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Show - fell to induct luzell wile - ( . V. ..... ,v . -V .... : . . " . - , ' By GARY R. BLODGETT ' CENTER VILLE - After winn-' 'ing 25 individual and doubles national championships-and at the age of 70-Luzell Wilde, of Center-ville, Center-ville, will be inducted into the American Amateur ' Racquetball Organization's Hall of Fame in Houston, Tex., May 27. ? Mr. Wilde, who didn't take up the sport of racquetball until 1968, and who didn't go out of state to compete nationally until 1977, has won most of his national titles in the -, past decade-seven during 1988. . . A letter from Allan Seitelman, chairman of the Hall of Fame com-v com-v mittee for the American Amateur -Racquetball Association (AARA), stated that Luzell had been elected to the Hall of Fame by a vote of more than two-thirds of the 100-member 100-member selection committee." " - The official induction will take ' - place at the annual awards dinner on May 27, which will be held during dur-ing the National Singles Championships Champion-ships in Houston. r? v " . . "This selection is more than just a fleeting honor since your election to the Hall means that future generations ge-nerations will also honor and rec-.ognize rec-.ognize your many accomplishments," ac-complishments," the letter stated. "I'm pleased and honored by the " recognition that this provides," said Luzell. "But most Mportant; rrn - pleased that I could have the oppor-" oppor-" , tunity to be a part of this ereat ama- ; I : . i J. J I ' 1 . I LUZELL WILDE in 1981. Last year was the "best ever'' for the lanky athlete when he ' captured first place in the National Singles for both 65-plus and 70-plus; 70-plus; the National Doubles for both 65-plus and 70 and over, the Master's Singles Invitational for 65 and over, and the Golden Master's Singles and Doubles for ,65 and over. . . . j, . "-. j 1 4, ..He .'.and his wife, Georgia, his . most ardent Ian, recently returned I from Pittsburgh, Pa.,' where he wort : his 25th national championship in the Singles 70 and over. He also ; placed second . in the 65-plus doubles, losing by one point; and ' was third in the National Invita-, Invita-, tional for 65 and over, losing one , match in the round-robin tourney. -Luzell said he is thrilled at the : prominence and growth in amateur ; racquetball in recent years. . . There are 64 nations with organized amateur racquetball, and the World Olympics has accepted racquetball. as a competing sport, . but has not yet integrated it into the overall structure of the Olympics. KBut this could happen as early as 1992 or at least in the 1990s," said ; ; "It takes a lot of time and money to compete in the national tournaments, tour-naments, but it's worth it because of the friendships that are made," said Luzell. "I'm just thankful that I have such a wonderful wife who supports me,", teur sport and perhaps to have help-,; help-,; ed others along the wayythe way r, that they helped me." r , - - The induction of Luzell and two - others into the Hall of Fame this . - year brings to 11 the total number , , of famers to receive such recogni- . ' tion in this comparatively new ama- teur sport. -. : Of the eight current inductees, , only five are players. Three were - honored for their contribution to me - . . sport through organizational pro- '' cedures, it was explained. Four of , . ; . the active inductee players are men' - andonehafemale.-;:t''V'i:;j;.. :'4;,f:, The first two were inducted the first year (1974), (but the next two , were not inducted until 1982, and . ;" the last four were honored last year ' Luzell started playing what was , ' then called 'paddle ball" in 1968 ' and competed in the third annual national championships three years .;" later when the tournament was held in the Salt Lake Deseret Gym. . , "I went up against the No. 4 seed - in my. first match and was whipped : 21-0," said Luzell. "But we re- - mained friends and met again 12 ' years later in Texas, this time at his j home for a social gathering and not . on the court.'' . , ' r Going out of state for the first time in 1977, Luzell placed third in the Western Regional Champion-- Champion-- ships and later finished fourth in the ' National . Championships in . San 11 Diego. - V - '. Luzell won his first national title |
