Jack Mills, South Carolina, 2009

• Volunteer and leader at all levels of tennis since 1971 serving as Chairman of the Junior Tennis League in Columbia, President of the South Carolina Tennis Association, President of the Southern Tennis Association, and Regional Vice-President of the USTA.

• Member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports, board member of PE4Life, and Chairman of the advisory board for the College of Hospitality, Retail & Sports Management at the University of South Carolina.

• Represented the USTA on the ITF Olympic Committee before and during the 1996 games in Atlanta and was an advisor to the Atlanta Committee focusing on the construction of the tennis stadium and complex.

• Member of the U. S. Open committee in 1993, worked to improve security and chaired the U. S. Open Project Committee during the planning and construction of Arthur Ashe Stadium and the renovation of Louis Armstrong Stadium.

• Chaired the USTA Public Affairs Committee and assisted in obtaining more than $700,000 in government grants as well as pro-bono USTA advertising appearances by Donald Trump and Jeff Gordon.

• Selected as one of the 25 most influential sports figures in South Carolina and among the top 100 sports figures for the millennium in the state and received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian award.

• Inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1990 and received the USTA Southern Touchstone Award in 1991.

‍

Lisa Spain-Short, Georgia, 2008

• Ranked number 1 in Georgia and number 34 in the nation in the Girl’s 18U.

• Compiled a 56-1 state AAAA high school match record, winning 4 state singles championships.

• Played number 1 singles and doubles 4 years at the University of Georgia winning the Southeastern Conference Singles Championship in her junior and senior seasons and was named All-SEC 4 years and All-American 3 years.

• Won the ITCA All-American and the 1984 NCAA Singles Championships.

• Continued her tennis career on the Women’s Tennis Association pro circuit from 1984 through 1987 playing in all 4 grand slams and reaching a ranking of number 63 in the world.

• Teaching professional at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

• Inducted into the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

‍

William “Bill” Weathers, North Carolina, 2008

• Worked a full-time job as a youngster and learned the game in Chapel Hill under the direction of longtime UNC coach John Kenfield while serving in the United States Navy.

• Learned and improved quickly and made the varsity team for the University of North Carolina at the number 4 and 5 positions.

• After serving in the Navy transferred to North Carolina State University playing the number 1 singles position 3 years.

• Won over 300 North Carolina and Southern singles and doubles tournament titles and held the number 1 singles ranking in every age group since the 55’s and won numerous sportsmanship awards.

• Served as Director of Tennis at a private country club in Pinehurst and is known for his exceptional clay court maintenance skills.

• Received the 1982 North Carolina Tennis Family of the Year Award.

• Inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.

Bill Weathers passed away in 2019.

‍

Stan Smith, South Carolina, 2007

• Tennis legend and highly touted as one of the best male tennis players to ever play the sport, but perhaps is best known for sportsmanship and dedication to the game and the world-famous Stan Smith tennis shoe by Adidas with over 30 million sold.

• 3 time All-American at the University of Southern California winning the 1967 Intercollegiate doubles title and 1968 singles and doubles titles.

• Dominated the pro tour in the early 1970s, ranked number 1 in the United States 4 years and number 1 in the world in 1971 and 1972, won the 1971 U. S. Open and 1972 Wimbledon singles titles, won 4 U. S. Open and 1 Australian Open doubles titles, and appeared in the finals of 8 other grand slam tournaments.

• Top Davis Cup player, competing on the United States team 11 years, finishing with a 22-2 record, and winning 7 Cup victories.

• Won 4 grand slam senior titles, including the 1984 and 1985 35’s at Wimbledon and the 1984 U. S. Open and the 2002 and 2004 55’s U. S. Open.

• Moved to Hilton Head Island in the late 1970’s and launched a coaching career, serving as Director of Coaching for the USTA Player Development program from 1988 to 1995, 2000 head coach of the Men’s Olympic team, and founded the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy.

• Inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and 2 other California Hall of Fames.

‍

Kay McDaniel, Louisiana, 2007

• Purchased her first tennis racquet at age 11 in Shreveport with 50 Green Stamp books and soon became a top junior player earning the number 1 ranking in the USTA Southern 14U, 16U, and 18U girls divisions.

• Played number 1 singles at Louisiana State University, earned 3-time All-American honors, and reached the singles semifinals of the National Collegiate Tournament.

• Joined the professional tour and competed in 6 Wimbledon Championships, 6 U. S. Opens, and 3 French Opens and earned a world ranking of number 30 in singles and number 20 in doubles.

• Won a Virginia Slims singles title in Atlanta and doubles titles in Houston and Las Vegas.

• Won the award for the “Fastest Serve in Women’s Tennis.”

• Coached the Lee University tennis team and was named the Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

• Honored by the Louisiana governor and Council on Physical Fitness and Sport with an Outstanding Achievement Award.

‍

John Peddycord, North Carolina, 2006

• Spent 45 years volunteering to improve tennis in his community, state, section, and nation and served as a board member for the Winston-Salem Tennis Association for 40 years and as President in 1974.

