Roy, at the age of 68,
Home: Pryor, OK
blessed with his wife, Yvonne,
Three children
Eight Grandchildren
I began playing the game of racquetball at the YMCA in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada – February, 1965 at the age of 33 ( could not hit the ball at all). We used tennis racquets and cut down the handles to an acceptable length. Then Ektelon came out with their first aluminum racquet and changed the game.
When I started, we called the game “paddleball” even though we were using strung racquets. Below are some Canadian results in Saskatchewan.
Year Event Finish
1970 Men’s A Paddleball 1st
1971 Men’s Paddleball Doubles 1st
1971 Men’s Paddleball Singles Open 1st
1972 Men’s Racquetball Open Doubles 1st
1972 YMCA Singles Open 1st
YMCA Doubles Open 1st
1972 Alberta, CAN Open Doubles 2nd
1972 Singles Open 1st
1973 Sask., CAN Open Doubles 1st
1973 YMCA Doubles 1st
Saskatchewan Open Award
“Sportsman”
1973 YMCA Open Doubles 1st
1974 YMCA Open Singles 1st
YMCA Doubles 1st
Sask. Open Doubles 2nd
1975 Sask. Open Singles 2nd
YMCA Singles 2nd
1976 YMCA Singles 2nd
YMCA Doubles 1st
Sask. Open Senior 1st
We moved to Tulsa, OK in July of 1976 and joined the Thorton YMCA where I became active in the “Y” as racquetball teacher, promoter, and Board member for many years. I also began competing in local, State & Regional events.
Year Event Finish
1976 OK State Senior Singles 1st
Thorton YMCA Invitational Seniors 2nd
1977 Cowboy Open Seniors 2nd
TRAC Masters 45+ 2nd
YMCA State Open Singles 2nd
1978 YMCA State Senior 1st
Oklahoma Racquetball Masters 1st
Thorton Invitational masters 1st
Kangs Classic – Seniors + Masters 2nd
Cowboy Open Masters 3rd
Thorton – Men’s A 1st
1979 Thorton Invitational Senior 1st
1983 TRAC Masters 1st
1987 North American – Albuquerque 55+ 1st
1988 National Masters Invitational 55+ 1st
1992 YMCA SR Sports Festival 1st
1993 National Masters @ Fullerton, CA 55+ 3rd
1994 OK State Seniors Olympics 1st
1995 US National Senior Olympics
@ San Antonio 2nd
1996 1st Annual Citgo/MDA 45+ 2nd
1997 USRA Regionals, Ft. Smith, AR 60+ 1st
Oklahoma Senior Olympics 1st
World SR Racquetball @ Albuq. 65+ 2nd
Remembered As:
If I am to be remembered at all, let it be as a player who would rather give away a point than to take one that was questionable.
Life is filled with uncertainty. A fitting end for mine would be to have one more title shot at one last tournament. Some championship point, that I am set up for a kill shot, as I strike the ball and it travels to the front corner and at that split second that the ball is to hit the wall, “the lights go out!” Never knowing if I made the shot or not.
That would be better than dying in some nursing home, or in a wheelchair.
Sincerely,
Roy A. Rudichuk
Career Highlights
- 2001 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
