Interview with Richard Hicks

By Larry Hodges

Richard won four events at the recent U.S. Open (Over 50 Men’s Singles, Over 50 & Over 60 Doubles, and Under 2200), and was also in the Over 60 Men’s Singles final. He has been Indiana State Men’s Singles Champion 30 times (!) including a streak of 25 years in a row (!). He was inducted into the USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001 – see his Hall of Fame Profile and others at www.usatt.org/organization/halloffame.               

What are the best titles you have won?

1962 Central States Open – defeating then current Canadian Open Champion and already two-time U.S. Open Champion Erwin Klein, plus two other top 10 players; Canadian Open Mixed Doubles in 1966; Indiana men’s singles champion 25 consecutive years and 30 times overall; 17 U.S. Open titles in championship events; and 12 U.S. Closed titles in championship events. 

Where are you from?

Born in Louisville, Kentucky.  Grew up there and in Lyndon, Kentucky, a suburb of Louisville. I’ve lived in Indianapolis since 1961.  

What equipment do you use? Are you sponsored?

I play with Phantom 007 (no sponge) on one side and spinny inverted on the other, currently Hurricane II from Double Happiness.  I played most of my TT career with a Hock blade.  In the last five years I have used a Brendling (hand made in Sweden) balsa wood blade in the exact shape of the Hock blade.  I am not sponsored. 

How did you get started in table tennis, and how old were you?

As a youth I played basketball, tennis, and was quite good at fast pitch softball. I played a little “ping pong” at an outdoor recreation center.  I first became aware of real table tennis at 18 through the sister (Connie Warren) of a good friend, and played my first tournament at 19. 

Did you have a coach or club during that time?

I played at the New Albany Recreation Center Club just across the river from Louisville.  There was little or no formal coaching in those days.  I read a book by Coleman Clark that demonstrated and described strokes and footwork.  Bernard Hock gave me a lot of helpful hints and advice, and a lot of encouragement. I also tried to notice what the good players were doing and talking about relative to TT. 

How did you become a top player?

I worked very hard at trying to develop good footwork and strokes. I played and practiced a lot, as much as I could in the years 1957 to 1963. I played regularly and tried to maintain my skills after that.  I tried to develop an “answer” to whatever an opponent could do.  I liked the competition, and I had a strong desire and will to win.  In my early TT years, there were no rating events, only championship events, so the only way to play more at a tournament was to win more matches.   A major factor was gaining the self confidence to know that I could win against the top players – something I realized in about 1960 or 61, just after losing three straight deuce games to a U.S. men’s top five player because I failed to play my normal game after the games were deuced. The next time I played him I won.  

How often do you play?

I regularly play once a week.  Sometimes I play twice a week for 2 or 3 weeks before an important tournament.  

How would you describe your playing style? Your strengths and weaknesses?

I would describe my playing style as primarily a versatile defensive style.  I would like to be able to attack better.   

How often do you train these days?

I spend some time in each weekly playing session keeping sharp on fundamentals or trying something new or different I want to work on.  I try to maintain a healthy diet and to exercise two or three times a week, including TT, to stay in good physical condition.  

Can you tell us anything about your winning four events at the U.S. Open?

I have won four events at the U.S. Open on two different occasions – this year and also in 2000.  I’m pleased to have done so, but it’s not something you can expect to do or plan on.  It takes some luck, two or three especially good matches, and several days of playing without having a bad match.  Both years I was down a game and match point, and behind in the fifth game of another match. 

Tell us about your many marathon senior matches with Dave Sakai.

Dave wins almost every time.  Our matches are almost always close and well played.  Many times I have lost leads at the end – he is a strong competitor and never quits.  One such match was at the first TT Olympic trials in 1987.  Our last three matches were expedite, I won only the last one. Two of the three could have gone either way with a break here, or one less break there.  He is a player I always enjoy competing against.   

What are your major goals in table tennis?

To be as slim as George Brathwaite and to play as long as Eugene Bricker. 

What player in table tennis do you most admire, and why?

Hard question.  There are several players at various skill levels I admire, for various reasons.  I especially admire the skill and perseverance of Mike Dempsey and all the other wheelchair players. 

What is your educational and work background? What do you do for a living?

I have a BS Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky. I worked for Design Consultants for 31 years designing municipal improvements such as highways, streets, interchanges, airports, sewers, and parking lots.  For the last nine years I have been a forensic engineer, providing expert witness services related to accident reconstructions, defective road conditions, construction accidents, and other matters related to civil engineering.  

What are your interests outside of table tennis? Hobbies, etc.?

I like to play golf when I have time, attend basketball games, family activities.  

Any advice for up-and-coming players?

If you want to become a good player, it takes work and patience.  No one ever improves as fast as they want to.  If you don’t aspire to be a top player, but just want to enjoy playing, that’s OK too.  My experience is that in TT there can be something for everyone – it can be whatever you want it to be.  

Anything else to add?

I have enjoyed TT and the competition very much over the years.  My induction into the USATT Hall of Fame is the highlight of my Table Tennis career.