Thomas K. Sanders

Thomas Koonce Sanders, Sr. (July 21, 1932 – December 11, 2011)^[1][2][3] was an American bridge player from Nashville, Tennessee.^[4] He was married to Carol Sanders, a women's teams world champion player.

Sanders was a graduate of Vanderbilt University. He won a single World Bridge Federation gold medal as USA non-playing captain in the 1981 Bermuda Bowl tournament.^[3]

Tom and Carol Sanders were both inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in 2002.^[5] They were recipients of the von Zedtwitz Award; that is, were nominated for the Hall of Fame by a "Veterans Committee" of players out of the limelight for some time.^[6]

Bridge accomplishments

Honors

• ACBL Hall of Fame, von Zedtwitz Award 2002^[5][6]

Wins

• North American Bridge Championships (12)
  • von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs (1) 1982 ^[7]
  • Blue Ribbon Pairs (1) 1977 ^[8]
  • Hilliard Mixed Pairs (1) 1961 ^[9]
  • Vanderbilt (3) 1979, 1990, 1993 ^[10]
  • Senior Knockout Teams (3) 1995, 1996, 1998 ^[11]
  • Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1983 ^[12]
  • Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match (1) 1982 ^[13]
  • Spingold (1) 1977 ^[14]

Runners-up

• North American Bridge Championships
  • Rockwell Mixed Pairs (1) 1979 ^[15]
  • Silodor Open Pairs (1) 1960 ^[16]
  • Wernher Open Pairs (1) 1963 ^[17]
  • Vanderbilt (2) 1978, 1985 ^[10]
  • Keohane North American Swiss Teams (1) 1982 ^[18]
  • Reisinger (3) 1961, 1973, 1986 ^[19]
  • Spingold (1) 1963 ^[14]