Class of 1991

Ethel Marshall and Bea Massman Badminton Champions

Bea Massman (left) and Ethel Marshall

Born and raised in Buffalo, Ethel Marshall and Bea Massman are names synonymous with badminton coaching, teaching and playing in the United States.

Both Marshall and Massman are members of the U.S. Badminton Hall of Fame. Over the years, the duo represented the United States in several international competitions throughout the world. Ethel Marshall has won 27 U.S. titles in badminton. In addition, she owns 30 area tennis titles as well, and for 45 years has coached badminton, 33 years in Amherst.

Bea Massman has won 14 U.S. titles in badminton. Like Marshall, she has coached for many years. But most notably, Massman was the first woman coach of a boy's tennis team, coaching Amherst High School for many successful years, including a division championship.

In addition to this, Massman served on the Buffalo Board of Education for 35 years and coached St. Mary's School for the Deaf for the same length of time.

Both Marshall and Massman are pleased at the recent success of the sport of badminton, which recently saw 38 countries compete in a World Games event in China. Badminton was an Olympic sport for the first time in Barcelona, Spain in 1992.