Drexel University President John Fry will be inducted into the U.S.
Squash Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held April 2. The induction
ceremony will coincide with the grand opening of the Peggy & Leo
Pierce U.S. Squash Hall of Fame in the Arlen Specter US Squash Center on
Drexel’s campus.
“John Fry’s impact on squash in the U.S. and
internationally is truly unparalleled. His leadership and advocacy are
really second to none – from the creation of college programs to the
promotion of excellence at the highest level through the Drexel – US
Squash partnership,” said Kevin Klipstein, president and CEO of US
Squash. “Hosting the U.S. Open for more than a decade on Drexel
University’s campus provided the event the strength and stability it
needed to lead the world tour towards full parity in prize money for men
and women, and elevate the presentation of the sport considerably.
During this period, John also served as US Squash chair of the Board for
three years. Combined, these contributions of time and effort are
themselves remarkable. Yet beyond all of this, John’s willingness to
explore opportunities for an ambitious collaboration to create a
national center for US Squash on Drexel’s campus led directly the what
is now the Arlen Specter US Squash Center. The Specter Center has
elevated US Squash and our ability to fulfill our mission to an entirely
new level.”
Receiving this honor alongside Fry will be esteemed
American players Tom Page, Gail Ramsey and Nancy Gengler-Saint. They
will join the ranks of 65 inductees representing the greatest players
coaches and contributors in American squash history.
“I am moved
beyond words to receive this honor,” said Fry. “My passion runs deep for
this beautiful game that has given so much joy to my family and me. I
have loved learning and playing squash with family and friends. I have
enjoyed building several programs at the intercollegiate level. And I
have been so honored to partner with Kevin Klipstein and his amazing
team at US Squash on so many important ventures over the past decade. It
has been a privilege to give something back to squash by helping it to
grow into a more inclusive, diverse —and, as a result — a more popular
sport that is accessible to everyone. The spectacular Arlen
Specter US Squash Center on Drexel University’s campus has already
become a showcase and catalyst for diversifying the sport, and working
with US Squash and all our University and community partners to bring
this project to fruition has been its own reward.”
Fry has been
instrumental in transforming squash at Drexel and nationally. As
president of Drexel, he created a varsity program at the University and
built seven new courts. Since their inaugural 2012–2013 season, Drexel's
men's and women's squash teams have continued to climb the national
rankings and both programs have earned bids to their respective national
postseason tournament.
In 2011, the University began hosting the
U.S. Open Squash Championships, bringing the nation’s top squash
competition to Philadelphia for the next decade. In 2013, Fry played a
central role in the U.S. Open offering prize-money parity for its men’s
and women’s champions — a first for a major squash tournament and a
groundbreaking move that led to parity across all major events worldwide
and the merger of the women’s and men’s pro tours in 2015.
He
served on US Squash’s board from 2010 to 2017, chairing it from 2013 to
2017. During this time, he articulated the plan for a national squash
center on Drexel’s campus. Fry’s dynamic, visionary leadership led
directly to the creation of the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, which is
now the world’s largest community squash center.
The U.S. Squash
Hall of Fame was founded in 2000 at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, it
then moved to Payne Whitney Gymnasium at Yale in 2006. The opening of
the Pierce U.S. Squash Hall of Fame at the Specter Center now returns
squash’s place of honor to its birthplace in Philadelphia.
More information about the induction ceremony is available at this link.