1952 National Marbles Tournament Trophy and Crown Posthumously Donated to Salem Virginia Museum, Honoring Hometown Marbles Champion Russell Gwaltney
Gwaltney’s donation to his hometown Salem, VA Museum, is a story of lifelong love for the game, and a testament to the endurance of the National Marbles Tournament that continues to bring young players together from across the nation
The Wildwoods, NJ – June 5, 2026 – As the National Marbles Tournament approaches for its 103rd annual event on the Wildwoods’ beaches, young marbles players or ‘Mibsters’ prepare for another year of competition hoping to take home the title of King or Queen of Marbles. The competition has been going strong since 1922 and has brought countless young mibsters together from across the nation to compete for the top title. This year, as champion marbles shooters from across the United States qualify for the National Tournament in the Wildwoods, organizers are looking back to 1952, when Russell Gwaltney, the Salem native and only Virginian winner of the Tournament, won his crown at just twelve years old.
Gwaltney had a love for shooting marbles since he was a young boy. Born in 1939 to a working-class Virginian family, Gwaltney developed a passion for Marbles out of boredom, but quickly developed his hobby into a hustle and a championship win. He bought his first 20 marbles for a nickel, but his talent at winning other local boys’ marbles turned his stash of 20 into a collection of thousands. He earned so many marbles through his local games that he turned into a marble dealer himself. In 1948 he competed against his brother, Charlie, in the local Salem championship. When Charlie defeated Russell, the champion-to-be honed his skills, ultimately winning the 1949 town championship a year later. That passion continued throughout his youth, and he was eventually sponsored by the Salem Recreation Department and The Salem Times-Register to go to the National Marbles Tournament in 1952, where he ultimately reigned supreme as the King of Marbles.
Throughout his life, Gwaltney never lost his love of the game or forgot his championship memories from 1952. Looking back on his championship run, during a retrospective with The Roanoke Times in 1993, he explained the joy of the game, and his warm reception in Salem after returning from his win in New Jersey:
“’When I came back here, the citizens of Salem were absolutely ridiculous,’ he recalled. He was given a rapturous reception at Municipal Field. Salem merchants heaped prizes on him; the two-page list of awards included ice cream, an oil portrait, a trophy, and two chickens.”
Gwaltney continued to embody the spirit of a Mibster champion and return the love he received from his fellow Salem natives. Before his passing in 2021, Gwaltney requested via letter that his original donations to the National Marbles Tournament Hall of Fame, including his 1952 trophy and Mibster crown, be returned and displayed at the Salem Museum in Virginia. The letter originally written in 2012 was found during Hall of Fame updates in 2025, and in honor of his request, the National Marbles Tournament Committee gladly worked with the Salem Museum to donate his trophy and crown during a ceremony on March 28, 2026.
The town that gave him that warm reception, and two chickens, in honor of his win nearly 75 years ago continues to celebrate the legacy of the Virginian winner and the sport that brought him and so many young Mibsters today, passion and direction.
The National Marbles Tournament, a true slice of Americana, founded in 1922, has long been cherished as a testament to the enduring nature of friendly competition and the artistry of the game of marbles. Over the past century, the tournament has brought together players from near and far, fostering camaraderie, sportsmanship, and a deep appreciation for the game’s rich history.
Held at the renowned Ringer Stadium, located on the beach right off the Wildwoods Boardwalk at Wildwood Avenue, the event will feature four days of thrilling matches, showcasing the skills and strategies of some of the nation’s most talented marble players.
More than 1,200 games of marbles will be played throughout the tournament, with the top eight shooters advancing to the semi-finals competition. The top two male and top two female players will compete in a ‘Best of 15’ series for the championship. The victorious male and female champions will be crowned the “King” and “Queen” of Marbles. As the victors of the tournament, and as part of a long-standing tradition, the male winner will give a congratulatory kiss to the cheek of the winning female.
The 103rd Annual National Marbles Tournament will take place from 8 a.m. to noon daily and is FREE for spectators.
For additional information, visit NationalMarblesTournament.org or call 304-337-2764. For additional information about the Wildwoods, visit WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.
