Jack Tuero, Louisiana, 2020

Jack Tuero had the great fortune to be a teammate of two Southern Tennis Hall of Fame members, all of whom played under another famed inductee.

That was the story of New Orleans tennis in the 1940s and 1950s.

Tuero was a member of the Tulane University Green Wave that dominated men’s tennis for decades. He played with Southern Hall of Famers Wade L. Herren and Leslie Clarke Longshore Jr. Other Tulane players who have been inducted in the hall include Crawford Henry, Hamilton F. “Ham” Richardson, Lester M. Sack, Jr., Ernest M. Sutter, and Ron Holmberg.

The guiding force of the university’s success was coach and Hall of Famer Emmett Paré, who led the men’s team from 1933 to 1973. Tulane won the program’s sole NCAA championship in 1959 and captured 18 SEC championships.

According to tennis historian Billy Crawford, while at Tulane, Tuero won 59 of 60 SEC Conference matches and lost only two more in his college career.

In 1949 he won the National Intercollegiate (NCAA) Championship in a dramatic 1-6, 0-6, 6-4, 9-7, 6-0 comeback against Sam Match of San Francisco State. Additionally, he was SEC singles champion in 1947, 1949, and 1950 and was the doubles champion in 1947 with Gleann Gardner, and in 1948-50 with Dick Mouledous.

In 1949, Tuero also won the Blue-Gray singles tournament. He captured the title again in 1951, gaining a win over Tony Trabert, who would go on to win five Grand Slam titles.

Tuero sandwiched his brilliant collegiate career between numerous successes as a junior and adult.

Tuero was born in 1926 in Waco, Tex. His father, Oscar, was a baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching in 58 games. Jack lived in Memphis from 1936 to 1940 when his father was playing baseball there. The family moved to New Orleans, where Jack started playing tennis.

In 1940, he was the boys’ 15s Southern champion and national 15s runner-up. The next year he was a national finalist again in the 18s and under division. In 1943 he was Southern singles titlist in the Open division and was selected for the Junior Davis Cup team. He would win the Southern singles title again in 1948. At 17, he advanced to the U.S. National Championships, losing in the quarterfinals to the great Jack Kramer. He was the national clay court doubles champion with Ted Schroeder. He was ranked No. 1 in the section in 1943 and 1951.

The ATP shows Tuero had a 7-9 career record and reached the US Open second round in 1954.

He participated in numerous tournaments around the country with extensive success. Later he focused on serving as a teaching pro at Clubs in Beverly Hills, Calif.

His niece, 1995 Southern Hall of Fame inductee Linda Tuero, said, “I imagine that the members of the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame are familiar with the impressive tennis record of my late uncle, Jack Tuero…he was so incredibly talented, a natural athlete. I remember watching him effortlessly glide around the court, never seeming to struggle.”

Richardson recounted, “Jack had a superb backhand, slightly weaker forehand (in spite of Emmett Paré efforts!), great quickness and speed around the court, and a marvelous volleying touch. His balletic grace was a delight to watch.”

Longshore, another Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, wrote, “In the history of Southern tennis, for most of us, Bitsy Grant and Ham Richardson are our most famous players. After these two, I believe that Jack Tuero was our most talented…Jack’s friendly personality and unselfish attitude made him a positive influence on countless young players through the years.”

He was inducted into the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985.

His honors and accomplishments include:

• Won the 1949 National Intercollegiate (NCAA) Championship.

• SEC singles champion in 1947, 1949 and 1950.

• Boys’ 15s Southern champion and national 15s runner-up in 1940.

• In 1948, he was Southern singles champ and was ranked No. 1 in the section in 1943 and 1951.

• Four-time NCAA doubles champion in 1947, 1948-50.

• Had a 7-9 career in ATP matches.

• Reached the second round of the US Open in 1954.

• 1949 and 1951 Blue-Gray singles titlist.

• Inducted into the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985.

Jack Tuero passed away in 2004.

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Lenny Simpson, North Carolina, 2020

Lendward “Lenny” Simpson was first introduced to the game of tennis at age 5. His parents’ backyard backed up to the property of Dr. Hubert and Celeste Eaton, a local physician who lived in a two-story home with a spacious property of about five acres. The property featured a pool, three-car garage and, most notably, a first-class clay tennis court. The Eaton’s’ property was known locally as the “Black Country Club.” During the Jim Crow era, many local parks were for whites only. Even the one park designated for blacks had whites-only tennis courts. The Eaton’s’ court was the only court available to blacks, and then only to a privileged few.

Simpson’s introduction to this court came via a friend and next-door neighbor, Nathaniel Jackson. A 20-time ATA national champion, Jackson escorted Simpson onto the property through the big side gates and introduced him to world champion Althea Gibson. The first thing Gibson said to him was, “Hello, Champ. What took you so long?” then handed Simpson his first tennis racquet. He hit off the backboard for the next two years with Gibson and Jackson at his side each day after they finished playing. Simpson was told that, to be a champion, he had to “beat the backboard” and to this very day, is still trying to beat that backboard.

In 1957, Simpson played in his first tournament at age 8 and won the 11 & Under Doubles. At age 9, recommended by Gibson, Jackson, and Eaton, Simpson attended Dr. Walter “Whirlwind” Johnson’s predominately black American Tennis Association (ATA) Junior Development Team to develop his tennis talents. He traveled all over the country, from Chattanooga to Connecticut, becoming one of the top juniors in the ATA and then the USTA. A young Arthur Ashe was also on the team, living through countless nights when they struggled to find accommodations in the South and ended up staying in segregated YMCAs. Sometimes, they drove through the night to a tournament for which they qualified only to be told they could not play. Being five years younger than Ashe, Simpson was placed under the watch of the future world champion, forming a brotherly bond that would last the rest of their lives.

Partnered at age 9 with Bonnie Logan in mixed doubles, the pair never lost a match and won several ATA titles. “I’ve seen all the greats,” Logan said. “None of them have the kind of spring movement in their legs that Lendward had – and that includes Roger Federer. He was just so quick to the net.”

This ability helped Simpson receive an academic and athletic scholarship to attend two of the best prep schools in the country: Hill School in Pennsylvania and Cheshire Academy in Connecticut. There he won the National Prep School Championships and was on the “Who’s-Who” list in America for tennis, soccer, and basketball. Simpson was the ATA National Boys’ singles & Men’s doubles champion from 1964-67. With his doubles partner, Luis Glass, Simpson was in the top 10 of every age group in singles and doubles from the 10s to 18s at the Boys’ National Championships in Kalamazoo, MI, and Chattanooga, TN. With their success in doubles, both Simpson and Glass were nominated for the US Junior Davis Cup Team. Simpson was selected as the No. 1 player to represent North Carolina in a rivalry North Carolina vs South Carolina team event, during which he defeated Peyton Watson in three sets. Simpson won several states; championships in the North and in the South in singles and doubles before defeating Dick Stockton in the Eastern Boys’ Championships in Forest Hills, N.Y., to qualify for the US Nationals.

In 1964, at the age of 15, Simpson played his first of three consecutive US National Championships, known today as the US Open. He was, at the time and for some 40 years following, the youngest male to play in the prestigious tournament although it was barely noted. Winning his first round, he advanced into the second round to discover his opponent was Ashe, his mentor, coach, and hero in the ATA and USTA.

Simpson accepted an academic and athletic scholarship to East Tennessee State University where he played from 1968-72 and won four ATA mixed-doubles titles while double-majoring in Psychology and Physical Education and earning the ETSU “Who’s-Who” in America in tennis and basketball. Simpson was a quarterfinalist in one NCAA tournament and played No. 1 in singles and doubles all through his college career. He was Ohio Valley Conference champion in singles and doubles and coached the team in 1972-73. In 1973, Simpson married JoAnn and the couple moved to West Bloomfield, MI. They had two daughters, Celeste and Jennifer, both earning academic and athletic scholarships to Division schools. Simpson was the Director of Tennis at the Square Lake Racquet Club in West Bloomfield and helped run the Michigan Junior Development Program. Simpson turned pro in 1974 and was the first black player to play World Team Tennis, playing for the Detroit Loves. The team included Rosie Casals, Phil Dent, Allan Stone, Butch Seewagen, and Trish Faulkner.

