A tribute to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame Class of 2009 inducted Jan. 23, 2009, at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. 

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Sonya Klopfer Dunfield, resident of New York City, was a 1951 U.S. and North American champion, two-time World medalist (1951, 1952) and placed fourth at the 1952 Olympic Winter Games, where she was captain of the U.S. team. She was a principal skater in major ice productions including the “Ice Capades” and “Holiday on Ice” and was the 1964 World Professional champion. She is a World and Olympic coach.

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Nancy Meiss, resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, began judging in 1958 and received her 50-year judge award in 2008. Meiss has been a national, World and Olympic judge, earning the latter for her service at the 1988 Winter Games. She served as president of the Queen City Figure Skating Club of Cincinnati from 1971-74 and served as co-chair of the 1979 U.S. Championships and the 1987 World Championships. 

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Vera Wang, resident of New York City, competed twice at the U.S. Championships in junior pairs. Known as a fashion designer for high-profile actresses and film stars, Wang’s name is also associated with a full range of personal items including china, fragrance and stationery. She eventually returned to her skating roots by designing costumes for two-time Olympic medalists Nancy Kerrigan and Michelle Kwan.  

Photo courtesy Smith family

Marjorie Parker Smith (1916–2009) and Joseph Savage (1879 – 1956) were posthumously awarded induction, although Parker Smith’s recent passing prevented the family from accepting on her behalf. Smith and Savage won the first “official” U.S. ice dancing championship in 1936 and followed with a silver medal in 1937. Parker Smith won a bronze medal in pairs in 1936 and a gold medal at the fours competition in 1939 with different partners. She was the lady skater in the 1980s movie Splash. Parker Smith also holds two indoor track and field records in the 70-74 age bracket. 

Savage won three additional medals with different partners between 1934 and 1939 in ice dancing at the U.S. Championships and fours competition. He competed at the 1930 World Championships and the 1932 Winter Games in pairs with different partners. Savage was president of U.S. Figure Skating from 1937-40.

Photo by Paul Harvath

(left to right)

Jan Serafine; World Figure Skating Museum president, Scott Hamilton, museum trustee and 1984 Olympic gold medalist; Sonya Klopfer Dunfield, Nancy Meiss, Vera Wang; class of 2009 inductees, Dick Button; World Figure Skating Museum vice president and two-time Olympic gold medalist; and Dede Disbrow, U.S. Hall of Fame chair