Hikabi “Turk” Emekli, a Turkish immigrant and Catholic University graduate who played, coached and officiated soccer in the Washington area for more than a half-century, died Friday. He was 90.
The cause was complications from Alzheimer’s disease, said his son, John Emekli, who cared for his father in Silver Spring, Md.
“My dad was a passionate pioneer who left a beautiful legacy with soccer and his family,” John said.
Born in Ankara, Emekli moved to the United States in 1951, attended Columbia University and, at age 28, enrolled at Catholic. Older than his teammates, he was the player-coach for three seasons.