• Co-chairman of the North Carolina Junior Qualifying Tournament twice, Chairman of the USTA Boy’s 12U Clay Court Championships 4 times, and Chairman of the Zanne Meads Awards Banquet for 10 years.

• USTA North Carolina Board member for over 35 years, including President in 1979 and 1980 and helped establish the North Carolina Tennis Foundation and North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.

• Elected to the Southern Tennis Association Management Committee and spent 2 years as USTA Delegate, 3 years as Vice-President, 5 years as chairman of the Junior Tennis Council, and 8 years as chairman of the Investment and Finance Committee.

• Served on numerous USTA committees and chaired the Junior Competition Committee and the Nominating Committee.

• Received the North Carolina Family of the Year, the USTA Southern Jacobs Bowl, and the Charles Morris Volunteer Service Award.

• Inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1990.

John Peddycord passed away in 2017.

‍

Paul Scarpa, South Carolina, 2006

• Top junior player in the 1950’s, ranked number 1 in South Carolina and number 3 in the South and won the Southern Boy’s 18U Sportsmanship Award.

• Played number 1 singles and doubles at Florida State University and won the NCAA Eastern Intercollegiate Championships.

• Became head tennis coach at Florida State and the United States Naval Academy before being named the head tennis professional at Greenville Country Club and head men’s coach at Furman University in 1966.

• Coached at Furman for 45 years winning over 800 matches with a winning percentage of over .625 and the school proclaimed April 10, 1999, as Paul Scarpa Day before his 1,000th Furman match.

• First college coach in South Carolina to develop a tennis camp on a college campus in 1970 which became one of the highest regarded camps in the South drawing the best young talent in the region and nation.

• Awards include 1990 and 2000 South Carolina Coach of the Year, numerous Southern Conference Coach of the Year, and Furman named their championship court and have endowed a scholarship in his honor.

• Inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, the Furman University Athletic Hall of Fame, the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame.

‍

Sharon Gault, Mississippi, 2006

• Involved in tennis as a recreational player, volunteer, tournament director, and administrator since the early 1970’s.

• Named to the Mississippi Tennis Association Board in 1978 and elected President in 1983.

• Chaired several Southern Tennis Association committees, including Adult Leagues, Adult/Senior Competition, Senior Cup, and Strategic Planning and was elected to the Management Committee as Vice-President in 1989.

• Appointed to numerous USTA committees, chaired the USTA League Committee for 4 years, served as the USTA Division Council Chair for the Competitive Play Council, and chaired the Committee on Committees for 4 years.

• Received the 1985 state (Mississippi), section (Southern) and national (USTA) Family of the Year awards.

• Other recognition includes the USTA Southern Gerrie Rothwell Award, the Southern Volunteer Service Award, the USTA Jacobs Bowl, the Charles Morris Volunteer Service Award, and the USTA Barbara William Leadership Award.

• Inducted into the Mississippi Tennis Hall of Fame in 1996.

‍

James “Jim” Russell, South Carolina, 2005

• Begin playing tennis at age 25 but quickly became a good player and was a member of the 1979 National Champion Cobb’s Glen Adult League team.

• Volunteered to help with the 1974 Palmetto Championships, South Carolina’s state junior qualifying tournament, and became the tournament referee in 1976 and served 32 of the next 33 years in that position leading the tournament to tremendous growth and Junior Tournament of the Year awards from both South Carolina and USTA Southern.

• Joined the South Carolina Tennis Association Board in the 1970’s and was elected President in 1982 and established the South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation and the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in the Belton Depot during his 2-year term.

• Elected to the Southern Tennis Association Management Committee in 1984, became President in 1993, and received the USTA Southern Jacobs Bowl in 1994 and Charles Morris Volunteer Service Award in 1999.

• USTA Southern Delegate in 1995 and 1996, elected to the USTA Board of Directors in 1997-1998, and served as a member of the USTA Executive Committee in 1995-1996 and 1999-2000.

• Well known official and referee, especially at the college level and refereed the Atlantic Coast Conference, College All-American, and NCAA Men’s Championships.

• Inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association College Hall of Fame in 2003.

• Known to many as “Big Jim.”

Jim Russell passed away in 2012.

‍

Lucy Garvin, South Carolina, 2005

• Moved to South Carolina in 1974 and managed several tennis facilities, volunteered with USTA South Carolina and USTA Southern, and worked as a certified referee for over 35 years at local, state, section, and national tournaments, including the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

• Chaired numerous committees for the South Carolina Tennis Association and served as President and Chairman of the South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation.

• President of USTA Southern in 1999 and 2000, chaired the Section Presidents, Section Delegates, USA Tennis, and Adult/Senior Recreation national committees and was honored with the USTA Southern Jacobs Bowl and the USTA Southern Charles Morris Service Award.

• Elected to the USTA Board of Directors in 2003, Vice-President in 2005, Executive Vice-President in 2007, and President and Chairman of the Board in 2009 and served a 2-year term with the theme “One Team...One Goal.”

• Served on the Board of the International Tennis Federation and chaired the Junior Committee.

