Harold “Cap” Hiles, 1928 – 2025

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Harold "Cap" Hiles Harold "Cap" L. Hiles, age 96, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2025. Born in Independence, Missouri, on October 24, 1928, Cap lived a life defined by service, craftsmanship, and deep devotion to family and community. Cap spent 40 years in Minnesota before moving to Florida in the early 1990s, where he embraced retirement with the same energy and curiosity that marked his working years. He was a proud lineman for NSP/Excel Energy, dedicating his career to keeping homes and neighborhoods powered and safe. His work was more than a job - it was a calling, and he approached it with integrity and grit, earning him the title of Employee of the Year. Outside of work, Cap was a man of many passions. He served as a devoted Boy Scout master, guiding several young men to the rank of Eagle Scout and instilling values of leadership and character. He was an avid racquetball player and a member of the...
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Jerry Northwood, 1936 – 2024

Jerry Northwood, 1936 – 2024

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JERRY NORTHWOOD ... "Captain America" ... Long time Master’s competitor Jerry Northwood passed away at the age of 87, at his home in Crawfordville, Florida on June 30, 2024. Just shy of a year later, he was followed by his wife Claudene on June 17, 2025. The couple had resided in Prescott, Arizona for many years before retiring to Florida in 2020 and now rest together at the National Cemetery in Tallahassee. A US Army veteran, Jerry served as a First Lieutenant during the Vietnam era and later enjoyed a successful civilian career as a life insurance broker. On court he earned the moniker “Captain America” for always being decked out in red, white and blue themed gear. His patriotism extended to support of the Military Racquetball Federation (MRF), where he coached special programs for Military Adaptive Court Sports through 2020. Jerry’s own racquetball career spanned a broad range of play, from earning a #8 national ranking spot in Men’s 60+ singles...
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HOF 2025 | Cole & Gomar Inducted

HOF 2025 | Cole & Gomar Inducted

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The NMRA traditionally schedules its Hall of Fame inductions for the summer event, and it was excited to honor and present plaques to a pair of outstanding Master's athletes at the Colorado Springs championship. Congratulations! Lars Cole from Grand Rapids, Michigan was recently voted into the Hall of Fame but also worried that this might be his last tournament due to knee troubles. But now Lars may be convinced to check into some scans and potential treatments to help get him pain free. Early on, he had excelled with a core group from Fort Myer (a military base in Washington, DC) that would arrive en masse at NMRA events with team leader Carmen Alatorre-Martin directing the traffic. Even though the group shrank in the 2000s, several of its tournament regulars preceded Lars into the HOF and welcomed him into its ranks.  View banquet slideshow >> Marie Gomar from Guatemala City, Guatemala was nominated and named to the NMRA Hall of Fame about...
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Barry Hendricks, 1946 – 2024

Barry Hendricks, 1946 – 2024

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BARRY HENDRICKS - A Life Well Lived ... According to a labor-of-love tribute curated by Susan Hendricks and Cheryl Kirk - Barry Michael Hendricks passed away unexpectedly in his sleep at his home in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 13, 2024. Barry was a brilliant, funny, caring man. He loved his wife and family the most, but a close second was his absolute lifelong love of racquetball and barbecue! His days playing racquetball, up to and including August 9, included 50 years of 30+ Championships all over the world. He was inducted into the National Masters Racquetball Association Hall of Fame in 2021. >> read full obituary and comments << Courtesy of the NMRA and Bruce Adams, please enjoy >> the video presentation << from Barry’s July 17, 2021 NMRA Hall of Fame Induction. To honor Barry’s memory with a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, visit https://www.stjude.org, then please share in a Celebration of Life planned for this autumn. Barry Hendricks’ History...
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