Dr Pepper Junior Development Program

The Dr Pepper Junior Development Program consisted of two aspects: educational, which covered the Exhibition-Clinic program and the printing of 10,000 rules booklets, and the tournaments. Dr Pepper sponsored the two-part program for the 1975-76 season to the tune of $50,000.

This funding was to be spent on mounting the Exhibition-Clinics, providing prizes at the tournaments, and advertising and promotional materials. At the tournaments, Dr Pepper would provide prizes, supply sweatshirts and travel bags, and have coolers with refreshments at each court location. A representative of the Company would present the winners of each tournament with a check for the cost of their transportation to the 1976 Nationals. Miss Teen New Jersey would present the prizes at the Nationals.

Jim Gollhofer, New York Metro Manager for the Dr Pepper Company, commented that the program offered the Company “the opportunity to work with youth on a semi-National basis” and that the Company was pleased to be involved with “a good sport – prestigious but with broad appeal.”

Source: Paddle Talk, No.2