Tadd Waggoner

From IAGSDC History
Jump to navigationJump to search
In his element as a caller, San Francisco, Easter, April 1984

Tadd Glen Waggoner
28 Dec 1945 - 30 Aug 1993

Clubs & Associations

Foggy City Dancers
Midnight Squares
Western Star Dancers

Obituary

Tadd died on August 30 the way he wanted it: at home, with the people he loved. With him were his mother, Edythe Champion, of Ft. Worth, Texas; his ex-wife, Dianna Waggoner; his ex-lover, Chuck Baxter, and his friends, Craig Davidson, Marc Rosaaen, and Zooey (his Abyssinian cat), all of San Francisco.

A gathering of his friends will be held at 7 p.m. on September 10 at the Metropolitan Community Church, 150 Eureka. For further information please call Craig (641-4355) or Marc (585-4742). Tadd requested that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the AIDS Legal Referral Panel.

Tadd was born December 28, 1945, in Mount Vernon, Illinois and grew up in Kentucky and Arkansas. In 1967, he married the incomparable Dianna. They were married for two years and she's still Dianna Waggoner. Asked why, Tadd answered, "She loves me." Tadd remained best friends with his three ex-lovers, Chuck, Rod Schaefer, and Kris Anderson, and with Dianna's husband Michael Alexander.

Tadd worked as an editor for Daily Construction Service for 19 years, and for Otis Elevator for six years.

His passions were games, square dancing, bridge, and the stage. After college theater his first role was a bit player in the City Players' all-male production of "Mame" in 1972. Later he played the (female) lead in "The Boyfriend" and stole the show as the ditsy maid in "Blythe Spirit."

In 1973, Tadd came across a bridge book and studied it for three years, dealing out hands on the floor of his apartment. The first time he sat down at a bridge game he came in second with 12 pairs.

Tadd was an active force in the gay square dance community beginning in 1983. He was a member of the Western Star Dancers, the Midnight Squares, and the Foggy City Dancers, singing calls in his lovely tenor voice. He was instrumental in bringing the International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs convention to San Francisco in 1986.

His legacy will be Quicktricks Bridge Club, the only gay bridge club sanctioned by the American Contract Beidge League and the friendliest club anywhere. Quicktricks was the brainchild of Tadd and Dee Sauer, among others, and Tadd ran it for more than 14 years, until his health forced him to retire early this year. He also taught beginning bridge classes, initiating at least 300 new players into what he knew was the best card game in the world.

He was a charter member of the Plumas Poofters, an unorganized group of friends who spent holiday weekends at a cabin in the Sierras playing hearts, bridge, charades and every game that comes in a box.

"Anyone for a game of hearts?" Tadd would ask, often at 3 a.m.

Tadd wanted his ashes scattered around his cabin.

Two of Tadd's loves converged in 1990 when the fall North American Bridge Championships were held in San Francisco. Tadd (usually in men's clothing) sand danced in the musical revue "There's Nothing Like a Game" which played nightly after the bridge games were finished. He reprised his role at the 1991 summer nationals in Las VEgas.

This spring he was nominated for a Cable Car Award for distinguished service to the gay community.

In July 1993 while in the hospital, Tadd received the ACBL's Presidential Citation (rarely bestowed) in recognition of his remarkable contributions to bridge spanning almost two decades.

On Memorial Day 1993, Tadd won $1,000 on a $5 slot machine at Cal-Neva in Reno. There's a terrific picture of Tadd and the slot, both smiling. Next time, he plans to go to Harold's Club to play the slot machine the size of a grand piano.

"Oh darlin' boy,
I love you, love you so."
Please wait for us.[1]

Memorial Panel

  • 1LL | Midnight Squares
  • 1LR | Foggy City Dancers

Remembrances

In the 1980s the Club was popular with people with AIDS who wanted both society and an opportunity to keep their minds sharp. During this time, the Club unfortunately lost many of its members, including its founder (1993). The Club continues to honor its founder with its annual Tadd Waggoner Memorial dinner and game, and dedicated in Tadd's memory a brick in the "Yellow Brick Road" of LGBT history at the club's former location, the Metropolitan Community Church at 150 Eureka St.[2]

Photos


Sources

  1. Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco, CA) Thursday, 02 Sep 1993
  2. Quicktricks website : accessed 09 Aug 2020