(1914- )
With a greater span between first and last hardball national victories than any other man or women in U.S. history, Cecile Bowes proved to be an enduring and vivacious force in the early years of women’s squash. Known as Babe, she played at the Cynwyd Club outside Philadelphia; an early mixed doubles partner was Norm Bramall, later to coach a half dozen national champions at Cynwyd. In 1931 Bowes burst onto the scene as a sixteen year-old when she reached the finals of the nationals. She lost four more times in the finals, but also managed four wins-usually playing her archrival Anne Page. Bowes, a brilliant shotmaker and tactician, won the Pennsylvania state singles in 1938, the doubles in 1935 and 1938. In 1936 while on tour with the U.S. side in the Wolfe-Noel Cup she reached the quarterfinals of the British championships.
National Champion 1938, 1940, 1941, 1948
