensively and defensively, Mark Barry’s great throws included a thumber, forehand, and backhand. His first-contact defense was solid, and his speed and ability to chase deflections were remarkable. With the Queen City Flyers, his skills allowed his team to be “in the hunt” at every tournament. Mark was extremely competitive with a calm demeanor and a high level of sportsmanship. He won ten of twenty tournament finals from 1981 to 1999 and represented the USA at the World

Ultimate and Guts Championship, finishing first in Japan in 1992 and second in England in 1994. His finals appearances included three US Nationals and two GPA Worlds.

Dan “Red” Beckman

Dan “Red” Beckman was captain and tactician of the Queen City Flyers. His forehand shot was deadly accurate, especially when targeting end players. He won eight of twenty-two tournament finals from 1979 to 2012, including back-to-back US Nationals. Winning championships in six consecutive years from 1981 to 1986, Red’s longevity is evident by playing in two tournament finals thirty-three years after his first finals. Red was influential in the growth of Guts in Marquette and was a great sportsman. The Cliffs Ridge tournaments helped grow Guts Frisbee, and Red spurred on new players and created a strong fan base that continues today.

Irv “Dr. I” Kalb

Irv “Dr. I” Kalb was a founder of Ultimate Frisbee, writing early rules, organizing play, and leading Columbia High School to multiple undefeated seasons. At Rutgers University, he captained the Ultimate team to undefeated seasons and successive National Collegiate Ultimate Championships. Irv was the finest Ultimate player of his time, with leadership and strategic abilities complementing his great backhand and sidearm throws. Irv also won the 1975 World Freestyle Championship with Dan Roddick and the GPA Guts World Championships with Foothill in 1979 and 1980. He is a member of the Ultimate Hall of Fame and the Freestyle Hall of Fame.

Art McGuff

Over his career, Art McGuff recruited and developed some of the best Guts Frisbee teams of the era: Helter Skelter, Team Acme, Mr. Berger, Lightweights, and Video Sensations. His teams won eleven of twenty-four tournament finals and were very successful in the “big-three”: winning six Worlds, two IFTs, and one US Nationals. He also finished runner-up nine times. Art was MVP at the 1987 Worlds, and was known for his solid defense; no one wanted to face his fast and accurate thumber. He was one of the best players at every tournament he played. He also contributed through being tournament director, and his Midland tournament helped reinvigorate Guts.

Fumio “Moro” Morooka

Instrumental in global disc sports, without Fumio “Moro” Morooka, there would be no Guts Frisbee in Japan or Asia. He was the Tournament Director of the WFDF WUGC in 1992 and Tournament Organizing Committee President of the 2012 WUGC held in Japan. He has also been the Tournament Director for the All Japan Open and President of the Asia Oceania Flying Disc Federation, which now includes over thirty nations, since its creation in 2011. He has also been JFDA President since 2009 and is on the Executive Committee of the International World Games Association. He has also been the Executive Director of the Japanese Olympic Academy since 2001. He was instrumental in securing the Olympics in Japan in 2020.