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Charlie Brumfield

Charlie Brumfield | San Diego, California (deceased: 6-9-1948 to 6-1-2025)

(Professional Athlete, Inducted 1988)
Charlie is a legend of the 1970s. He was a handball player until a dislocated finger prompted him to take up paddleball in 1964. He won his first paddleball singles championship in 1968, which led naturally to racquetball. He won back to back singles championships in 1972-73 and continued playing world class racquetball for the next 10 years. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of San Diego with degrees in economics and business administration and then went on to earn a degree in law from USD during this period. He was a four time national singles champion and in 1973 he won the national doubles title with partner Steve Serot and again in 1975 with partner Craig McCoy.



Robert J. KendlerRobert J. Kendler | Chicago, Illinois (deceased: 10-18-1904 to 11-1-1982)

(Contributor, Inducted 1988)

Kendler was the moving force in the birth of racquetball's organization. He was a homebuilder and contractor whose interests originated with handball, as the first president and organizer of the International Racquetball Association. He began pushing racquetball in the United States Handball Association magazine and then started the first racquetball magazine. Kendler was often called the "benevolent dictator" and resigned from the IRA over a disagreement with its board of directors. He then formed two rival organizations, the National Racquetball Club and the United States Racquetball Association. Both organizations remained in existence until they went bankrupt in 1982. It has been said that without his clout and financial input the organization that was then the AARA (now the USRA) wouldn't have started when it did.


Peggy StedingPeggy Steding | Odessa, Texas (deceased: 4-17-1936 to 11-17-1991)

(Professional Athlete, Inducted 1988)

Peggy started playing racquetball in 1971. She had always been athletic and was attending Odessa College on a tennis scholarship. She had also competed in basketball, volleyball and fast-pitch softball, before discovering racquetball. Peggy dominated women's play in the early 70's and continued playing in the senior divisions prior to her death in 1991. In 1992 the USRA Female Age Division Athlete of the Year award was renamed the Peggy Steding Award in her honor. It is said that Peggy elevated the game of racquetball for women during her reign as champion.