2018 PHOF Inductee

Earl Hill

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Earl Hill

Earl Hill

CITIZENSHIP: USA

BORN: January 15, 1938 in Arborfield, Saskatchewan, Canada

PLAYED: Right-handed

EDUCATION: High school graduate

MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS:

Earl was a charter member of the USAPA Board. He founded the Ambassador Program in 2005, serving for 13 years as Director and later as Assistant Director. Ambassadors are volunteer representatives and unofficial spokespersons for the USAPA whose primary responsibility is to promote and grow pickleball in the geographical area they represent. The explosive growth of pickleball was attributed to the fabulous success of the Ambassador Program. In 2018, there were 1,800+ Ambassadors working to promote pickleball, and the popularity of the sport had grown from a few thousand players in 2005 to an estimated 2.8 million USA players by 2017.

Earl also served as the Pickleball Commissioner of the Arizona Senior Olympics from 2001 to 2008. The tremendous growth of this tournament was the impetus for the creation of the national organization in 2005.

Background

Earl spent his formative years in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Following high school, he was employed with the Royal Bank of Canada. In 1964, Earl and his wife Gladys moved to Tacoma, Washington, where he began a 31-year career with the National Bank of Washington. In the early and mid ‘70s, Earl became interested in the local government process in Buckley, Washington. In 1975, he became a U.S. citizen and was elected to a City Council position. Earl then served as the 26th Mayor of the City of Buckley from 1977 to 1983.

During his youth, Earl played many sports – mainly baseball, softball, and golf. In his 30s, he began mountain climbing after reading about it for many years. He climbed Mt. Rainier (14,410’) several times, once as a leader, and several other Northwest peaks. Earl also ascended Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,340’) in Africa and Mt. Huayna Potosi (19,970’) in Bolivia. He was also an avid hiker and began skiing at age 50. At his bank retirement party, Earl did a tandem skydive from 11,000’. At age 58, he walked across the Cascade mountains from Buckley to Spokane, Washington – a distance of 300 miles for a Kiwanis charity. Earl is also an active Duplicate Bridge player with a ranking of Bronze Life Master. He says he plays pickleball for his body and bridge for his brain.