PERSONALITIES: U.S. OPEN ORGANIZER PASSES AWAY

December 31, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Kelly Tibbetts of Southern California, one of the key persons behind the running of the U.S.Open badminton tournament in the many years that it has been held in the Los Angeles area, passed away on Monday night at the age of 72. She died of a heart ailment.

Kelly Tibbetts was one of the more pro-active enthusiasts in the American badminton scene. She came from a family that played the sport and that started the Southern California Badminton Association and the Pasadena Badminton Club over 60 years ago. She was always in the forefront of many badminton events as a competitor and as an organizer.

In her memory, the Southern California Badminton Association is establishing the Kelly Tibbetts Memorial Fund which will be dedicated to the development of junior badminton. The association will also be holding a memorial service in honor of her in January. Information about the fund and the memorial service is available from the Southern California Badminton Association at scba@ioc. net or at (310)398-6837 or at (818)501-0161.

(bcook/mcoe/dsimmons)