Joel Pritchard
Joel Pritchard | |
|---|---|
| 14th Lieutenant Governor of Washington | |
| In office January 11, 1989 – January 15, 1997 | |
| Governor | Booth Gardner Mike Lowry |
| Preceded by | John Cherberg |
| Succeeded by | Brad Owen |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 1st district | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Pelly |
| Succeeded by | John Miller |
| Member of the Washington Senate from the 36th district | |
| In office January 9, 1967 – January 11, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Moriarty |
| Succeeded by | John S. Murray |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 36th district | |
| In office January 12, 1959 – January 9, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Gladys Kirk |
| Succeeded by | John S. Murray |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joel McFee Pritchard May 5, 1925 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | October 9, 1997 (aged 72) Olympia, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Joan Sutton |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Marietta College |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Joel McFee Pritchard (May 5, 1925 – October 9, 1997) was an American businessman and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and as the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Washington as a member of the Republican Party, and is the most recent Republican to have held that office as of 2024.
Pritchard, known as the Father of Pickleball, invented the sport, along with two friends, in 1965. He was inducted into the Pickleball Hall of Fame in 2017.