Celebrating Tennis Legacies
Where Past Achievements Inspire the Future
Hall of Fame Induction January 24, 2026
The Southern Tennis Hall of Fame holds a special place in the annals of tennis history.
Inaugurated in 1977, the HOF set forth on a mission to recognize and honor those individuals who, through their unwavering dedication and outstanding achievements, have made invaluable contributions to the sport of tennis in the southern region.
Over the years, numerous tennis luminaries — from groundbreaking players and visionary coaches to selfless volunteers and innovative administrators — have been celebrated and inducted. These trailblazers have not only elevated the sport's profile but have also inspired countless others to pick up a racquet, strive for excellence, and cherish the spirit of the game.
The Southern Tennis Hall of Fame stands as a testament to tennis excellence, bridging the past and the present, and setting the stage for a promising future filled with new stars, stories, and milestones.
Criteria for Selection
Induction into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame is a mark of unparalleled distinction. Our selection process evaluates candidates based on:
Accomplishments
Recognized achievements in tennis, including titles, wins, and long-standing records.
Contributions
Demonstrated commitment to furthering the sport of tennis, either through coaching, mentoring, or other means.
Sportsmanship
A proven track record of upholding the highest standards of behavior, both on and off the court.
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Championing the Heart of Tennis
We firmly believe that the heart of tennis lies not just in the thrill of competition, but in the stories of dedication, passion, and perseverance that define its players.
Our Hall of Fame serves as a platform to applaud these inspiring stories. Every inductee symbolizes the spirit of excellence and the timeless values that the game of tennis stands for. By celebrating their journeys, we not only acknowledge their contributions but also inspire future generations to chase their own tennis dreams.
Experience the grandeur of our latest induction ceremony and take a closer look at this year's Hall of Fame honorees.
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Current Inductees
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Eddie Gonzalez
2025
From top ranked player to top notch tournament organizer, Eddie Gonzalez has made his mark in many facets of the game.
Eddie Gonzalez
Georgia
Paul Pittman
2025
Paul Pittman’s contributions to the game have earned him numerous awards including the prestigious Jacobs Bowl, Charlie B. Morris Volunteer Service Award, and President’s Award.
Paul Pittman
South Carolina
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Bryan Shelton
2025
Bryan Shelton has shined on the court as a junior, college, and professional player and as a college and professional coach.
Bryan Shelton
Alabama
Class of 2026
Joe Cabri
2026
Joe Cabri coached Lander University men’s tennis team to a record-breaking eight straight NCAA Division II championships. He was named NCAA Division II Coach of the Decade in 2000. He also holds 10 national Coach of the Year Awards from NAIA and NCAA Division II. He is the recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor a citizen of South Carolina can receive.
Joe Cabri
South Carolina
With a doctorate in Mathematics from the University of Alabama, Joe Cabri started his academic teaching career at Lander in the summer of 1972. He chose Lander because he was more interested in teaching small classes than doing research. Lander became state-supported in the summer of 1973, which made scholarship money available to the sports teams. Several faculty members were asked to “coach” a sport and handle the scholarship money. When some players on the tennis team asked Cabri to be their coach, he accepted and kept doing it for 31 years - years that enriched his life and the lives of his players.
While Cabri was very qualified for his teaching role, for the job of tennis coach many skills were lacking. He read widely and attended Van der Meer clinics, but he thought Lander tennis was helped the most by being in a great tennis-rich area. His teams played in events at Clemson, South Carolina, and Georgia, while he was able to gain coaching insights from the experts: Chuck Kriese, Kent DeMars, and the Southern Hall of Fame inductee Dan Magill. Those coaches treated Lander tennis like part of the family, according to Cabri and he considered it a blessing.
Cabri often mentions how much help he had from many different sources, but even with help and highly motivated players, his teams struggled in a very strong NAIA District Six. But Lander tennis would soon be at the top of NAIA and later NCAA Division II. Lander was also respected in NCAA Division I after upset wins over Clemson (when ranked in the top ten) and Georgia (when they were defending national champs).
In 1981, with the help of three Florida junior college transfers and seven new tennis courts, Lander won its first district title and entry into the national tournament, where it finished sixth in the nation. The Lander tennis dynasty had begun. Lander went on to win 12 consecutive district titles and entered the nationals, where they won four national championships, two second-place finishes, and never worse than seventh. The teams also had a singles champion, two singles finalists, two doubles finalists, 28 All-Americans, seven Academic All-Americans, and 67 NAIA All-District 6 players.
