mikewatersMike Waters Memorial Tournament

Mike Waters started playing duplicate bridge at UT, where he graduated with both bachelor and master degrees in mathematics. He continued playing bridge at both local games and in tournaments, where he accumulated nearly 9,000 master points in his short life. Additionally, he directed several games each week and mentored many novices.

His other passion in life was sports, especially UT sports. He had a career as a sports writer at both the former Knoxville Journal and Rocky Top News Magazine. For many years, Mike also served as the official scorekeeper of the UT baseball team.

Mike’s long-standing Parkinson’s Disease was evidenced only by an occasional tic or jerky movement. He never let the illness impact his activities. When he died at 61 in 2013, he had enjoyed a happy and eventful life.

Monroe Trout has established a memorial in Mike’s name. Once a year for the next ten years, a Bridge Tournament—the Mike Waters Memorial Tournament—will be held in Knoxville. The winning overall pair will be awarded $100 and their names will be placed on a plaque in the Knoxville trophy case. The first of these events was held Tuesday, February 18, 2014, at the Sequoyah DBC.