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2018 Pinball Expo of Fame inductions celebrate industry pioneers, Ken Fedesna, and Williams' legacy.
Ken Fedesna was the central figure who kept the Williams pinball division alive during the 1982 slump caused by video game competition.
high confidence · Larry DeMar induction speech, detailed account of Ken's strategic role in maintaining the division at low levels to preserve knowledge for future recovery.
Ken Fedesna hired and managed an extraordinary concentration of talent ('Ken's Army') that later dispersed across major gaming companies and modern pinball manufacturers.
high confidence · Larry DeMar speech detailing Ken's role in attracting designers and engineers who went on to lead Microsoft gaming, Google game design, and founded studios.
Jon Norris was involved in designing and creating rules for over 20 games including Surfing Safari and Operation: Thunder before leaving the industry.
high confidence · Gary Flaherty's induction remarks about Jon Norris, noting his return to design with Deep Root Pinball team.
Williams produced approximately 22,000 units of The The Addams Family, the largest production run in their pinball history.
high confidence · Ken Fedesna's remarks detailing production numbers from the 1989-1992 era.
The first solid-state pinball system was designed and tested within three months of the team's formation in February 1977, with five Grand Prix machines out on test by Memorial Day.
high confidence · Ken Fedesna's detailed account of the early Williams skunk works team and Hot Tip's September 1977 release.
Steve Ritchie was recruited from Atari in 1978 while working on Airborne Avenger, and his arrival fundamentally changed Williams.
high confidence · Ken Fedesna's remarks about Mike Stroll and Steve Kordek recruiting Ritchie from California.
The final pinball machine rolled off the Williams line on November 22, 1999, ending the company's pinball production era.
high confidence · Ken Fedesna's closing remarks about the end of pinball production at Williams.
Members of 'Ken's Army' are now working at modern pinball manufacturers including Stern (Steve, Greg, George, Lyman, Dwight, Chuck, Jim, Mike, Pat, Ted, Keith, Ron), Jersey Jack (Pat, Ted, Keith, Ron), Deep Root (Dennis, Barry, John), and Team Play.
“It's been four years that Larry's been asking me to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and he wanted to sponsor me and things like that. And actually, something has always come up, usually. Like four years ago, my cousin's daughter was getting married in Birmingham, Alabama.”
Ken Fedesna@ 23:16 — Humorous anecdote about Ken's repeated deferrals of the induction honor over four years due to life events.
“I'm standing outside Barry's door with a lighter and a whistling bottle rocket. I put it on the floor in front of his door. Ken comes walking up and I thought, oh no. He goes, are you crazy? Get a piece of metal out of the shop so you don't burn the linoleum in the hallway. True story, folks.”
Steve Ritchie@ 11:25 — Illustrates Ken's permissive, collaborative management style that allowed creative personalities to flourish at Williams.
“Ken was the adult supervising neutron that kept the highly unstable element, Williamium, from blowing us all to hell.”
Eugene Jarvis (quoted in letter)@ 15:50 — Colorful metaphor from industry legend Eugene Jarvis describing Ken's stabilizing role managing eccentric talent.
“Every single person in this picture that is not retired, including Ken, is still making games today. And our huge cast of talented, eccentric characters became Ken's army. We had success, we had fun, and we had a great love for making games.”
Larry DeMar@ 19:43 — Highlights the lasting legacy and continued productivity of Williams talent dispersed across modern gaming.
“It is a certainty that he was the soul of the company, and more than that, he was the conscience of the company. We would have done anything for Ken, and he supported and trusted and enabled all of us in our endeavors.”
Larry DeMar — Captures the deep personal loyalty and respect Ken commanded from the Williams design and engineering teams.
historical_signal: Documentary of Williams' critical role in establishing solid-state pinball technology and the foundational team that shaped the industry from 1977-1999.
high · Ken Fedesna's detailed account of February 21, 1977 start date, three-month development of first solid-state system, Hot Tip's September 1977 release, and timeline through final pinball on November 22, 1999.
personnel_signal: Massive documented dispersal of Williams 'Ken's Army' across modern pinball manufacturers (Stern, Jersey Jack, Deep Root, Team Play) and major gaming studios (Microsoft, Google), creating networks of experienced talent.
high · Larry DeMar's extensive listing of Ken's Army members now leading studios, at Microsoft gaming, Google game design, and at modern pinball companies, with specific names and positions.
community_signal: 2018 Expo evidences strong emotional reconnection between Williams era veterans now dispersed across industry; multiple letters of support and nostalgia for shared creative period.
high · Multiple written tributes from industry figures (Mike Viniker, Tom Cedar, Eugene Jervis, Roger Sharp, Brian Eddy, Jim Patla, Richard Curry, Andy Eloff, Doug Hughes, Matt Booty, Noah Falstein, Mark Lofredo) expressing deep gratitude to Ken and desire to celebrate shared history.
business_signal: Ken Fedesna's 1982 decision to maintain Williams pinball division at low levels during video game competition preserved institutional knowledge that enabled later resurgence and modern pinball renaissance.
high · Larry DeMar: 'In 1982 when pinball was in a legendary slump due to competition from video games... it really was Ken alone that devised a strategy to keep that division going at a low level so as not to lose the know-how to bring it back at a later time.'