Simpson has produced over 65 exhibition matches and events with the first featuring Billie Jean King and Hana Mandlíková in 1980. Matches included top players Serena Williams, John McEnroe, Todd Martin, James Blake, Zina Garrison, Martina Navratilova, Chandra Rubin, Katrina Adams, Caroline Wozniacki, the Bryan brothers, Andy Roddick, John Isner, and many others. It was the 2012 Azalea Festival that brought him back to Wilmington, N.C., for an exhibition match with John McEnroe, Todd Martin, Rubin, and Katrina Adams, the largest event on the city’s social calendar. Invited to be a special Celebrity and sit in a VIP section along the 3rd Street parade route, he reflected that as a young boy sitting on the curb in hopes of catching a piece of candy during the parade, where he was called every derogatory name in the book. Now he would soon be sitting where he never felt welcomed before. Perhaps the world had changed enough that it was time to return to Wilmington to make a difference in his hometown community, to give an opportunity and hope to at-risk kids, just like Eaton and Gibson did for him so many years ago.

2013 saw the founding of the Lenny Simpson Tennis & Education Fund (LSTEF), a not-for-profit focused on working with at-risk kids in Wilmington and beyond. The name stemmed from Arthur Ashe Tennis & Education Center and, as Simpson has said many times, “if it was good enough for Arthur Ashe, it was good enough for Lenny Simpson.” The primary program of the LSTEF is One Love Tennis. One Love travels to all the city centers and afterschool programs, bringing tennis instruction and an academic enrichment program to develop kids both academically and athletically after school during the school year and in the mornings during summer camps. Program participants peak at more than 550 kids a week. One Love charges nothing for its services to ensure that no child is denied the opportunity for academic support and to play the great game of tennis.

One Love started by bringing the Bryan brothers to Wilmington for an exhibition match and clinic. One Love has been honored by USTA North Carolina and USTA Southern for its Academic Enrichment program, sent a team that won the Junior Team Tennis Under 10s Nationals, was awarded the USTA North Carolina NJTL Chapter of the Year, has twice been invited to escort Fed Cup players onto the court and participate in Fed Cup Opening Ceremonies, has twice been selected to perform on-court skills demonstrations at the US Open on Opening Day and flip the ceremonial coins (three times), and was invited to sit in the President’s Suite to celebrate Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the US Open four years in a row. One Love also was invited to have front row seats at the USTA National Tennis Center for the Althea Gibson Statue unveiling ceremony. The 40 letters that One Love kids wrote in 2017 requesting recognition for Althea Gibson at the US Open helped make the statue of Althea Gibson – unveiled in 2019 – a reality. These kids will forever be a part of history.

One Love was invited to screen the acclaimed documentary film, “Althea,” by Rex Miller at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, commonly known as Wimbledon, for its exclusive membership and formed a partnership with the club’s Wimbledon Foundation and Wimbledon Learning Center to teach yearly outreach clinics for at-risk girls in England. One Love screened the film for every student in New Hanover County, N.C., in elementary, middle, and high school, both public and private. One Love brought the Breaking the Barriers Exhibit to Wilmington for display during Black History Month. Simpson has his own live morning radio show each week called “Tennis Tuesdays,” that covers the world of tennis and topics of the day, reaching a large listening audience on the air and Internet. One Love has been involved with several film projects, including the CBS Sports Network documentary “Althea & Arthur,” two USTA special documentary films and two Tennis Channel documentary films that were shown during the US Open in 2019 to accompany the unveiling of the Althea Gibson statue. One Love was featured in print media from around the world in the lead-up to and following the statue’s unveiling. For his work with One Love, Simpson has been recognized with the USTA Southern Marilyn Sherman Spirit Award, the prestigious USTA NJTL Founder’s Service Award and made the USTA Foundation’s NJTL 50th Anniversary list “50 For 50” as well as being presented with a Community Service Award by the mayor and prosecuting attorney for making the community a better place through his service to children and families in Wilmington.

Simpson has been inducted into the Cheshire Academy Hall of Fame, the Hill School Hall of Fame (for basketball), the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. He is also featured in the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Breaking the Barriers Exhibit and has a personalized engraved paver in the Avenue of Aces walkway at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which is just outside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Perhaps the most significant accomplishment of One Love is the purchase of the former Eaton property at 1406 Orange Street in Wilmington. The historic and iconic backyard clay court had all but disappeared through years of neglect except for some fencing that indicated where the court used to be. A complete restoration saw the court reopen for use in 2019 as the “home court” for One Love kids, spawning congratulatory media coverage throughout the world of tennis. The home is being completely restored and will house the One Love offices. Gibson’s upstairs living quarters will become an Academic Enrichment Center with a stairway and observation deck leading right to the court. The Simpsons will live in the home as caretakers of the property, protecting and sharing the legacy of those who lived, trained, and played there. The property will be listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and a marker will be installed. Starting his tennis career just feet away from the 1406 Orange Street court and now acting as caretaker, teacher, and coach, just as Eaton did, brings Simpson’s story and tennis career completely full circle. As his friend, coach and mentor Ashe once said, “The way to change the world is one heart at a time, one person at a time, one child at a time.” Simpson and his wife, with the entire One Love family, are weaving their own legacy into the legacies of Eaton, Johnson, Gibson, and Ashe, to be an inspiration for the next generation of 5-year-olds who will be handed a racquet and warmly greeted, “Hello, champ.”

His accomplishments and honors include:

• Awarded the USTA NJTL Founder’s Service Award, USTA North Carolina Educational Merit Award, USTA Southern Educational Merit Award, USTA Southern Marilyn Sherman Spirit Award, USTA North Carolina NJTL Chapter of the Year, Wilmington Community Service Award, and selected for the USTA Foundation NJTL 50 For 50.

• Inducted into the Cheshire Academy Hall of Fame, the Hill School Hall of Fame (for basketball), the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.

• Ranked top 10 nationally in every junior age group in singles & doubles.

• Captain of the Eastern Tennessee State University tennis team 1968–72 and listed in the “Who’s-Who” in America athletes in tennis and basketball.

• Ohio Valley Conference Champion in singles & doubles.

• Entered the Pro Tour in 1974 as the first African American to play World Team Tennis on the Detroit Loves.

• Served as Tennis Director for Nick Bollettieri junior and adult tennis camps.

• Founder of the Lenny Simpson Tennis & Education Fund, which includes One Love.

• Owner and caretaker of 1406 Orange St., Wilmington, N.C, the former home of Dr. Hubert Eaton.

• Lenny Simpson passed away in 2024.

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Jaime Kaplan, Georgia, 2020

Jaime Kaplan made news on the tennis court at the age of 9.

Her hometown of Macon, Ga., was hosting a pro tennis tournament and there were lots of ball boys, but only one ball girl. “The newspaper caption called me a ‘breakthrough for women’s lib,” she laughed and said in a 2014 interview.

“I wanted to be a tennis pro since the first time I picked up a racquet. Some kids want to be a doctor or a lawyer. There was never a question in my mind.”

Kaplan made that dream come true in 1983 when she began her seven-year career on the WTA Tour.

Kaplan’s prominence cuts across many of the connecting fibers of Macon tennis, starting with her junior career. From 1971-80, she was ranked No. 1 singles and doubles in USTA Southern and Georgia 13 times, competing in the Girls’ 10s through Women’s Open. At Stratford Academy, she was a three-time high school state champion in basketball as an All-State and All-Star player.

