By James Zug
March 18, 2006
There is no greater honor in the game: induction into the United States Squash Hall of Fame.
The idea for a hall of fame had been kicking around for decades (when US Squash originally created the Endowment Fund in 1983, one of its goals was for its trustees to make �investments in a national squash center or squash hall of fame or both�) but it suddenly crystalized in autumn of 1999. While preparing for the 2000 World Doubles tournament in Philadelphia, Mac Brand took the lead to make the idea a reality. She organized a founding committee under the chairmanship of Charlie Kingsley and made the Saturday evening dinner at the World Doubles that April the perfect launching place for the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame. Fifteen men and women, representing the greatest U.S. squash players of the twentieth century, formed the inaugural class of inductees.
Today, after a brief tenure at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, the Hall of Fame finds its first permanent home at the Brady Squash Center at Yale University. One of the most extraordinary squash facilities in the world, the Brady Squash Center now has something unique and historic to go with its distinctive college banners, team photographs and pro tournament posters. The Hall of Fame contains all the inductees� plaques and will soon be additionally adorned by a revitalized museum where historic U.S. Squash artifacts will be preserved and displayed.
To date, thirty-five people have been inducted into the Hall. They range from Eleo Sears who was born in 1881 to Demer Holleran who was born in 1967. They come from around the world, from Hashim Khan who grew up in Pakistan to Henri Salaun who grew up in France to Betty Howe Constable who grew up down the road from here in New Haven. Between them all, they won seventy-two national singles titles. Twenty-two are still alive. Twelve are women. Five are college coaches. Three are lefties.
The criteria for membership is simple: the Hall is open to all U.S. players (hardball, softball, singles, doubles, pro, amateur), as well as individuals who helped the game grow and flourish. A person should have been a U.S. resident (but not necessarily a U.S. citizen) for a substantial portion of his career or had otherwise had a personal and significant impact on the U.S. game. A player must be retired from open singles competition for five years before consideration. The key requirements are dominance on the court or impact off the court and overall integrity and sportsmanship.
The Hall of Fame committee is Alan Fox, Jack Herrick, Demer Holleran, Charlie Kingsley (chair), Mark Talbott, Charlie Ufford, Carol Weymuller and James Zug.