2023 PHOF Inductee

Bill Booth

Contributor

Bill Booth

CITIZENSHIP: USA

BORN: March 10, 1944, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada

PLAYS: Right-handed

EDUCATION:

  • Sexton High School - Class of 1962, Lansing, Michigan
  • B.S. in Math, 1970, Minot State College, Minot, North Dakota

MILITARY:

  • U.S. Air Force, November 1966 – 1970.
  • Completed college while in the Air Force at Minot AFB, North Dakota.

MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS:

  • Started the Sun City Grand Pickleball Club in Surprise, Arizona in 2002. As a result of the great success of the pickleball program in that Del Webb community, all Del Webb developments from that time forward included pickleball as a standard amenity.
  • With wife, Jan, taught more than 700 players how to play.
  • USAPA Board Member from 2006 – 2012.
  • President of the USAPA from 2009 – 2012.
  • Maintained the USAPA Website.
  • Created the software for ladder leagues.
  • Created the USAPA member database.
  • Created tournament bracket software.
  • Created the Places to Play feature for the USAPA website.
  • Created free online court-reservation software that is currently used by many clubs.
  • Worked with a net company to develop the first pickleball portable net system.
  • Developed the first deflection test for paddles.
  • Helped to create the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) in 2009.
  • Worked as a volunteer to create websites for several pickleball clubs.

Background

Bill grew up in Coldwater and Lansing Michigan. Bill’s sports background began with handball at age 18 and then progressed to racquetball. Bill and wife, Jan, learned pickleball at RV parks starting in 1998 while RVing full time for 2 years.

Bill and Jan started a business in Dallas, Texas for electronic distribution of stock and commodity price information. In 1984 that business merged with a company in Scarsdale, New York. That company was eventually bought by Standard & Poors/McGraw Hill. Bill was vice president of technology for the McGraw Hill subsidiary.

Bill Booth served on the USA Pickleball Board of Directors for six years, leading the Board as President for 3.5 years. He created the first online store for pickleball products and the initial software that USA Pickleball utilized for membership, rankings, places to play, and tournaments. Booth also created a free online court reservation system and worked with sport equipment manufacturer Oncourt Offcourt to create the first portable pickleball net. The Sun City, Arizona native was also responsible for the establishment of many pickleball courts in his local community, and was instrumental in creating the first USA Pickleball Rulebook. In 2012, he developed the original deflection test for pickleball paddles.

Bill presenting check for Gold Medal to Pat Kane and Mark Friedenberg at 2009 USAPA Nationals

Bill playing Men’s Singles 65+ at 2009 USAPA Nationals

Bill playing Men’s Singles 65+ at 2009 USAPA Nationals

Bill and Jan Booth

Bill at Bryce Canyon National Park

Championship court dedication to Bill and Jan by Sun City Grand Pickleball Club

COMPETITION AND AWARDS RECOGNITION:

  • In 2019, the Sun City Grand Pickleball Club dedicated its championship court to Bill and Jan Booth.
  • Bill was named the Sun City Pickleball Club volunteer of the year.