She didn’t do too bad in tennis, either, going undefeated in singles and doubles (156-0) throughout her five-year career. Kaplan received Stratford’s 1979 Best Senior Athlete award and was named the 1977 Amateur Athlete of the Year presented by the Macon Sports Hall of Fame as a sophomore. She was nominated as Best Athlete of the Decade by The Macon Telegraph, eight years after they ran that photo of her as a ball person.

Four decades later, the academy’s tennis center was named after Kaplan. The Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center has served as the site of the Macon Pro Circuit tournament as well as several state, sectional, and national tournaments. She had an outstanding collegiate career, winning the SEC doubles title at the University of Georgia in 1981. Next stop was Florida State, where she was a singles champion and two-time doubles titlist in the Metro Conference. She was the first FSU player to qualify for the NCAA championships.

Over the next seven years, Kaplan appeared in 14 Grand Slam tournaments including five times at Wimbledon. In 1988 she reached the Wimbledon round of 16 in mixed doubles. She won five WTA doubles crowns, teaming with Jill Hetherington for her biggest victory and with Iva Budarova defeated two top 10 singles players in doubles, the Maleeva sisters, Katerina and Manuela.

Kaplan’s highest rankings were No. 91 in doubles and No. 252 in singles until a knee injury at Wimbledon cut short her career in 1989.

Randy Stephens, a former USTA Southern President who was inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014, said, “Jaime Kaplan’s accomplishments and contributions to tennis cross a wide spectrum.  In addition to an outstanding junior and collegiate career, she played professional tennis at the highest level. After her playing career, she worked as a successful teaching professional and is one of the most successful high school coaches in the history of Georgia tennis.

“After becoming the head tennis coach at Stratford in 2005, her no-cut tennis teams have won 46 area/region titles and 17 state championships,” Stephens continued. “Also, she developed a celebrity golf tournament that has raised over $9,000,000 for local charities in Middle Georgia over the past 30 years. Her influence through tennis in Macon is unmatched. She is a shining star in our community.”

Over the past 30 years, she serves or has served on over a dozen nonprofit boards and in 2011 filled an unexpired term for six months on Macon’s City Council.

Kaplan has battled numerous injuries and surgeries. But, in 2009, she faced her biggest hurdle. She was diagnosed with extramedullary acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She cited the support of her high school players as helping her recover. Kaplan has served as Stratford’s head tennis coach from 2005 to present.

She is the former Alumni Director and Major Gifts Coordinator for Stratford. Currently, she is the Director of Philanthropy at United Way of Central Georgia and Manager of the Five Star Kevin Brown Russell Henley Celebrity Classic.

A notable volunteer honor – the USTA Eve Kraft Award – came her way in 2008. “Eve Kraft was a dedicated community tennis pioneer who was the original architect of how to grow the game at the grassroots level, making tennis accessible for anyone who wants to play,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, USTA National Campus. “Jaime Kaplan is a passionate, hands-on volunteer. She’s cut from the same cloth as Eve, and we are proud to honor her with this award.”

Her honors and accomplishments include:

• Reached world rankings of No. 91 in doubles and No. 252 in singles.

• Won five WTA doubles crowns.

• Went undefeated in singles and doubles in five years of high school play.

• Previously inducted into four halls of fame: USTA Georgia Tennis (2006), Georgia Sports (2005), Macon Sports (2001), and Stratford Academy Athletic (2004).

• Won the SEC doubles title at the University of Georgia in 1981.

• Metro Conference 1983 singles champion and two-time doubles titlist while playing at Florida State.

• Ranked No. 1 singles and doubles in USTA Southern and Georgia 13 times.

• Honored with the USTA Eve Kraft Award in 2008.

• Stratford Academy’s tennis center is named the Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center.

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Julie Ditty, Kentucky, 2019

Here is a little known but telling fact about Julie Ditty: She played high school tennis – in the second grade! From then on, her accomplishments grew with her.

The Kentucky resident would go on to success at the high school, college, and professional levels, finishing with a top WTA ranking of No. 89 in singles and No. 65 in doubles and earning the honor of representing her country on the U.S. Fed Cup team.

Former No. 4 player Mary Joe Fernández, who coached Ditty as Fed Cup captain, was among the advocates supporting her nomination to the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame.

Before she was a high-school star at Ashland’s Russell High School, Ditty was ranked No. 1 in the country in girls’ 14s singles. She also was No. 1 in girls’ 16s doubles and 21-and-under in women’s amateur singles. She won 12 national juniors doubles championships plus another in singles.

In high school, the three-time state champion was named Kentucky High School Female Athlete of the Year.

Ditty starred for four years with the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team, leading the squad to the school’s first-ever national championship appearance in 2001. Her 114 singles wins is the second best in Vanderbilt history. Awarded with the 1999 Tennessee Amateur Athlete of the Year and the Vanderbilt University Female Athlete of the Year, she had 31 wins in 1999, the best single season mark for a Commodore. An All-American in 1999-2001, she was named to the Academic All-SEC team and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education. In 2009, Ditty was honored with entry into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame.

Geoff MacDonald, who coached her at Vanderbilt, wrote a first-person report when Ditty competed in a doubles match versus Serena and Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2010. “She was the first great junior player that I recruited to Vanderbilt,” MacDonald recalled. “With Julie, I also felt a pride in her for raising the level of her game in her senior year and leading a young team to the national championships.”

Starting in 1999, Ditty began a pro career that would land her a record 39 singles and doubles crowns on the USTA Pro Circuit, more than any other player. In 2005 and 2006, she racked up 12 doubles titles, then had her most successful tournament at the 2008 $75,000 Albuquerque event, where she won both singles and doubles.

She won four singles titles in USTA Southern: Raleigh, Hilton Head Island, Sea Island, and Lawrenceville, where she was runner-up twice.

Also, in 2008, she competed in the main draws of Wimbledon and the Australian and French Opens.

One of Ditty’s top accomplishments was being named to the 2009 U.S. Fed Cup team. She teamed with Liezel Huber, winning the clinching doubles match 6-2, 6-3 to defeat Argentina and send the U.S. into the semifinals.

Ditty has remained in the world of tennis after her retirement from active play. Her positions have included Middle Tennessee State University women’s assistant coach, Vanderbilt University women’s tennis volunteer coach, tennis pro at the Louisville Tennis Club, and Director of Tennis at the Bellefonte Country Club in Ashland.

Currently, she is the Director of Tennis at Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington. She serves as a USTA Kentucky Board member and Athlete Advisory Council Rep to the United States Olympic Committee. Additionally, she volunteers as the USTA Vice Chair of the USTA Davis Cup, Fed Cup and Olympic Team Events Committee. She was inducted into the USTA Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.

“Her extensive career as a player, teacher, volunteer, and role model makes her an obvious candidate for this honor. As a player, Julie has a long list of accomplishments throughout the state, region, and nation,” noted USTA Kentucky Executive Director Jason Miller. “In addition, Julie is a dedicated teacher, coach, and volunteer. She provides countless hours of instruction, support, and leadership to USTA Kentucky and the Louisville tennis community year-round.”

There is no doubt that Ditty is among the best players to ever come out of the Bluegrass State.

• World ranking of No. 89 in singles and No. 65 in doubles.

• Won deciding doubles match in U.S. Fed Cup quarterfinals in 2009.

• Holds record with 39 singles and doubles crowns on the USTA Pro Circuit.

• Inducted into the USTA Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008 and into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

• Her 114 singles wins is the second best in Vanderbilt history.

• Named All-American while at Vanderbilt in 1999-2001.

• Awarded with the 1999 Tennessee Amateur Athlete of the Year and the Vanderbilt University Female Athlete of the Year.

Julie Ditty Qualls passed away in 2021 after a courageous six year battle with cancer.

