NCHA Hall of Fame Committee

The Hall of Fame Committee is charged with identifying suitable candidates and nominating exceptional players and contributors. The committem meets each year during the Regional Tournament to consider candidates that have been suggested by the members. The committed consists of:

Name and email	phone	Role
Geoff Capell	408-893-5657	Chairman
Tom Sove	209.579.0914	Member
Cherylann Mendonca	(916) 392-3323	Member
Rudy Stadlberger	415-647-3423	Member
Joe McDonald	650-697-3808	Member
Jim Tamagni	831-901-7036	Member

The committee nominates candidates to the NCHA Board, which then votes on their induction. The committee then arranges for biographies and speakers for the Banquet at the annual Hall of Fame Tournament.

History of the Hall-of-Fame Tournament

In 1974 the Olympic Club Invitational was started by Olympic Club handball commissioner Charlton Buckley and admirably run by the Olympic Club handball coach Mike De La Pena. It was a doubles only tournament, run over four days Thursday through Sunday. It was a 16 team bracquet and players only had to play once a day.

After only a few years, the invitational tournament was discontinued. In 1983 the tournament was resurrected again by Northern California Handball Association president Joe McDonald and renamed The Hall-of-Fame Tournament. Except for one year, the tournament has always been hosted at The Olympic Club.

The intent of the tournament was to attract good handball competition and induct outstanding players and contrubutors into our special Northern California Handball Hall-of-fame. In 1983 a block of six players, Al Banuet, Bob Brady, Jack Clements, Lane McMillan, Rudy Stadlberger, and Joe "Red" Murray were inducted along with four contributors John Condon, Mike De La Pena, Martin Judnick and Tom Walsh. Each year new players and contributors are inducted and honored.

The highlight of the tournament is a prestigious dinner and induction ceremony held in the elegant second floor dining room of the Olympic Club. This tournament is the show case for Northern California handball, and our most popular draw, with well over 200 attendees at the most recent banquet.