The New England Bridge Conference periodically awards the Larry Weiss Trophy to a D25 player who exhibits "Grace and Skill at the Bridge Table." Larry Weiss was a longtime New England player who was described by Edgar Kaplan as the "first gentleman of bridge." The Larry Weiss trophy is a lovely silver platter inscribed with the notation "For Grace and Skill at the Bridge Table" followed by the names of the winners. 

The winner of the award is selected by by an Awards Committee chaired by the most recent awardee and composed ideally of a player from each of the D25 units. Together they establish the procedure that they will use to choose the winner from the nominees submitted by NEBC members. 

Three criteria are used to select the awardee:
• Notably superior behavior and gracious presence at the bridge table.
• Some degree of success in contract bridge during the year for which the award is made.
• Some degree of association with New England bridge.

The first criterion speaks for itself. The second is not tied to any specific event or masterpoint achievement. It requires only subjective evidence that the candidate is a skilled player. The third requires being a familiar face at D25 events.

Luke Gillespie has been chosen by the committee as the 2016 Larry Weiss winner. In awarding the trophy the committee noted that:
• Luke is widely recognized admired for his calm and pleasant demeanor at the bridge table. He is modest when winning and gracious in defeat. He does not criticize his partner's actions at the table and accepts adverse rulings from directors serenely.
• Luke has demonstrated skill at the table by attaining Diamond Life Master status and by consistently placing high in top-level D25 events.
• Although not a criterion used to select the winner, the committee noted that Luke participates in other unit and district activities including serving as an EMBA board member and as chair of the District 25 Scheduling Committee.

Congratulations to Luke Gillespie, this year's very deserving winner of the Larry Weiss Award.