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Gordon A. Smith, Georgia, 2019

The pinnacle of Gordon Smith’s leadership at the top of the USTA national staff may be the complete transformation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including two roofed stadiums. As USTA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Smith also oversaw the construction of 100 courts and the nation’s largest and most advanced tennis facility at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. However, the many building blocks that led him to an outstanding career in tennis were in place decades earlier.

A native of Brevard, N.C., Smith grew up in Rome, Ga., honing his game by playing on some courts that didn’t have fences. By the time he attended Darlington School, he was on the path to being state high school champion and the top ranked junior in the State in singles and doubles.

His next step to tennis glory led to the University of Georgia, where he played under legendary coach and 1981 Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Dan Magill. During Smith’s four years at UGA, from 1972-75, the Bulldogs were four-time SEC champions. He served as captain and was a two-time All-SEC selection. As a senior, he also captured the conference #1 doubles title with current UGA coach Manny Diaz.

Smith stayed at the University and earned his Juris Doctorate with honors from the Georgia Law School. His accomplishments at, and beyond, UGA were showcased in 2014 when he received the Bill Hartman Award, which recognizes former University of Georgia student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence in their profession and/or in service to others for 20 or more years of superior performance after graduation.

While working as an attorney in Atlanta, Smith rose to senior partner of King & Spalding, which was cited as one of the top 50 law firms in the world. Former USTA Southern President Mike McNulty noted in his nomination of Smith that he was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, recognized in multiple editions of “The Best Lawyers in America,” and named in a variety of listings including Who’s Who Legal, Chambers and Partners, and Georgia Super Lawyers, among others.

Smith kept his hand in the game and volunteered at USTA Southern for two decades, receiving the Jacobs Bowl as the Southern Section’s outstanding volunteer in 1995. He served as USTA Southern’s counsel for many years and served on multiple committees before rising through positions on the Board of Directors. In 2003, Smith was elected President of the Southern Section. He also served multiple terms as a Trustee of the Southern Tennis Foundation.

Smith’s recognition soon ranged far beyond the South as he volunteered on USTA committees, including the Budget, Compensation, Public Affairs, and Strategic Planning Committees. He served as Chair of the Constitution and Rules Committee and as Vice Chair of the Grievance Committee. He became a Director at Large on the USTA Board of Directors and served three years as Vice President. He also served on the USTA Tennis and Education Foundation.

He was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2010, the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012, the Rome -Floyd (Ga.) County Sports Hall of Fame, and was named a Darlington School Distinguished Alumnus in 2011.

In November 2007, Smith dove into full-time service to tennis when he accepted the post of USTA Executive Director and COO. His title of COO was elevated to CEO in early 2018.

McNulty wrote, “He has overseen the introduction and roll out of the USTA’s historic Net Generation and 10 and Under Tennis initiatives and has been at the helm for the unprecedented growth of the US Open, which has posted increasing annual attendance and revenue.” McNulty also cited the building of the USTA National Campus and the establishment of two ATP tournaments in Southern states (the BB&T Atlanta Open and the Winston-Salem Open) as extraordinary achievements.

Recent improvements to the fan-friendly atmosphere of the US Open have been roundly lauded by visitors and the media. Most notable among these USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center improvements were adding a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium and a second retractable cover over the newly rebuilt Louis Armstrong Stadium. Among the other instant favorites are the new Grandstand, Court 17, expanded walkways, and improved dining choices.

Not all of Smith’s leadership has been about tennis courts. During his continuing tenure, the USTA has worked tirelessly to promote diversity on and off the court. Also, in an effort to expand the reach of the sport, there has been an increased focus on programs that attract juniors and young adults.

USTA Southern Executive Director John Callen noted that Smith touched so many aspects of greatness, he was an excellent player, tireless talented volunteer, outstanding lawyer, thoughtful leader, and a great family man.

In her support letter for Smith’s nomination, 2017 Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Pat Devoto wrote, “In his life as a community volunteer, no one has served in more varied posts or with more distinction than Gordon.”

There are many throughout the South who couldn’t agree more.

• Accepted the post of USTA Executive Director and COO (which was later elevated to CEO).

• Led the transformation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including two roofed stadiums.

• Oversaw the construction of the nation’s largest tennis facility at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.

• Served as USTA Director at Large on the USTA Board of Directors and three years as Vice President.

• Four-time SEC champion while playing for the University of Georgia, from 1972-75, served as captain and was a two-time All-SEC selection.

• Awarded the Jacobs Bowl as the USTA Southern outstanding volunteer and elected USTA Southern President & CEO in 2003.

• Inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2010, the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Rome -Floyd (Ga.) County Sports Hall of Fame.

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Mary Hatfield, Georgia, 2019

Mary Hatfield has come full circle. She started in the USTA family as a volunteer, moved into the office as a staffer, and is now back giving her time as a committee chairman.

In all those roles – paid and unpaid – Hatfield excelled as a consummate professional.

Beginning in her local community, Hatfield made contributions on the state, sectional, and national levels.

A resident of McDonough, Ga., Hatfield spent the early part of her career in the classroom, teaching in middle school. Away from school, her volunteer energy was concentrated on developing the Macon Tennis Association’s (MTA) presence in the community. She was instrumental in focusing the MTA and other community tennis associations (CTA) on delivering a variety of tennis programs. Also, she encouraged USTA Southern to mentor CTAs.

She was the recipient of three MTA awards: the Fred Hill Community Service Award, the Official of the Year Award, and one accolade that is named for her ¬– the Mary Hatfield Spirit of Tennis Award. The Macon Convention and Visitors Bureau recognized her with two awards: the Macon Believer Award and the VIP Award.

Randy Stephens, a former USTA Southern President & CEO and 2014 Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, spoke about Hatfield’s contribution to their community: “Mary was the first paid employee of the Macon Tennis Association.  I believe she was paid $100 a week, which meant she made about 10 cents an hour!  She professionalized the way community tennis associations should be run – a true trailblazer for CTAs across the country.  Mary’s contributions to the growth of tennis in Macon were tremendous and we will always be grateful to her.  Being inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame is an honor well deserved.”

Tapped to help on a statewide basis, she served on five USTA Georgia committees, chairing the USTA Adult League and Community Development committees. She served on the Board of Directors for six years, rising to President and Secretary.

In a 2014 interview, Hatfield told this story about running a junior tournament: “I remember getting reamed out by a father because we ran out of parmesan cheese. It was kind of funny because it must’ve been in the latter ’90s because he was going to send a letter to the president of the Georgia Tennis Association. I handed him my card so he would have my address … since I was the president. Then, for weeks afterwards, every time I turned around somebody was bringing me these little packages of parmesan cheese as a joke.”

Hatfield was honored with five USTA Georgia awards: Ruth Lay Award, Community Service Award, Tournament Director of the Year, League Coordinator of the Year, and Educational Merit Award.

USTA Southern also relied on her expertise. She was named to the USTA Southern Board of Directors as a Delegate at Large. She was the chair of the State Presidents and Community Development committees and served on the USTA Adult League Committee. She is the recipient of the section’s Jacobs Bowl (its highest honor), Gerrie Rothwell, and Educational Merit awards.

On the national level, Hatfield was honored with the USTA Eve Kraft Community Service Award. She has served as Community Development Chairman, along with being a member of the Junior Recreation Committee.

For 11 years, Hatfield worked in the USTA Southern junior department with Bill Ozaki and Sandy Hastings, completing a troika of veteran Southern junior experts. She retired in 2013. Originally, she was tasked with overseeing the use of TennisLink in the section. Recounting the hiring process, Hatfield said the USTA Southern Executive Board wanted Executive Director & COO John Callen “to hire somebody that would be helping our people with [TennisLink] customers, etc. and the committee told him to go find somebody. Two weeks later he called me.”

Later she was assigned to promote a program that was one of her great passions: Junior Team Tennis.

