Donald Dimmel of Prescott earns his Life Masters in
January, 2007.


Donald Dimmel was raised in Minnesota, earning his bachelors degree at the Univ. of Minnesota, a PHD from Purdue University and a postdoctoral fellow from Cornell. His education and work experiences were in the organic and paper making industries.  He served in both educational positions (at Marquette University and Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Wis.) and in industry at Hercules Chemical Co.  He spent most of his career with the Institute of Paper Science which eventually
became affiliated with Georgia Tech..  He is a world- recognized expert in the paper making industry, has numerous patents, publications and teaching credentials.

Donald and his wife of 46 years, Karen, retired and moved to Prescott Arizona in the summer of 2002 to enjoy the warmer climate of Arizona but mostly the presence of 2 of their 3 children and all 3 grandchildren.  Don had been exposed to bridge in graduate school and played sparingly the next 15 years.  He discontinued playing bridge until he moved to Prescott and began to play again.  He met Geoff Stokes (who achieved his Life Master last fall) and joined ACBL in the spring of 2003.

Since partnering, Don and Geoff (also an engineer) have developed their own bidding system which is a modification of 2 over 1.  (Don and Geoff are self proclaimed "Geeks"!).  Their system now consists of 60 pages of small font line item text.  They partnered with James and Christie Showalter, also of Prescott to play in six knockout events in 2006 (Las Vegas, Prescott, Sedona, Phoenix), winning 4 of the 6 knockouts and finishing 2nd in the other two.  They are formidable opponents for anyone.

It appears that Don retired from one intense career in the paper making industry and stepped into another with Duplicate bridge.  But, he really enjoys being a hands-on grandfather, occasional woodworker, tennis player and a closer companion to his great wife, Karen.

Congratulations to Don!