James Richard "Jim" Poole (February 6, 1932–November 7, 2021[1]) was an American badminton player who won national and international championships between 1958 and 1979, and a National Football League official.

Career

Though he did not focus on the sport until the late 1950s when in his mid twenties, Jim Poole went on to have a remarkably long career in high level badminton. He rated among the world's leading singles players in the early 1960s, during which time he became the first of only four non-Asians to win the Malaya (Malaysia) Open singles title (1961). Poole won the U.S. Open singles title in 1958 and 1961 and reached the final of both the U.S. and Irish Opens in 1968 at age 36. He probably played the best doubles of his career while approaching forty in the late 1960s and early 1970s, during an eleven-season partnership with fellow left-hander Don Paup. They reached the finals of the U.S. Open five times in nine tries, winning twice, while capturing all five of the closed national championships that they contested as a team.[2] The 21-year span from Poole's first to last U.S. title is the longest of any player. Noted for his shot-making accuracy and consistency, and for his tactical astuteness,[3] Poole was a member of seven consecutive US Thomas Cup (men's international) teams from 1958 through 1976. He won over 70 percent of his matches in these contests, which included three inter-zone campaigns (1958, 1961, 1967). In 1970, he was elected into the U.S. Badminton Hall of Fame, now called the Walk of Fame.[4]

An all-around athlete who played basketball and baseball for San Diego State University, Poole was a member of the winning US Pan-American Games Basketball Team in 1955.[5] From 1975 to 1995 he officiated National Football League games, wearing number 92 and working in two Super Bowls as a back judge.[6][7]

Later life and death

After retiring from the NFL, Poole worked as supervisor in New York City. He moved to Arizona where he would work as an officiating observer and trainer for the NFL at Arizona Cardinals home games.[1] Poole died November 7, 2021, in Blacksburg, Virginia, after a brief battle with cancer.[1]

Major achievements

Tournament Event and year
US Open Men's Singles (1958, 1961), Men's Doubles (1968, 1973), Mixed Doubles (1971)
U.S. National Badminton Championships Men's Doubles (1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979), Mixed Doubles (1970)
Canadian Open Men's Doubles (1962, 1965)
Malayan Open Men's Singles (1961)

International tournaments

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1958 U.S. Open Denmark Finn Kobbero 15-8, 6-15, 15-8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 U.S. Open United States Bill Berry 15-9, 17-18, 15-2 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1961 Malaysia Open United States Bill Berry 15-11, 18-14 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1962 Canadian Open Indonesia Ferry Sonneville 16-17, 18-17, 9-15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1964 U.S. Open Thailand Channarong Ratanaseangsuang 12-15, 14-17 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1965 Canadian Open Thailand Channarong Ratanaseangsuang 1-15, 2-15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1968 Irish Open Singapore Lee Kin Tat 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1968 U.S. Open Thailand Channarong Ratanaseangsuang 7-15, 11-15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1960 U.S. Open United States Manny Armendariz Denmark Finn Kobbero
Thailand Charoen Wattanasin
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1962 Canadian Open United States Bobby Williams Indonesia Ferry Sonneville
Canada Jim Carnwath
15-6, 15-8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1964 U.S. Open United States Mike Hartgrove United States Joe Alston
United States Wynn Rogers
2-15, 15-12, 10-15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runnerup
1965 Canadian Open Thailand Channarong Ratanaseangsuang Japan Eiichi Sakai
Japan Takeshi Miyanaga
15–10, 18–15 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1966 U.S. Open United States Don Paup Malaysia Ng Boon Bee
Malaysia Tan Yee Khan
6-15, 12-15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1968 U.S. Open United States Don Paup Japan Eiichi Sakai
Japan Takeshi Miyanaga
15-8, 15-18, 17-15 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1970 U.S. Open United States Don Paup Japan Junji Honma
Japan Ippei Kojima
14-17, 2-15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1971 U.S. Open United States Don Paup Malaysia Ng Boon Bee
Malaysia Punch Gunalan
15-2, 13-18, 7-15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1973 U.S. Open United States Don Paup England Derek Talbot
England Mike Tredgett
11-15, 15-11, 15-12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1968 U.S Open United States Tyna Barinaga United States Larry Saben
United States Carlene Starkey
5-15, 4-15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1971 U.S. Open United States Maryanne Breckell United States Don Paup
United States Helen Tibbetts
17-14, 15-7 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

References

  1. 1 2 3 Schultz, Mark (2021-11-12). ""Jim Poole, back judge in 2 Super Bowls, dies at 89"". Football Zebras. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  2. Don Rittmann, "The 'All-Time' Thomas Cup Team," Badminton USA, February, 1983: 8.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Poole
  5. "USA Basketball: Men's Pan Am Games Team History -- Roster". Archived from the original on 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  6. "Super Bowl XXI". Football Zebras. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  7. "Super Bowl XXVII". Football Zebras. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
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