Hatfield is now hard at work again, once more as a volunteer. Based on her years of heading the program, she chaired the USTA Georgia Junior Team Tennis Committee before being named to the similar position as the USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis Committee Chairman and the Grants Subcommittee Chair. Currently she volunteers on Georgia’s Adult League Committee.

She noted, “I enjoy playing [USTA] League tennis. Since retiring I’ve served as captain of two or three teams a season. Of all the awards, the greatest accomplishment to me is the friends I’ve had the opportunity to make.”

In his nomination of Hatfield, Hastings wrote, “Off court, both professionally and personally, Mary sought to live a life of high standards and, as a result of that, in working with her, you too were held to that high standard. She was not content in achieving at a lower standard and would not settle for those who worked with her to do so either. When you sat down to discuss an issue with Mary, through her personal understanding of how to correctly address a situation and how it should be handled, you came away more knowledgeable and a better person. Her continual efforts in encouraging you to properly manage the multitude and variety of situations propelled each of us who worked with her to a higher professional level.”

Hastings’ tribute echoes many who worked with Hatfield throughout her tennis career.

• Honored with the USTA Eve Kraft Community Service Award.

• Recipient of the USTA Southern Jacobs Bowl (its highest honor), Gerrie Rothwell, and Educational Merit awards.

• Honored with five USTA Georgia awards: Ruth Lay Award, Community Service Award, Tournament Director of the Year, League Coordinator of the Year, and Educational Merit Award.

• Developed the Macon Tennis Association’s presence in the community, an example of an outstanding local organization for other CTAs in the country.

• Named to the USTA Southern Board of Directors as a Delegate at Large.

• Chaired the USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis Committee Chairman, USTA Southern Grants Subcommittee, and the USTA Georgia Junior Team Tennis Committee.

• For 11 years, Hatfield worked in the USTA Southern junior department as the Manager of Junior Team Tennis & TennisLink.

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Laura DuPont, North Carolina, 2018

Laura DuPont is arguably the finest female tennis player ever from North Carolina, having reached a world ranking of No. 9. She won the 1979 Canadian Open, the 1977 German Open and 1977 US Clay Courts. Additionally, she reached the finals of seven other WTA tournaments in singles or doubles.

She also was a star basketball player in high school and in college. DuPont was the first female All-American at UNC and won the first national championship for UNC. DuPont is being inducted into her fourth hall of fame: ITA Women’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame., North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Charlotte Catholic High School Hall of Fame.

Her story and legacy is important for young girls everywhere who dream of success in sports.

DuPont was born on May 4, 1949, in Louisville, KY, lived in Chattanooga, TN, and moved to Charlotte, NC, in 1964. She graduated from Catholic High School excelling in basketball (38-point average), but there was no girls’ tennis program. However, DuPont became the North Carolina junior 16s and 18s state champion in 1965 and 1966 while in high school. In 1966, she was also the North Carolina state adult doubles champion with Julia Anne Holt. Next year, she was the North Carolina state adult singles champion and doubles champion with Holt. In 1969, Laura was the state adult singles champion.

She attended Greensboro College for two years and then the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, graduating in 1972 with a B.A. degree in Physical Education. At UNC, Laura lettered in basketball with a 30-point scoring average. In tennis, she went undefeated in match play. UNC men’s tennis coach, Don Skakle, was unsuccessful in trying to obtain permission to have her play on the men’s team.

She captured the Mid-Atlantic Singles Collegiate Championships in 1968, 1970, and 1971. In 1970, she also won the doubles.

DuPont was the first woman at UNC to ever win a United States National Collegiate Championship, when on June 20, 1970, at New Mexico State in Las Cruces, NM, she defeated Linda Tuero of Tulane in the finals 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. Tuero is also a Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee.

She almost did not get the opportunity to compete in that National Championship. Frances Hogan, her Tar Heel tennis coach had to persuade the UNC athletic administrators to send her. She remembered that Hogan “told them to send me because I was going to win the tournament. I didn’t know that at the time. I was probably seeded fourth or fifth, and the person (Linda Tuero) seeded first, I had never beaten her.

Hogan said “when it was over, tears were rolling down my face. I was just thinking that it almost didn’t happen. She almost wasn’t there. From that point on, Laura realized she could compete against the best. She was quick, but I think she was a good thinker on the court.”

DuPont always considered being the first female national champion at UNC to be her most memorable accomplishment. In 1998, she told the Raleigh News & Observer as Tar Heel of the Week. In 100 years or 200 years, no one will know I won the Canadian Open, but I will still be the first at UNC.”

In 1970 she was named the North Carolina AAU Athlete of the Year. In 1971, she won the Southern Championships and was ranked No. 1 by USTA Southern.

In 1977, she was ranked No. 10 in the United States. In 1980, the USTA ranked Laura and Pam Shriver No. 4 in doubles in the United States. The USTA ranked Laura and Barbara Jordan No. 8 in doubles in 1981 and No. 11 in doubles in 1982.

In recommending DuPont for induction, Shriver wrote, “We won tournaments, played against the best in the world, and even qualified for the Tour Championships. … I remember losing to Laura in singles when she beat me with her smart tactics and patience. I recall many doubles matches together when she was the level-headed team captain helping us think our way to win.”

Others who wrote in their support for Dupont were Billie Jean King, USTA President & CEO Katrina Adams, Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Mildred Southern, and other notables.

Famous tennis journalist and International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Steve Flink described her as “a formidable clay-court player known to her friends as ‘Flash’.”

She earned the respect of her peers on the international world tour and was elected to serve the Women’s Tennis Association for 10 of the formative years for women’s professional tennis:

1974-1983 WTA Board of Directors

1975-1979 WTA Treasurer.

1979-1981 WTA Vice President.

1981-1984 WTA Executive Committee.

In 1974, she was a leader in the development of the first computer rankings system for women’s professional tennis.

After retiring from the international tour, DuPont became the manager and teaching pro at Shriver’s Orchard Indoor Tennis Club in Baltimore until the club was sold in 1996. In 1997, she moved back to Chapel Hill to manage and teach tennis at the Chapel Hill Tennis Club.

Sadly, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and considered her fight against her cancer to be “the greatest match of my life.” She passed away on February 20, 2002, at Duke Hospital in Durham, NC at age 52.

• Reached a world ranking of No. 9.

• She won the 1979 Canadian Open, the 1977 German Open, and 1977 US Clay Courts.

• Played in the finals of seven other WTA tournaments in singles or doubles.

• Served on the WTA Board of Directors for 10 years and as vice president and treasurer.

• First female All-American at University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

• Won the first national championship for University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

• Previously inducted into three other halls of fame: ITA Women’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame., North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Charlotte Catholic High School Hall of Fame.

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Dan Santorum, South Carolina, 2018

CEO of Professional Tennis Registry

Most people who are cruising down I-95 and headed to the famed Florida – Georgia football game don’t have second thoughts about their destination. Dan Santorum did.

Thirty-three years ago, he took exit 28 in South Carolina, changing his career and his path to induction into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame.

“I was going to a Florida-Georgia game to meet my buddies that I went to school with at Florida,” Santorum said. “I saw the sign for Hilton Head Island. I made a last second turn and got off the exit.”

When he arrived at the club of PTR founder and President Dennis van Der Meer and his wife, Pat, they were both there. Although Santorum had already expressed interest in a coaching job with the famed tennis coach, organizer, and advocate, Santorum was thrilled with the reaction he received.

He remembers Pat saying, “I was just thinking of you.” Then he realized that his decision to create an impromptu, uninvited job interview showed more than the usual amount of interest. The year was 1984, and he took Pat’s job offer without blinking.

Santorum taught for two years traveling the world with Dennis and Pat. Van der Meer was looking for an executive director and his search was coming up dry. “I’ll give it a try,” said Santorum. The next day, the Butler, PA, native was in charge of the fledgling organization with a charge to make it grow . . . and grow it he did.