Lander maintained its’ national respect after entering NCAA Division II by winning a record-breaking eight consecutive national championships from 1993 through 2000. Lander won an amazing 88% of their matches played in NCAA tournament competition. They won 11 consecutive Peach Belt Conference titles for an impressive 23 consecutive District/Conference titles. In Division II Lander had 28 All-Americans, 24 Academic All-Americans, three Arthur Ashe Award winners, the only non-Division I player awarded the Dan Magill Award, a singles champion, a doubles champion, two members of Tennis Magazine’s All-Star Team, and 60 All-Peach Belt Players.
Upon announcement of Cabri’s retirement, the media was full of professional recognition of Cabri’s achievements. Former Clemson coach Kriese said, “Joe is a great example of what consistent excellence is all about. To win one championship, or to even be in the final four is an incredible feat. He won twelve! Joe has done an incredible job for his university and for the state of South Carolina. He has built a great legacy. I don’t think people realize how hard it is to accomplish what he did.”
DeMars of South Carolina said, “Joe is one of the most successful coaches of all time in the collegiate ranks. He had the unique ability to manage players and get the most out of them.”
Former Lander Athletics Director Jeff May said, "Coach Cabri has had a hall of fame coaching career. Few coaches have experienced or will ever experience the success Coach Cabri has achieved. His record of 12 national championships and 23 consecutive league championships may never be equaled in college sports.”
Althea Gibson
2026
Heralded as the first Black athlete to break barriers in tennis, Althea Gibson won 11 Grand Slam titles, five in singles, five in doubles and one in mixed doubles. She was the first Black athlete to compete at the U.S. National Championships (now known as the US Open) in 1950 and at Wimbledon in 1951. She was ranked No. 1 in the world in 1957 and was the first Black woman to appear on the covers of Time and Sports Illustrated. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971.
Althea Gibson
South Carolina
Althea Gibson was a trailblazing athlete who transformed the world of tennis and beyond. Widely celebrated as the first Black to cross the sport’s most entrenched racial barriers, Gibson’s career exemplified courage, excellence and resilience. Her life journey, from humble beginnings in the segregated South to the heights of international tennis stardom, solidified her status as a pioneer whose impact extended far beyond the court.
Born in Silver, S.C., in 1927, Gibson moved with her family to Harlem in New York City at a young age. As a teenager, she gravitated toward sports, excelling in paddle tennis before being introduced to organized tennis by the American Tennis Association (ATA). With mentorship from Dr. Hubert Eaton of Wilmington, N.C., and Dr. Robert Johnson of Lynchburg, Va., Gibson developed her skills and discipline. During her time in North Carolina, she won 10 straight ATA Women’s Singles Championships, a foundation for her later dominance on the world stage. She attended the racially segregated Williston Industrial High School in Wilmington and graduated in 1949. She attended Florida A&M University on an athletic scholarship.
Gibson made history in 1950 when she became the first Black player to compete in the U.S. National Championships (now the US Open). A year later, she broke another barrier by competing at Wimbledon. Her perseverance and talent paid off in 1956 when she captured the French Open singles title, becoming the first Black player—male or female—to win a Grand Slam tournament. She went on to dominate the late 1950s, winning Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958, as well as back-to-back titles at the U.S. Nationals. She was named the 1957 Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. In total, she secured 11 Grand Slam championships: five in singles, five in doubles and one in mixed doubles.
Her accomplishments were not limited to titles. In 1957, the International Tennis Federation ranked her World No. 1, making her the top female tennis player globally. She was also inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, the Women’s Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Hall of Fame, and the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame.
That same year, she broke yet another barrier as the first Black woman to appear on the covers of Time and Sports Illustrated. Her grace under pressure and her remarkable sportsmanship earned her widespread respect, despite the racial discrimination she faced throughout her career. She was often excluded from locker rooms, hotels, and clubs due to segregation.
Following her retirement from competitive tennis in the early 1960s, Gibson continued to have a lasting influence on the sport. She served as a teaching pro at the Forest Hills Country Club in Queens, N.Y., and worked to expand access to tennis. Later, she was named New Jersey State Commissioner of Athletics, becoming one of the first Black women to hold a state-level sports leadership position. In that role, she promoted youth sports, physical education and equal opportunities in athletics.
