Charlie Garfinkel | Buffalo, New York (Amateur Athlete, Inducted 1989) Charlie, known as "The Gar" was a colorful player on the courts. He began playing racquetball as a college student. Garfinkel had played both tennis and squash, and entered his first racquetball tournament in 1966. He went on to claim 15 national titles. He sported a flamboyant style of psyching out his opponent. He played on the pro tour for many years and was a regular contributor or event coverage and instructional material in early racquetball magazines and authored two racquetball instructional books. He remains the man to beat on the Senior/Masters circuit. In 1980 & 1982 he won the men's 40+ singles, in '85 & '86 he took the same title in men's 45+. He has been both a club pro and an instructor. |
William Schmidtke | Apple Valley, Minnesota (Professional Athlete, Inducted 1989) Bill became interested in racquetball while employed at the Madison, Wisconsin YMCA in 1968, where he was playing a lot of paddleball at the time. He learned racquetball quickly and started competing in 1968. He was the runner up at the first National Championships held at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Jewish Community Center and alter won the national singles in 1971 in Salt Lake City. Again in 1974 he won the national singles and then the men's 40+ doubles with partner, Jim Austin in 1983. Bill played on the pro tour in its early days and was sponsored both by Head and then X. He participated on the pro tour as a referee for an additional four years. Bill was named the Male Athlete of the Year in 1974. He served as both chairman of the International Racquetball Association and as chairman of the Minnesota association. |
Luzell Wilde | Salt Lake City, Utah (deceased: 10-25-1917 to 12-15-2004) (Amateur Athlete, Inducted 1989) Luzell Wilde has been winning championships in his age division since 1983 when he won the men's 65+ singles, has been a consistent finalist, and maintained high ranking positions in each of his subsequent age divisions. He has also participated for many years in doubles competition with partner Earl Acuff. Luzell started playing when he was 50 years old. He hadn't been active in any other sport prior to taking up racquetball, however mastered the sport and remains active on the Senior/Masters circuit and is always a top competitor at national singles and doubles events. |