Barbara Hunter was a major mid-twentieth century squash figure. An outstanding athlete (she played on the national field hockey team for thirteen years and excelled at tennis), Hunter reached the finals of the national singles in 1953 and the semis four other times, was ranked in the top ten in singles eight times and won the state singles titles of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, as well as the city titles of Philadelphia and Boston. She was the national doubles champion in 1956 (with Ann Wetzel) and 1960 (with Jean Classen). In one amazing week in March 1960, Hunter captured three national titles: open doubles, veteran doubles (40+) and veteran singles (40+). (She won five national 40+ doubles titles in all.) She played on numerous U.S. teams in the Wolfe-Noel Cup and captained the 1953 squad. A passionate leader off the court, Hunter was the president of the national women’s association in 1953-54, vice president in 1956-57 and secretary in 1957-62. She also was president of both the Philadelphia and Massachusetts women’s associations. At Merion Cricket Club, she coached many juniors and ran the nation’s first girls junior tournament, the Philly Districts. In 1976 she was the tournament director for the first national singles to host both the men’s and women’s draws. Hunter was honored with the Achievement Bowl in 1956 and W. Stewart Brauns, Jr. Award in 1990.