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high confidence · Larry DeMar speech listing current employment of Williams alumni across modern pinball companies.
Deep Root Pinball has Dennis Nordman, Barry Oursler, and John Ohnmacht ('Ken's Army' members) and is 'setting their sights high' for future releases.
high confidence · Larry DeMar remarks about Ken's Army members at Deep Root Pinball.
Martin (Pinball News) provides audio-visual management, coverage, and serves as tournament director for the UK pinball community.
high confidence · Gary Flaherty's induction speech detailing Martin's contributions to pinball media and community support.
“It was in 1982 when pinball was in a legendary slump due to competition from video games. In the face of corporate pressure to shut pinball down so that resources could be shifted to video games, it really was Ken alone that devised a strategy to keep that division going at a low level so as not to lose the know-how to bring it back at a later time.”
Larry DeMar@ 13:44 — Documents Ken's strategic decision that preserved Williams' pinball expertise through the video game crisis, enabling the later resurgence.
“And it gives me great pleasure tonight to welcome him back to the designing community as part of the Deep Root team.”
Gary Flaherty@ 3:37 — Confirms Jon Norris's return to active game design work with Deep Root Pinball after many years away from the industry.
“I just want to say that this year we're doing an even bigger job adding video and more pictures, more recordings, higher resolution stuff, so we just want to push pinball further as everybody else in the business is doing as well and everybody in the hobby.”
[name withheld pending review]@ 2:41 — Documents Pinball News's commitment to expanding media coverage and accessibility to the global pinball community.
“And for three or four years before he went over to Stern Pinball at the time. [Joe Kaminkow joined us in 1980]”
Ken Fedesna@ 29:49 — Confirms Joe Kamenkow's early career path from Williams to Stern Pinball, showing early talent transfer between companies.
“So on February 21st I started, type of thing, and within three months, and I never would have believed this would happen, we designed the first solid-state system and had five Grand Prix out on test on Memorial Day.”
Ken Fedesna@ 26:12 — Specific timeline for the development of Williams' revolutionary solid-state pinball system from February to May 1977.
design_innovation: Williams' rapid development of first solid-state pinball system in three months (February-May 1977) represented major technological breakthrough enabling modern pinball era.
high · Ken Fedesna: 'Within three months... we designed the first solid-state system and had five Grand Prix's out on test on Memorial Day... it was just, like I say, mind-boggling to me.'
product_launch: Hot Tip (September 1977) established as first solid-state Williams production game; marked end of electromechanical era and beginning of computer-controlled pinball.
high · Ken Fedesna: 'In September of 1977, out came Hot Tip. It was the first solid state game and then the whole thing kept going from there.'
market_signal: Addams Family production run of approximately 22,000 units represents single largest production run in Williams pinball history, indicating peak market demand in 1992-1993 era.
high · Ken Fedesna: 'Close to 22,000 Addams Families were made at the time' for Pat Lawlor's 1992 design.
content_signal: Pinball News expanding coverage to include video content, higher resolution photography, and expanded event recordings to reach global community unable to attend shows.
high · Martin (Pinball News): 'This year we're doing an even bigger job adding video and more pictures, more recordings, higher resolution stuff, so we just want to push pinball further.'
competitive_signal: Steve Ritchie's 1978 recruitment from Atari described as transformative for Williams, establishing pattern of strategic talent acquisition that became core of Ken Fedesna's management philosophy.
high · Ken Fedesna: 'Steve Kordick and Mike flew out to California and were able to recruit Steve Ritchie... Williams was never the same after Steve Ritchie joined us.'
announcement: Four major Hall of Fame inductees announced and honored at 2018 Pinball Expo: Martin (Pinball News), Jon Norris (designer/Deep Root), Elliot Eismin (Stern mechanical engineer), Ken Fedesna (Williams executive).
high · Video documents full induction ceremony with official presentations and acceptance speeches from all four inductees.
machine_intel: Jon Norris returning to active game design work after years away from industry; specifically joining Deep Root Pinball design team with significant experience designing 20+ classic games.
high · Gary Flaherty: 'It gives me great pleasure tonight to welcome him back to the designing community as part of the Deep Root team' and noting Norris's involvement in Surfing Safari and Operation Thunder designs.