Ralph Eliot Howe III is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 hardball squash

Hardball squash

Hardball squash is a format of the indoor racquet sport squash which was first developed in North America in the late 19h century and early 20th century. It is sometimes referred to as being the "American version" of the sport...

 player. He was one of the leading squash players in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s.

Howe won the US national junior title in 1960. He then went on to win the intercollegiate title in 1962 and 1963 while at Yale University

Yale University

Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...

.

In 1964, Howe beat three former national champions on his way to winning the US national singles title. Howe also won the US national doubles title six times between 1965 and 1976.

In 1967, Howe won the United States Open

United States Open (squash)

The United States Open squash championships is an annual squash tournament sponsored by U.S. Squash. The championship was inaugurated in 1954 as an opportunity for professionals and amateurs to compete against each other...

. He defeated three-time defending-champion Mo Khan in the semi-finals, before going on to beat his older brother Sam Howe

Sam Howe

Samuel P. "Sam" Howe III is an American hardball squash player. He was one of the leading squash players in the United States in the 1960s.Howe won the US national singles title twice in 1962 and 1967...

 in the final, to become one of only four amateurs ever to win the most prestigious open tournament on the North American continent.

Ralph was inducted into the United States Squash Racquets Association Hall of Fame in 2002.