In 1963, Gibson became the first black golfer in the Ladies Professional Golf Association. She played in 171 events over the next 15 years. She also had a career as a vocalist and
Gibson’s legacy was recognized through numerous honors. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971, the first Black to receive the distinction.
Other accolades followed, including inductions into these halls of fame: International Women’s Sports, National Women’s, South Carolina Tennis, South Carolina Sports and the Black Tennis and Wilmington N.C. Sports. She was also celebrated by institutions such as the Smithsonian and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2013, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in her honor, ensuring that her story would continue to inspire future generations. In 2025, she was commemorated with her image on a quarter, accompanied by the words “trailblazing champion.”
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Bonnie Vandegrift
2026
A former USTA Southern President & CEO and former Southern Tennis Foundation Chair, Bonnie Vandegrift has been a tennis leader at the local, state, sectional and national levels of the USTA. She is the recipient of the following honors: the USTA Barbara Williams Service Award, the USTA Southern Gerrie Rothwell Award and the USTA League Award.
Bonnie Vandegrift
North Carolina
Vandegrift began playing tennis in Columbia, S.C., and quickly became an avid USTA League and tournament player and hasn’t stopped yet. Her involvement and oversight in USTA League play has been the cornerstone of her dedication to growing tennis not only in her local community but throughout the Southern section and the nation.
In 1994, she and her husband, Mike, moved their family to Brevard, N.C., where they purchased the Brevard Health & Racquet Club. With no active league present in western North Carolina, Vandegrift started the USTA local league and served as the Local League Coordinator for nine years, in addition to running junior and adult tournaments.
Growth in tennis begins at the grassroots level. Vandegrift’s work in Brevard and Asheville, her current hometown, remains her foundation for her work at the state, section and national levels. In 2003, she founded and became President of the Transylvania County Community Tennis Association. She served as a member of the local planning committee for Fed Cup/ Billie Jean King Cup events played in North Carolina.
She became involved in USTA North Carolina, serving on and chairing numerous committees. She served on the Board of Directors and then went on to become the President of USTA North Carolina from 2008-09. She then served as president of the North Carolina Tennis Foundation from 2010-11. She was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame last year and she continues to serve on her state’s committees and foundation Board of Directors.
Her exceptional talent and work with North Carolina led her to become involved with USTA Southern, where again, she served on several committees and chaired the USTA Southern League Committee for four years. Her hands-on approach was evident as she volunteered at the section’s USTA League Championships for many years.
Her service began on the Southern Board of Directors in 2011 and rose from Director at Large to President in 2019. She also served as Chair of the Southern Nominating Committee and the Southern Tennis Foundation. She is currently a Trustee of the Southern Tennis Foundation.
While serving as USTA Southern President, Vandegrift was also the Southern Section Delegate, representing Southern in all voting matters before the USTA.
USTA recognized her talent and knowledge as she served on the USTA League Committee for 12 years, including two as Vice Chair and four as Chair. She went on to become the USTA Adult Council Chair and a member of the USTA Advisory Group on Committees. She is currently the Vice Chair of the NTRP Advisory Group.
Other major honors include receiving the 2024 USTA Barbara Williams Service Award, the 2023 USTA Southern Gerrie Rothwell Award, the 2022 USTA League Award, the 2022 USTA Southern President’s Award and the 2009 USTA North Carolina Tennis Family of the Year. She is an inductee in the Berkeley Preparatory School Athletic Hall of Fame.
USTA Southern President & CEO Ted Reese wrote in his nomination letter, “Bonnie is a stellar nominee possessing significant accomplishments and contributions at all levels: as an active recreational player, volunteer (state, section, and national), and administrator (USTA North Carolina President & Board of Directors, USTA Southern President & Board of Directors, and USTA National Committee Chair & Council Chair). With dedicated volunteers like Bonnie Vandegrift, the future leadership of North Carolina, Southern, and USTA has a bright future. She also continues to support the local CTA in Asheville and invests in mentoring future leaders. She will remain active beyond the time her various leadership roles run their course because she cares about the game beyond personal recognition.”
Nominate Someone You Know
We rely on our vast tennis community to ensure no deserving individual goes unnoticed. If you know someone who has made significant contributions to the world of tennis and embodies the spirit of the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, we invite you to nominate them. Help us continue to honor and celebrate tennis legends, past, present, and future.
