by George Lehocky
Written in 2003

Question. What happens to a handball player who must stop playing due to health reasons?
Answer. If you're Glenn Laque, life goes on and you become a handball supporter/sponsor.

Glenn Laque played handball from 1967 to 1996. He had to stop that year due to severe knee/joint injuries along with arthritis.
A Cincinnati native, Glenn took up the game when he served as assistant football coach at his alma mater, Reading High School, for the team coached by Pat Ordoff. He liked the game and was spurred on to play by the inimitable Vern Roberts. He played the game at area YMCA's, the old Court Club and the Cincinnati Athletic Club.

Glenn had a distinguished football career at Wittenberg University from 1961 to 1965 where he started as linebacker on the 1964 and 1965 teams and finished with an overall record of 46-1-1 over his four years. The 1964 team won the Division III National Championship, and Glenn sports a well-earned national championship ring for the accomplishment. After graduating from Wittenberg, Glenn had a few jobs but eventually went into business for himself. That was 23 years ago. Today, he is President of Spraying Systems, with 10 full time and 2 part time employees and offices in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Charleston, WV.

The company is based in Hyde Park, where he also lives with Carol Feiser Laque, his wife of 35 years. An empty-nester couple, their daughter Clare works in Chicago and is a successful business person in her own right.

Although Glenn admits to never winning a singles tournament, he recalls beating Vern Roberts once in the sem-finals of a UC Bearcat tournament. He says the best players he's faced were Vern Roberts Jr., Dennis Hofflander, Fred Lewis, Jack Roberts and Tony Cianciolo (NO, not really). I had the opportunity to be Glenn's partner in a doubles tournament at the Courthouse during the waning days of his playing time. We won it!

Glenn has fond memories of regular games with Bob Fangman, Bill Stoffregan and the late Bob Caples. He's especially proud of the fact that he never lost a tournament match to Bill Stoffregan. On the other hand, he never did beat Terry Tomlin in a tourney. Glenn's first knee injury occurred playing Alex Drummond. Once hit in the testicles by a ball struck by Tony Cianciolo during a Central Y game, he had to be rushed to the hospital to alleviate the swelling described as the "size of oranges." OUCH! And he particularly remembers a match with Vern Robert, Sr.when Vern had to take a time out to "puke his guts out and then returning to kick my ass."

Even though he's currently unable to play, Glenn continues to be a strong supporter of handball in very significant ways: He continues to be a GCHA member, he regularly sponsors tournaments, especially the Caples, and contributes to othere handball events. He still likes to watch the game, and ofter serves as the chief mediator/arbitrator for any questions or debated rule calls at the Central Y courts.

Glenn continues to stay in shape at the Williams and Downtown Y's. On Saturdays, he joins several handball buddies at the Apple on Elm Restaurant after a "vigorous" workout at the Y to discuss politics, restaurants, stock market, business, current events, wine, the Bengals and, of course, handball. He stays in touch with handball people because he likes the camaraderie.

Glenn celebrated his 59th birthday on February 24th, and still threatens to lose 30-40 pounds, have successful knee replacements, find some new "magic" drugs and return to play the game he loves. Bottom line -- if there was a Hall of Fame for handball players from the waist up or who support handball, Glenn Laque would be in it  

Update 2008:
Glenn received two knee replacements in 2004 and returned to the courts for nearly a year. Also, he became the grandfather to a set of twins (Will and Caroline). In December of 2005, he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.  Glenn passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.  Glenn and Carol celebrated 41 years of marriage in July.