User:BlackAmerican/melapple

Mel Appelbaum (1940-2016) was an IJF Level A referee in the Sport of Judo and 8th Dan in Judo. Mel also served as a writer and editor for Black Belt Magazine.
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Personal Life
Mel was born in the Bronx but raised in Queens. Mel attended Martin Van Buren HS and Indiana Tech for College. Mel went to St. John's University for his Masters in Mathamatics. Mel earned his doctorate from Poly Tech / NYU Mel was an active member of the Morristown Jewish Center.

Professional Life
Mel was the owner of a US Patent FIRE PREVENTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system or method that has an air distribution system configured to provide nitrogen into a room to reduce an oxygen concentration level within the room below a desired oxygen concentration level such that the atmosphere in the room fails to provide sufficient oxygen to sustain combustion. In fact he is the owner of several other patents related to Fire Prevention Systems. Mel wrote numerous academic articles including "A heuristic method for estimating time-series models for forecasting" which was under "Applied Mathematics and Computation"

Judo Career
Mel founded the Indiana Tech Judo Club in 1962. While there he won the state Judo championship twice. Mel was a national medalist in the United States in Judo. Mel would beat national competitors such as Odell Terry Mel was the National Collegiate Judo Champion. Mel competed in the 1964 Olympic Trials losing in the final match to eventual Olympian once to Senator and Governor Ben Campbell. to Mel served as a chairman for the New York Open along with Arthur Canario

Judo Referee
Mel served as the Chairman of the USA Judo Referee Commission. Mel eventually referred at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He was also a referee at the 1996 Paralympic Games. Mel also referred at the the World Championships and Pan Am Games. Mel was instrumental in bringing for the first US Olmypic Women's Judo Team. Mel received an 8th degree Black Belt in Judo.