• Earned numerous awards, including USTA South Carolina Official of the Year, 2 USTA South Carolina President’s Awards, and in 1996 USTA South Carolina established the Lucy Garvin Volunteer of the Year Award and made her the first recipient.

• Inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998 and received the 2010 USTA Barbara Williams Leadership Award.

‍

Lester Sack Jr., Mississippi & Louisiana, 2005

• Played number 3 singles and number 1 doubles for Tulane University from 1956 to 1958 when the Green Wave won 3 Southeastern Conference Championships and was ranked number 1 in doubles in the conference with partner Ron Holmberg.

• Joined the professional tour and won singles titles in England and Germany, won the 1965 Canadian Open Doubles Championships, and reached the 3rd round of the 1966 French Open.

• Mississippi resident until 1977 and one of the most dominant players of his generation, winning the Mississippi Open or Mississippi Closed every year and ranked number 1 in Mississippi Men’s Open Singles and top 10 in the South every year from 1959 to 1975.

• Won numerous state and section age group tournaments and ranked 2nd in the nation in Men’s 45 singles in 1984, won the 1984 Men’s 45 Singles National Championship and ranked 7th, and was a finalist at the Men’s 55 National Clay Court Singles Championship in 1987.

• Represented the United States on the Dubler Cup, Gordon Cup, and Stevens Cup teams.

• Served as the head coach of the USTA New Orleans Area Training Center and was an assistant pro for the Racquet Club of Memphis and the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club.

• Inducted into the Mississippi Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009.

‍

Bill Tym, Tennessee, 2004

• Involved in tennis as a player, coach, and administrator for over 50 years and regarded as one of the most influential and respected people in the game.

• Dominant player in Tennessee and attended the University of Florida, winning the Southeastern Conference Championship.

• Joined the men’s professional tour in the late 1960’s and won 10 international titles.

• Following the pro tour, became head pro at Manker Patten in Chattanooga and became known as a top coach and teaching professional; later served as President of the United States Professional Tennis Association, was one of the first members to receive the distinguished Master Professional Classification, and was honored with the USPTA Lifetime Achievement Award.

• Won numerous USTA national championships and repeatedly ranked number 1 in his age group by USTA and USPTA.

• Coached at Baylor School, the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and Vanderbilt University winning the National Interscholastic Championships, the Southern Conference title, the National AIAW Small College Women’s Championship, and making numerous NCAA Championship appearances.

• Inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame, and the USPTA Southern Division Hall of Fame.

‍

Nancy Yeargin Furman, South Carolina, 2004

• A star for the Greenville High School and Christ Church School tennis teams, leading both to several state championships and was consistently ranked number 1 in South Carolina and the top 5 in the South in her age division from 1968 to 1973, including number 1 in the South in the Girl’s 18U in 1972 and number 1 in the nation in the Girl’s 16U and 18U.

• Won 6 singles and 2 doubles titles at the Palmetto Championships in Belton as well as many other state and section championships.

• Played at Rollins College and won the Southern Collegiate Sportsmanship Award in 1974, 1975, and 1976; named All-American in 1976 and 1977, Scholar Athlete of the Year, and team captain.

• Member of the 1974 USTA Junior Wightman Cup and 1976 and 1977 USTA Junior Federation Cup teams.

• Played the WTA women’s professional circuit from 1977 to 1985 and competed in all 4 grand slams, was consistently ranked in the top 100 in the world (with a high ranking of number 53), and in 1982 was selected to receive the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award.

• After retiring from the tour became the Head Tennis Professional at the Greenville Country Club and was name a National USTA Junior Coach.

• Inducted into the Rollins College Hall of Fame in 1988 and the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989.

‍

Ann Etheredge, Alabama, 2003

• One of the greatest women’s players to come out of Alabama and the south, winning 22 USTA Gold Balls and 2 USTA Silver Balls.

• Member of numerous Alabama Senior Cup and Southern Intersectional championship teams.

• Played on the winning United States Young Cup and Margaret Court Cup teams.

• Held the number 1 national ranking in both singles and doubles in several age divisions.

• Instrumental in opening the Pelham Racquet Club, a public facility with 20 clay courts and 5 hard courts where she served as Director of Tennis.

• Considered to be one of the top instructors in the South.

• Became the youngest person ever inducted into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame in 1997.

‍

Leslie "Les" longshore Jr., Alabama, 2003

• Played for Tulane University where he won the 1946 Southeastern Conference singles championship.

• A North Carolina state singles champion for 3 years, an Alabama state singles champion once, and was ranked in the top 10 in the south for 10 years, including one year as number 1.

• Competed in the United States National Championships (now known as the U. S. Open) between 1952 and 1959 and reached the round of 16 in 1958.

• Coached college tennis for 5 at years Clemson University and 13 years at Samford University.

• Worked as a teaching professional and founded the Southern Professional Tennis Association in 1962 and served as President for 7 years.

• President of the United States Professional Tennis Association in 1974 and 1975.

• President of the Alabama Tennis Association and helped found the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame in 1986 and was inducted into his state’s hall of fame in 1991.

Les Longshore passed away in 2013.

‍