Three minutes with… Steve Frazier of Hermiston

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Why do you love pickleball so much?

Phil Hamm got me into it. I didn’t know what it was, but I went down to Irrigon, started playing and I liked it. The coordination and flexibility it gives you, as you get older, is awesome. That’s what I really like. And then there’s the social aspect of it. People can play together, get to know each other and they have fun. I meet with a group that meets near Hermiston’s senior center a few times a week, and anyone is welcome to join us.

Do you think that pickleball can be the biggest sport in the world?

Number-wise, I think it could rank up there near the top. I’ll get together with tennis players, and they’ll stop playing tennis so they can play pickleball. It’s really a great sport. It keeps me fit, gets my pulse up and gives me fun. And it isn’t just old people. I play with younger generations.

Not everyone can play though, right? What if I’m not very athletic?

That’s what a lot of people think. I wasn’t good when I started, but I got better. People should come join us, Tuesday through Thursday, starting at 7 a.m.

What other hobbies do you like?

I volunteer at the Agape House, and I’m involved in the CASA Program. My wife and I have a few grandkids, and they keep us busy. I help people with their taxes. Those are a few things. I like to get involved in our community. You know, we have a wonderful community.

Tell me about that. Why do you like Hermiston?

I moved here after college, back in 1975, because I wanted to live here. I lived here, and I didn’t want to leave. And that’s how it is. If a person lives here for two years, they’ll never want to go anywhere else. It’s friendly. It’s just a nice town with a great school system, good people and nice groups. You can’t find a better community.

What do you think about this area’s continued growth?

I hope it doesn’t get too big. We have something special with a small community, and I hope we don’t lose that.