As CEO of PTR for the past 31 years, Dan leads the world’s largest global organization of tennis teachers/coaches. Santorum has conducted more than 400 PTR educational workshops on six continents, 45 countries & 200+ cities. He is proud that he is the first person to conduct tennis coaches’ workshops in all 50 US states and meeting so many wonderful and dedicated tennis professionals and coaches along the way.

Former USTA and USTA Southern President Lucy Garvin remarked, “Dan will quickly tell you it was a blessing beyond words to have had Dennis as his mentor and friend. He used many of the skills that he acquired from Dennis and developed his own talents to grow the organization into the wonderful organization that it is today.”

In the early 1990s, Santorum created the PTR ACE Program, whose first spokesperson was none other than the legendary Arthur Ashe. Today, the ACE program, which continues to excel, has led to thousands of coaches of color becoming educated and certified to teach tennis in the USA. In 2001, he developed a successful program aimed at increasing the number of young tennis teaching professionals in the United States — PTR on Campus. In 2010, he provided the vision for a new education and certification pathway that helped revolutionize the profession. During his tenure, PTR has grown from an organization of 2,500 members in 68 countries to an organization with more than 16,000 members in 125 countries.

Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Roy Barth said, “In the past ten years since Dennis fell ill, Dan has been the face and the visionary of the PTR. He was ahead of the curve on implementing the 10 & under program as well as developing five educational pathways for pros to meet their individual educational goals.”

A dedicated USTA volunteer for the past 28 years, he has served on several USTA, USTA Southern and USTA South Carolina committees. He’s a member of the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame and the USTA Middle States Hall of Fame. Additionally, he is the recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Educational Merit Award and the ITF Service to the Game Award.

Santorum is one of two current USTA Southern presidential appointments and is a member of its Tennis Professionals Committee. He also sits on numerous non-profit tennis industry boards including the International Tennis Hall of Fame, National Public Parks Tennis Association and Tennis Industry Association.

Santorum holds a B.S. degree in Business Management from the University of Florida. He and his wife, Missy, live in Hilton Head Island where they raised their three children – Caroline, Allie, and Michael.

• Served as PTR’s Executive Director since 1986.

• Inducted into South Carolina Tennis and USTA Middle States Halls of Fame.

• Created the PTR ACE Program, which led to recruiting thousands of coaches of color.

• Serves as a USTA Southern Presidential Appointee and member of the Tennis Professional Committee.

• Recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Educational Merit.

• Board member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, National Public Parks Tennis Association, and Tennis Industry Association.

• Recipient of the ITF Service to the Game Award.

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Tom Smith, Georgia, 2018

Top Senior Player from Alpharetta, GA

Few Southern players have shown the devotion to playing high-level tennis at all ages as Tom Smith.

While Smith turned 65 this year, he keeps up an active playing schedule in adult tournaments and USTA League. A resident of Alpharetta, GA, a northern suburb of Atlanta, he also plays on Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) teams.

Among his long list of accomplishments are winning a World Individual Doubles Championship with Southern and Georgia Tennis Hall of Famer Hugh Thomson as well as 43 gold balls (emblematic of capturing USTA national championships). He has also collected 25 silver balls (which go to finalists) and 13 bronze balls (for third-place finishes). In addition, he was honored many times as Senior Player of the Year by USTA Southern, USTA Georgia, and USPTA Southern section.

Smith was a member of the 2012 Men’s Super Seniors 9.0 combined USTA League national champion team that also featured two Southern Tennis Hall of Fame members (Steve Duffel and Thomson) as well as Marty Pearson, a Mississippi Tennis Hall of Famer.

A notable force on the world tennis stage, Smith has been selected by the USTA to represent the USA on the ITF Vets World Senior Davis Cup Team 10 times and served as the team captain six times. In 2013 they won the world championship in Austria.

“The first time I played on a national team was 2002. Playing for your country is the greatest feeling,” Smith said. “It was fantastic to be standing there with ‘USA’ on our backs at the (ITF World Championships) opening ceremonies.”

Smith has always enjoyed playing doubles more than singles. Even though he’s won five Gold Balls in singles, he explained, “I wouldn’t walk across the street to play singles. … I’ve always enjoyed the team aspect of doubles. I’ll always say yes when asked to play on a team, whether it be for the United States or a USTA League team.”

Smith has won national championships with 16 different partners, many of those being Hall of Famers in their own right. In fact, Phil Landauer, a Floridian who is in the Midwest Tennis Hall of Fame, has been Smith’s most frequent partner.

In 2008 Smith had a career year. Playing with Landauer, they won the “Golden Grand Slam” by taking four USTA national titles on four different surfaces: hard, clay, grass, and indoor. That year Smith received USTA Southern’s Slew Hester Male Player of the Year award.

Landauer, who played at the University of Arkansas, remembered the last match to seal the 2008 slam, “A windstorm delayed all the matches that day by five hours which moved our match into the 20,000-seat stadium court (where we ended up playing our most important match) with only seven people watching.”

Smith grew up in Southern California and first started playing on asphalt courts in Buena Park. A self-taught tennis player, he never competed in the juniors but played on his junior high and high school teams. Smith attended the University of California at Long Beach on a tennis scholarship.

“I’ve never taken a tennis lesson,” said Smith, who was also the captain of his high school basketball team. He explained that in junior high and high school, none of his coaches were tennis players. “Even at Long Beach State, our coach just came out to run drills and make up the lineup.”

Smith was a policeman in Los Angeles County before moving to Atlanta, where he now resides with his wife, Debbie. They have five children between them.

• Achieved the rare “Golden Grand Slam” by taking USTA national titles on four different surfaces with Phil Landauer in 2008.

• Won the World Individual Doubles Championship with Hugh Thomson.

• Winner of 43 gold balls (emblematic of capturing USTA national championships).

• Collected 25 silver balls and 13 bronze balls in USTA championships.

• Honored with the 2008 USTA Southern Slew Hester Male Player of the Year award.

• Named Senior Player of the Year by USTA Georgia and USPTA Southern section.

• Member of the 2012 Men’s Super Seniors 9.0 combined USTA League national champions.

• Came in third or better in a USTA championship in every year since 1995.

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Pat DeVoto, Georgia, 2017

Known as the “Mother of USTA League tennis”

In 1978, Pat Devoto was among a small group of volunteers who pioneered a new program. Growing from that grassroots innovation to the nation’s most popular tennis program, she jumpstarted USTA Leagues. Marilyn Sherman called her “the mother of USTA League tennis” when Devoto was honored with the 2005 Charlie B. Morris Jr. Service Award from USTA Southern.

This accomplishment was cited earlier in 2016 when Devoto was the recipient of the USTA League Volunteer Award. USTA Executive Director & COO Gordon Smith remarked, “Pat Devoto’s contributions to our League program are legendary. I shudder to think where our League program would be if she hadn’t been at the right place at the right time.”

Based on Devoto’s experience and vision, more than a half-million Americans gather weekly to team tennis.

But forming an adult tennis institution was just the start of her involvement in USTA. Over thirty years she has been a consistent presence and force in promoting tennis through volunteering. For her long-time service, Devoto, of Decatur, Ga., received the Jacobs Bowl in 2013, USTA Southern’s highest honor.

On the local front, she served as the Vice President of USTA Georgia and two-time President of USTA Atlanta. On the sectional level she served as Director at Large on the USTA Southern Board of Directors, along with being a member of the League, Marketing, Olympic, Membership, School/After School, Public Relations, Community Programs committees and on the Publications Task Force.

On the national level she was appointed to the following USTA committees: Leagues, Olympic, Membership, Public Relations, Marketing, Publishing and Schools/Afterschool.

In Atlanta, she coordinated volunteers at the 1996 Olympic tennis center, co-founded Techwood GAP, an afterschool program of intercity youth and coordinated student volunteers for the Davis Cup tie. Additionally, she worked as a State League Coordinator and managed Dekalb Tennis Center for an extended period.

