Past Officers and Award Winners
Every president, vice president and director who has led the league, and every winner of the Masterson Service Award.
Presidents
League presidents
| Early years | Harry KlugleWheaton High School |
| Early years – 1978 | Daniel S. Masterson Jr.Regina College High School |
| 1978 – 1990 | Eleanor E. WrightYorktown High School |
| 1990 – 1996 | Roland E. Burdett IIIWoodbridge High School |
| 1996 – 2001 | Judy L. SewardCentreville High School |
| 2001 – 2002 | Eleanor Wright and Roland Burdett, acting together |
| 2002 – 2006 | Kevin BriscoeYorktown High School |
| 2006 – 2022 | Roberta HylandLake Braddock Secondary School |
| 2022 – 2023 | Jim DunningBroad Run High School |
| 2023 – present | Mark DeatonWestfield High School |
Presidents emeritus
| 1978 – 1983 | Daniel S. Masterson Jr.Regina College High School |
| 1990 – 2003 | Eleanor E. WrightYorktown High School |
| Jim DunningBroad Run High School |
Presidents of the National Catholic Forensic League
League leaders who have also led the NCFL.
| Early years | Daniel S. Masterson Jr. |
| 1988 – 1990 | Eleanor E. Wright |
| 2004 – 2006 | Roland E. Burdett IIINCFL Tournament Director since 2006 |
| 2016 – 2018 | Roberta Hyland |
| 2022 – 2024 | Ann Marie Duffy |
Vice presidents
Each competition event is led by a vice president who oversees its tournaments and rules.
Policy Debate
| Early years | Gary JonesMount Vernon High School |
| Early years | Robert ElliottGonzaga College High School |
| 1981 – 1987 | Gerry MayWootton High School |
| 1987 – 1990 | Stan DayWheaton High School |
| 1990 – 1997 | Tim KaneT.A. Edison High School |
| 1997 – 2000 | Scott MillerCourtland High School |
| 2000 – 2010 | Duane HylandYorktown High School |
| 2010 – 2018 | Ron RichardsBroad Run High School |
| 2018 – 2024 | Laurel TaylorT.C. Williams / Alexandria City High School |
| 2024 – present | Danielle JonesYorktown High School |
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Established in 1987. From 1983 to 1987, Lincoln-Douglas was run as part of Student Congress.
| 1987 – 1990 | Ed MorrisWalt Whitman High School |
| 1990 – 1992 | Barbara NelsonThomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology |
| 1992 – 1996 | Duane CarrSt. John’s College High School |
| 1996 – 1998 | Roland E. Burdett IIIWoodbridge High School |
| 1998 – 1999 | Sandy GilpinOakton High School |
| 1999 – 2004 | Brian BurdettWoodbridge High School |
| 2004 – 2006 | Roberta HylandYorktown High School |
| 2006 – 2008 | Kristin HamiltonBattlefield High School |
| 2008 – 2016 | Ann Marie Duffy (Phillips)Gonzaga College High School |
| 2016 – 2020 | Duane HylandLake Braddock Secondary School |
| 2020 – 2026 | Richard HenkleDominion Christian School |
| 2026 – present | David MaxamThe Heights School |
Speech
| Early years | Stan BrodskyWootton High School |
| Early years | Claire McCaffery GriffinGeorgetown Visitation High School |
| 1984 – 1985 | Mike RiceWoodrow Wilson High School |
| 1985 – 1990 | Martha CarrJ.W. Robinson Secondary School |
| 1990 – 1992 | Cecilia BlotkampT.A. Edison High School |
| 1992 – 1993 | Carolyn RandowOsbourn Park High School |
| 1993 – 1994 | Sandy LindWest Springfield High School |
| 1994 – 1996 | Judy L. SewardCentreville High School |
| 1996 – 2000 | Marty NoheWoodbridge High School |
| 2000 – 2012 | Jessie Reter-ChoateEdison, then King George High School |
| 2012 – present | Meghan Nugent PafumiHayfield, then Rocky Run Intermediate |
Congress
| Early years | Melinda Grenier GuilesBroad Run High School |
| Early years | Duane CarrSt. John’s College High School |
| 1981 – 1984 | Jim GentileVarious schools |
| 1984 – 1987 | Ed MorrisWalt Whitman High School |
| 1987 – 1992 | Cathy TurnerWoodbridge High School |
| 1992 – 1994 | Archie PainterSherando High School |
| 1994 – 1996 | Marty NoheWoodbridge High School |
| 1996 | Andrea GallagherLackey High School |
| 1996 – 1998 | Mike GreinerLake Braddock Secondary School |
| 1998 – 1999 | Geoff GreiveldingerSt. Mary’s Ryken High School |
| 1999 – 2002 | Kevin BriscoeYorktown High School |
| 2002 – 2007 | Mark McManmonGonzaga College High School |
| 2007 – 2010 | Joan DarbyNorth Stafford High School |
| 2010 – 2011 | Ted PentonWestfield High School |
| 2011 – 2014 | Duane HylandLake Braddock Secondary School |
| 2014 – present | Sheryl GusmanDominion High School |
Public Forum Debate
Established in 2006, when Public Forum became a league event.
| 2006 – 2007 | Roland E. Burdett III (acting)Woodbridge High School |
| 2007 – 2008 | Mark McManmonGonzaga College High School |
| 2008 – 2011 | Lorraine DelGrossoMassaponax High School |
| 2011 – 2013 | Bill FlorerBattlefield High School |
| 2014 – 2018 | Cheryl FinleySouth Lakes High School |
| 2018 – 2022 | Jim DunningBroad Run High School |
| 2022 – 2024 | Kevin BriscoeRock Ridge High School |
| 2024 – 2026 | Jim DunningBroad Run High School |
| 2026 – present | Richard HenkleDominion Christian School |
Secretary-treasurers and diocesan directors
Since 1978 the league has had a director for each of its two dioceses, the Diocese of Arlington and the Archdiocese of Washington.
