Tom and I were inducted into the California Powerlifting Hall of Fame on March 27, 2004. It was quite an honor for me to be one of the eight chosen out of all the women who have powerlifted since 1963 when the sport first started in California. Tom was one of twenty-four men. The following is just a brief synopsis of both of our lifting careers.

DANNI HARTMANN ELDRIDGE Lifted in three body weights:  132  148  165 BEST LIFTS AT 148 BWT Squat 407.7 lbs. Bench 270 lbs. Deadlift 462.7 lbs. Total 1107 lbs.

FIRST WOMAN EVER TO LIFT IN THE CA POLICE OLYMPIC'S 7/17/1980.  HAD TO LIFT AGAINST THE MEN AND PLACED 4TH at 132 BWT.  INTRODUCED FEMALE 'COPS', FROM MY DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, TO POWERLIFTING AT THE CALIFORNIA POLICE OLYMPICS. ALSO LIFTED IN THE WORLD FIRE AND POLICE GAMES.

*1982 OUTSTANDING ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD. TROPHY TO ME AND MY NAME PUT ON TROPHY IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT ACADEMY SHOWCASE 132 BWT

*1983 CERTIFICATE OF MERIT. HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT/CA POLICE OLYMPICS at 132 BWT

*OPEN WORLD RECORD BENCH PRESS AND USPF OPEN AMERICAN RECORD 7-23-81 California Police Olympics, 132 bwt 194 lb. Bench Press

HAVE ATTAINED RECORDS IN THE FOLLOWING: USPF AMERICAN MASTER, USPF/AAU, CALIFORNIA STATE, REGION 13 MASTER, POLICE OLYMPICS, ETC. APPROXIMATELY 136 RECORDS ACHIEVED IN MY CAREER OF POWERLIFTING FROM FIRST FEW MONTHS OF 1980 UNTIL MAY 1991, JUST BEFORE TOM PASSED. THE FOLLOWING IS FOR THE WHOLE TIME I COMPETED. One Third Place
One Second Place
The rest all First Place
Numerous Best Lifter Awards/trophies/plaques/certificates
Numerous Best Bench Awards/trophies/plaques/certificates
Some Best Squat, Deadlift, and Total Awards/trophies/certificates

TOM ELDRIDGE Lifted in two body weights:  198  220 BEST LIFTS: Squat 622.7 lbs. Bench 352.5 lbs. lbs. Deadlift 628.2 lbs. (did pull a clean 650 lbs. in gym)

*Tom introduced powerlifting to the California Firemans Olympics in the seventies. Also, when they were held in Southern CA, he put the powerlifting event together, bringing in the equipment and running the meet.

*Tom coached the USA powerlifting team to a win in Canada during the 1989 Pan Am Games. *He lifted at the World Masters Powerlifting Championships in Perth, Australia, 1984, placing second, after tying for first place. Lost on body weight.

*Tom organized and coached the (Masters) Top Gun Powerlifting Team with a membership of 75 plus lifters from throughout the USA. I officially retired the team on September 22, 1991, the day he passed..

*He was a Category I referee.

*Last but not least, he hosted numerous powerlifting meets and on the side, built weightlifting equipment.

THE FOLLOWING ARE ONLY RECORDS ACCOUNTED FOR BY CERTIFICATES. WHETHER THERE WERE MORE, I DO NOT KNOW.

NATIONAL MASTERS WORLD RECORD, INTERNATIONAL POWERLIFTING FEDERATION WORLD RECORDS, OTHER RECORDS INCLUDING AAU/USPF/ REGION 13, MASTERS AMERICAN, CALIFORNIA STATE.

Tom even had some awesome lifts when he was dealing with the weakness of losing a lung/vocal cord and and down the road, a brain tumor. During 1990 until his demise on September, 22, 1991, he still worked out twice a week with us while under going, sometimes twice a day, twenty five radiation treatments to the head for reoccurring brain tumors. He was totally dedicated to powerlifting in all aspects!!!! Awesome................

The Opening ceremonies for the 1st California Powerlifting Hall of Fame went off without a hitch. We had a Color Guard from Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) 40th Infantry Division headed up by First Sergeant Bradley Warner. Next came the Star Spangled Banner sung by the daughter of competitor Larry Manly via audio-tape. The opening invocation was given by Dr. Sandra Herron. The Presentation of the Hall of Fame ceremony began with Master of Ceremonies: Chuck LaMantia and Presenter: Major General Jeffrey L. Gidley, 40th Infantry Division Commander. In alphabetical order the Inductees were Natalie Kahn Aguilar, Pat Casey, Bill Cavalier, Robert Cortes, Danni Hartmann Eldridge, Tom Eldridge (Deceased), Bill Ennis, Cherie Ennis (Deceased), Roger Estep, Kevin Fisher, George Frenn, Jill Ganger, Lorna Griffin, Don and Fran Haley, Bill Hartmann, Vicki Gagne Hembree, Enrique Hernandez, Bob Humphreys, Mary Ryan Jeffrey, Larry Kidney, Mike Lambert, Jim Lem, Terry McCormick, Gene Mozee, Tom Overholtzer, Bob Packer, Bud Ravenscroft, Gordon Santee, David Shaw, Rich Woods, and Bill "Peanuts" West (Deceased). These were truly many of the "Legends of Strength". It was a great opportunity to reconnect with so many great Champions of our "Iron Sport" The ceremony was emotional and uplifting. It was truly a memorable moment for so many being inducted and many in the audience as well. We know there are many more well deserving lifters that could have been inducted at this time.
Steve Denison, Meet Director, California State and Region 8 Chairman