Devoto was the founder and tournament director of the Southern Cities Championship.  This women’s competition served teams from throughout the Southern Section for 18 years and dispensed thousands of dollars to local charities by way of the winning teams.

Two other programs are close to her heart: “Reading for Racquets” based out of Dadeville, Alabama and designed to bring tennis to elementary and high school children.  Additionally, she makes a monthly visit to the Montgomery Women’s Facility in Montgomery Alabama, to conduct an ongoing book club and has introduced tennis to the women there. As a result, “The Alabama Slammers” are a member club of the USTA.

An accomplished novelist, her latest novel “The Team” is about – believe it or not – a women’s tennis team. Other well-known books include “My Last Days as Roy Rogers” and “Out of the Night that Covers Me.” She writes under the name of Pat Cunningham Devoto.

The Alabama native received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee.  She taught high school social studies for several years. Besides earning a private pilot’s license, she has served on the Board of Directors of Aid to Inmate Mothers, Alabama; Board of Directors of the Dekalb Historical Society, Dekalb County, Georgia; President, Pace Academy Parent’s Booster Club, in Atlanta and President of her neighborhood Swim and Tennis Club, in Decatur, Ga.

• Considered the founder of USTA Leagues, often described as the largest adult league in the world with more than 500,000 players.

• The second recipient of the national USTA League Volunteer Award, presented to her in September 2016.

• Founding Director of Reading for Racquets, which uses a multidisciplinary approach to teach tennis and its culture to elementary schoolchildren.

• Southern Cities Championship Founding Director and director for 18 years of this women’s charity tennis event that has awarded thousands of dollars to winning tennis teams to be contributed back to their designated local charity.

• Served two terms as president of USTA Atlanta.

• Served on the USTA Southern Board of Directors as a Delegate at Large.

• Writing as Pat Cunningham Devoto, the author of numerous novels, including “My Last Days as Roy Rogers,” “Out of the Night that Covers Me” and “The Team,” which is about a women’s tennis team.

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Ned Caswell, Tennessee & Georgia, 2017

• Two-time All-American at Furman University, reaching the NCAA individual singles quarterfinals in 1987. He also graduated with a degree in Business Administration.

• Originally a starting guard for the Furman basketball team.

• Southern Conference MVP, winning the Southern Conference singles title in both 1986 and 1987.

• Member of USTA Junior Davis Cup team in 1987 with Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Malivai Washington, Jeff Tarango, and David Wheaton.

• Career-high ATP World Tour ranking of No. 200.

• Professional wins over Pete Sampras, Patrick McEnroe, and Tim Wilkison. One of Caswell’s most memorable matches was a loss to John McEnroe in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round of the 1989 Canadian Open played in Montreal.

• Took the Anderson (S.C.) College team to the junior college national championship in 1992 and has led Baylor (Chattanooga) girls’ tennis to numerous TSSAA titles. In 2010, was named Best of Preps Coach of the Year. He also was named National Coach of the Year twice while leading Anderson College to the 1992 National Junior College title.

• Has won 16 gold balls on the national senior circuit and held the No. 1 world ranking in singles and doubles in Men’s 35s, for 1999/2000. World Champion in singles for 1999 and doubles in 1999 and 2001.

• 2010 “Best of Preps” Coach of the Year.

• Twice named National Coach of the Year while at Anderson College.

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Jeff Gray, Alabama, 2017

Even Jeff Gray doesn’t think it’s possible that he has been involved in the sport of tennis for almost 50 years.

Born in Houston, Texas, but being the son of a Shell Oil Company employee and part of a family that moved frequently in the 1940s and 1950s, Gray didn’t play organized sports outside of youth baseball. When he was set to leave for college at the age of 18, a neighbor gave him a used tennis racquet as a gift, and his life changed forever.

“I ended up playing daily in college,” stated Gray. “I played three years of college tennis and played on the first tennis team for the University of West Florida.”

That set the wheels in motion to be a tennis “lifer” and for soft-spoken Gray to give back in so many ways to the sport he loved. It also included a move to USTA Southern as he entered graduate school and was named the Assistant Tennis Coach at Middle Tennessee State University. Following his graduation in Murfreesboro, Gray took the position of head pro at the newly established Pensacola Racket Club. The next year he moved to Mobile and began a stint as a pro at Mirror Lake Racquet Club.

Gray would put down roots in Mobile, as he has been employed for 35 years and counting as Director of Tennis at the Country Club of Mobile.

While the tennis community is known for volunteering and lending a helping hand, Gray has been a leader in giving back. For USTA Alabama, he has been past Chair of both the Junior and Adult Ranking committees. He served as State President in 1978 and was Captain of the Senior Cup Team and currently is Chair of the USTA Alabama Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

At the section level, he has been Chairman of the USTA Southern Junior Ranking Committee and served two stints as a member and one as chair of the Nominating Committee. Gray served admirably as President of USTA Southern in 2005-2006 as well as a Delegate as Large on the Board of Directors, a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Grievance Council.

USTA even called upon Gray to serve as Vice Chairman of the Adult/Senior Competition Committee from 2005-06, a Delegate from USTA Southern in 2007-08 and a member of the Sectional President’s Committee in 2005-06.

For many, Gray is best known for his relief work when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005. Serving as USTA Southern President, Gray brought the affected states together with the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation and the USTA tennis family to raise over $1,100,000. The donated funds not only rebuilt facilities, but also assisted displaced tennis professionals and restarted adult and junior USTA programs at new or alternate sites.

As a player, Gray has been ranked No. 1 in Alabama in various age groups. He won the USTA Southern Senior Open and Closed in both singles and doubles in addition to the 45s USPTA National Doubles Championships in 1991.

“Probably the highlight of my playing career was playing on the winning Alabama Senior Cup and Intersectional teams,” explained Gray. “But it was very special to win the Country Club of Mobile Labor Day Professional Doubles in 1989.” This is an annual event and one of the most prestigious events in the South.

A distinguished member of the USPTA and Professional Tennis Registry, Gray is no stranger to Hall of Fame inductions. He is in the Mobile Tennis Hall of Fame, the University of West Florida Athletic Hall of Fame and the USTA Alabama Hall of Fame. He is a two-time winner of both the USPTA Southern Pro of the Year and USTA Alabama Pro of the Year Awards. He was also presented with the Jacobs Bowl, for his dedication to the game in 2006, by USTA Southern as well as the “Pride of the South” award from the USPTA Southern Division.

Like many other coaches and proponents of lifetime and youth sports, Gray realizes there are challenges that lie ahead with the current generation and generations to come, but he is seeing a payoff reflected in the growing usage of courts at the Country Club of Mobile. Since he started keeping figures 25 years ago, he’s seen a plateau of about 2,000 players a month (for all courts) increase to more than 3,300 players per month. Gray has set a goal of being eco-friendly and making the best use of natural resources.

“I’d put our courts up against anybody’s. They’re the prettiest clay courts you’ve ever seen,” says Gray. “Even better, they require less maintenance—always a headache with clay courts—and use one-third the amount of water that the courts were consuming before the system was installed. More play and less water is a win-win.”

• USTA Southern President from 2005-06 and Delegate at Large on USTA Southern Board of Directors.

• Member of the first tennis team for the University of West Florida.

• Inducted into Mobile Tennis Hall of Fame, University of West Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, and USTA Alabama Hall of Fame.

• USTA Alabama State President in 1978 and served as Captain of the men’s Senior Cup Team for many years.

• USTA Vice Chairman of the Adult/Senior Competition Committee 2005-06.

• United States Professional Teaching Association and the Professional Tennis Registry member and former Chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee for USPTA Southern.

• Assistant Tennis Coach for Middle Tennessee State University.

• Two-time winner of USPTA Southern Pro of the Year Award.

