This year, the NEMCON Committee broke from precedent and decided to award two
distinguished persons with the title, NEMCON Honoree, Al Palmero and John Kedves.

These two gentlemen are inseparable.

Al and John have been lifelong friends. Both were born and raised in Wallingford, CT and grew up just a few houses away from each other. That created a friendship that has lasted over 90 years.

Their beginnings in magic started early in life. Their first major performance was at the
Wallingford Grange at the Town’s Hidden Talents Contest back in 1947. To this day, they are proud to say that they won the Grand Prize for the whopping sum of $20. That was quite the take back in that time!

Both went on to pursue careers in different paths, Al went on to be a successful Electrical Engineer and John went on to be an art teacher at Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford. During that time, their friendship never waned.

Throughout those years, their interest in magic only grew. Al has performed for friends and family as well as many other groups. John has done the same and also performed for Scouts, Women’s Groups and and untold number of Birthday Parties!

Both are founding members of Magic Arts Assembly #127, Society of American
Magicians, later renamed the Tom Prete Assembly. Al and John are also founders of
NEMCON and we continue to rely on their experience and advice in conducting the
convention.

In honor of their dedication to the Art of Magic, their assistance and counsel to both
Assembly #127 and NEMCON and in recognition of their lifelong friendship, we are
proud to honor Albert Palmero and John Kedves.