Secretary-Treasurer
| Early years | Marilyn Stewart BoranJ.W. Robinson Secondary School |
| Early years | Randy CausleyWest Springfield High School |
| 1984 – 1987 | Jim GentileVarious schools |
| 1987 – 1990 | Duane CarrSt. John’s College High School |
| 1990 – 1998 | Theresa MancheyJames Wood High School |
| 1998 – present | Roland E. Burdett IIIWoodbridge, then Hayfield Secondary School |
Arlington Diocesan Director
| 1978 – 1990 | Eleanor E. WrightYorktown High School |
| 1990 – 1996 | Roland E. Burdett IIIWoodbridge High School |
| 1996 – 2001 | Judy L. SewardCentreville High School |
| 2001 – 2002 | Eleanor E. WrightYorktown High School |
| 2002 – 2006 | Kevin BriscoeYorktown High School |
| 2006 – 2022 | Roberta HylandBroad Run High School, then Lake Braddock Secondary School |
| 2022 – 2023 | Jim DunningBroad Run High School |
| 2023 – present | Mark DeatonWestfield High School |
Washington Diocesan Director
| 1950s – 1978 | Daniel S. Masterson Jr.Regina College High School |
| 1978 – 1981 | Robert ElliottGonzaga College High School |
| 1981 – 1984 | Jim GentileVarious schools |
| 1984 – 1987 | Duane CarrSt. John’s College High School |
| 1987 – 1990 | Tom DurkinOur Lady of Good Counsel High School |
| 1990 – 1997 | Duane CarrSt. John’s College High School |
| 1997 – 2002 | Laurie WayOur Lady of Good Counsel High School |
| 2002 – 2007 | Jill StedmanGeorgetown Preparatory School |
| 2007 – present | Ann Marie DuffyGonzaga College High School |
Masterson Service Award
The Daniel S. Masterson, Jr. Service Award was established in 1983 by Dan Masterson’s colleagues at the Food and Drug Administration, whose gift funded its first years. The league has funded it ever since to honor his memory. It recognizes a coach or judge who has been a positive influence on students at their own school and at others.
Nominations go each March to the chair of the Masterson Award Committee, which is made up of past winners who remain active in the league. The committee chooses each year’s winner from among the nominees.
Committee chairs: Eleanor E. Wright (1984–2002) and Theresa Manchey (2003–2015).
No award was given from 2016 to 2023.
| 1983 | Eleanor E. WrightYorktown High School |
| 1984 | Gerry MayWootton High School |
| 1985 | Theresa MancheyJames Wood High School |
| 1986 | Jim GentileGeorgetown Day School |
| 1987 | Stan DayWheaton High School |
| 1988 | Tom DurkinOur Lady of Good Counsel High School |
| 1989 | Ed MorrisWalt Whitman High School |
| 1990 | Cathy TurnerWoodbridge High School |
| 1991 | Duane CarrSt. John’s College High School |
| 1992 | Dr. Virginia O’KeefeEdison and West Potomac High Schools |
| 1993 | Arch PainterSherando High School |
| 1994 | Judy L. SewardCentreville High School |
| 1995 | Roland E. Burdett IIIHayfield, Woodbridge and Mount Vernon High Schools |
| 1996 | Andrea GallagherLackey High School |
| 1997 | Marty NoheWoodbridge High School |
| 1998 | Laurie WayOur Lady of Good Counsel High School |
| 1999 | Ron RichardsBroad Run High School |
| 2000 | John HarocopasWashington-Lee High School |
| 2001 | Kevin BriscoeRiver Ridge, Potomac Falls and Yorktown High Schools |
| 2002 | Martha LeeW.T. Woodson and Robinson High Schools |
| 2003 | Adelle GunnT.C. Williams High School |
| 2004 | Brian BurdettWoodbridge High School |
| 2005 | Jill StedmanGeorgetown Preparatory School |
| 2006 | Roberta HylandYorktown High School |
| 2007 | Jessie Reter-ChoateKing George High School |
| 2008 | Joan DarbyNorth Stafford High School |
| 2009 | Meghan Nugent PafumiHayfield Secondary School |
| 2010 | Duane HylandLake Braddock Secondary School |
| 2011 | KJ AndersonWilson Senior High School |
| 2012 | Sheryl Gusman and Larry GusmanDominion High School |
| 2013 | Ann Marie DuffyGonzaga College High School |
| 2014 | Cheryl FinleySouth Lakes High School |
| 2015 | Jim DunningBroad Run High School |
| 2024 | Mark DeatonWestfield High School |
Share your story
If you served as an officer or won the Masterson Service Award, we would love your photos, programs and stories.