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Tommy Buford, Mississippi & Tennessee, 2016

• Recruited off the baseball team at Rhodes College to take up tennis, winning the Tennessee Intercollegiate Championship in 1956 and 1957. He was inducted into the Rhodes Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997.

• A standout adult player, longtime and legendary coach at the University of Memphis, a pivotal leader in USTA organizations, and the tournament director of the Kroger St. Jude Classic, now known as the ATP World Tour’s Memphis Open.

• In 1962 began playing USTA tournaments and from 1970 to 1982 was ranked as high as No. 1 in doubles for two years and No. 9 in singles in the USTA Southern rankings. Between 1966 and 1983 he was never ranked below No. 7 in Mississippi, with 14 No. 1 rankings. He won the Southern 35s Singles and Doubles, 1974 Southern Closed 45s Doubles, and the 1979 Southern Senior Open Championships, along with at least nine state championships.

• Playing with his son, Tiger, he won the 1981 USTA Father/Son Clay Court Doubles Championship, an especially proud accomplishment for the elder Buford.

• At the University of Memphis, posted a career mark of 441-262-3 over 32 seasons. He guided the Tigers to six Metro Conference titles and five second place finishes in the league standings. He had five teams win 20 or more matches in a single season.

• Inducted into the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame in 1996 and the University of Memphis’ M Club Hall of Fame in 2005.

• Was the USTA Southern Delegate-at-Large and a Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation Trustee from 1979-84 and was the chair of four Southern committees and a member of another committee.

• At the national level, Buford was a charter member of the USTA League Committee and a member of the Membership Committee for Clubs and the Membership Committee for Individuals. In Mississippi, he was the State President from 1977-78 and a member of the Board of Directors and Tennis Foundation of Mississippi for three years, along with the Tennis Hall of Fame Committee.

• He also had a standout career as an official and referee, handling the Southern Senior Championships for 13 years and USTA 55-65 Men’s Clay Court in 1982.

• Coached the Boise High boys’ team to 10 state championships.

Tommy Buford passed away in 2018.

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Rex Maynard, South Carolina, 2016

Rex Maynard is a man with a big personality and an even bigger heart. In 2016, he will reach his 40th anniversary of volunteering for the USTA.

While it’s easy to measure the length of his selfless giving to the sport, it’s harder to fathom how much he has done to support tennis in his hometown, his state, and in the United States. He began as a local volunteer in his hometown of Belton, South Carolina, population 4,200. Maynard has risen to serve as USTA Southern President and twice as USTA Delegate for USTA Southern. In 2015, he received the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor bestowed on citizens of South Carolina.

Outside of tennis circles, Maynard is known as the owner of Maynard Home Furnishings and for appearing in television ads in the upstate of South Carolina using his trademark introduction, “Hello Nice People.” Additionally, there are few in the USTA Southern family that haven’t been touched with Maynard’s exuberance and contagious let’s-have-fun attitude.

Maynard has served as the Palmetto Championships Tournament Director for 35 years. The Palmetto, which was established in 1957 and serves as the South Carolina junior qualifying tournament, won the USTA Southern Junior Tournament of the Year in 1990 and 2008. Dedicated to his hometown’s involvement in tennis, he has also served as President of the Belton Tennis Association for several terms and presently serves as Treasurer. The BTA received the 2013 USTA Southern Community Tennis Association of the Year Award. He established the Hall of Fame Classic for high school girls in 1987; the tournament celebrated its 29th anniversary in 2015 and was named the 2012 USTA Southern Team Event of the Year. Maynard most recently started the South Carolina Men’s Collegiate Championships in 2014 further confirming Belton’s reputation as the “Tennis Capital of South Carolina.”

Maynard has attended and enlivened every USTA Southern Annual Meeting since 1989. He was elected to the Executive Committee member in 2001 and became a Vice-President in 2003. Six years later (in 2009), he was elected USTA Southern CEO and President. During his term as president, Maynard spearheaded several successful projects including bringing big-time professional tennis back to Georgia with the purchase of BB&T Atlanta Open. He personally made it his mission to shake the hand of every ticketholder in its debut year of 2010. He served on the tournament oversight committee for many years and was the Co-Chair of volunteers for the 2015 event.

Maynard was awarded the USTA Southern’s Jacobs Bowl in 2010, the President’s Award in 2011 and the Charles B. Morris Jr. Service Award in 2012. Maynard is currently on the USTA Southern Board and Human Resources Committee. He has served on a long list of USTA Southern committees since 1989.

In 2001, he was inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, which he helped establish. He is also the recipient of the following USTA South Carolina honors: Family of the Year, the President’s Award twice, the Junior Council Volunteer Service Award, the Lucy Garvin Volunteer of the Year Award, and the District Volunteer Service Award. He was President of USTA South Carolina in 1994 and 1995. Maynard is a former Chairman and current Treasurer of the South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation and has served as the Historian for the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame located in the Belton depot since it opened in 1983.

On the national scene, Maynard was honored with the 2014 USTA Eve F. Kraft Community Service Award. He has served as a volunteer at the US Open in 1995 and 2003. Maynard has served on a number of national committees, including Publications, Junior Ranking, Community Development, and Youth Competition and Training. He is currently serving his second two-year term on the USTA Nominating Committee.

One of Maynard’s passions is his service to the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation. He is a past trustee and chairman and presently serves as an advisor. Over many years he has worked diligently to increase donations, including spearheading the production and distribution of new funding, communications, and marketing. He is also a driving force in establishing a foundation website.

• Volunteered to help with the Palmetto Championships in his hometown of Belton in 1976 and has served as the Tournament Director since 1980.

• Served 2 terms as President of the Belton Tennis Association, founded the Hall of Fame Classic girls high school tournament in 1987, the South Carolina Men’s Collegiate Championships in 2014, and was instrumental in starting the Southern SPUD tournament in 2011.

• Led 3 major 5-figure fundraising drives to rebuild tennis facilities in the community, including a $250,000 6-court public park project in 2014.

• Helped establish the South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation as its first chair in 1982 and opened the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983, served as volunteer editor of South Carolina Tennis Magazine for 4 years and President of the South Carolina Tennis Association in 1994 and 1995.

• Member or chairman of USTA Southern committees since 1990, elected to the Board in 2001, President in 2009 (when Southern purchased an ATP tournament sanction), USTA Delegate in 2011 and 2015 and Patrons Chair.

• Served on USTA committees since 1991 including Publications, Community Development, Junior Ranking, Junior Competition and Nominating and was USTA Southern Delegate and a member of the USTA Executive Committee.

• Received volunteer service awards in South Carolina (President’s Award and Lucy Garvin Award), Southern Section (President’s Award, Jacobs Bowl, and Charles Morris Award) and USTA (Eve Kraft Award), and was inducted in the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001.

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Mel Purcell, Kentucky, 2016

• Won 2 Kentucky high school doubles titles with his older brother when he was in middle school and a singles title as a senior.

• Played for at the University of Memphis and won the Metro Conference single and doubles titles his freshman year before transferring to Tennessee where he won 2 SEC titles and captured the 1980 NCAA Indoor Singles Championship and the NCAA Doubles titles and was an All-American.

• Joined the ATP tour and made an immediate impact when he was named the 1980 ATP Newcomer of the Year, was a Wimbledon quarterfinalist in 1983, and earned his highest singles ranking of number 21 in the world in 1980 and 1982.

• Won 3 ATP singles titles in Atlanta, Tampa, and Tel Aviv and reached the finals 4 other times.

• Won 4 ATP doubles titles and was a finalist in 4 other tournaments, reached a ranking of number 47 in the world in doubles and won a senior doubles title with Bjorn Borg.

• Joined his father as the assistant tennis coach at Murray State and became head coach in 1997 and his team won consecutive Ohio Valley Conference Championships in 2001 and 2002, and he was named the Conference Coach of the Year.

• Inducted into the Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985 and the 2016 Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015

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