| |
Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame Selection Criteria
- Must be a minimum of 25 years of age.
- Must be a resident of Kentucky for a minimum of 10 years.
- May be a player, coach, organizer or referee / umpire.
The Hall of Fame Committee may induct up to three persons per year. To be elected a candidate must receive more than one-half of the votes possible by the committee. If you wish to submit a nomination, please send a cover letter and supporting documentation of the candidate to the USTA Kentucky office by April 15 for the year in which the nominee is to be considered.
Congratulations to the 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees
Their extensive tennis accomplishments on the court and in the organization of tennis in Kentucky have yielded them this great honor.
Judi Miller, Louisville
Professor R.W. Ross, Ashland
Livingston Taylor, Frankfort
Judi Miller is being honored for her numerous tennis accomplishments and contributions to Kentucky tennis. Miller has been an active participant, volunteer, and contributor to tennis in Kentucky for over 30 years. In the 1980’s, Miller, among others, introduced USTA League Tennis to Kentucky. She guided the league through its infancy and helped lay the foundation for the success of USTA Kentucky League Tennis. She took her knowledge and skills from the state level to help shape USTA League Tennis at the Sectional and National levels. In addition to her commitment to USTA League Tennis, Miller co-found the Kentucky Tennis Endowment Fund, now known as the Raise a Racquet Foundation.
Miller has played major roles with USTA, USTA Southern, and USTA Kentucky. Her offices and chairmanships have included: USTA Chair of Adult Community Programs Committee, Chair of the USA Tennis Adult Leagues Long-Range Planning, Chair of the USA Team Tennis Committee, Vice Chair of the USTA Adult 1-2-3 Committee, and Delegate-at-large; USTA Southern President, Vice President, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Southern Tennis Association Patrons Foundation, Chair of Nomination Committee, Chair of Strategic Planning Committee, and Delegate-at-Large; USTA Kentucky Co-Executive Director, State League Coordinator, President, and Chair of College Advisory Committee. Honors and awards held by Miller include: USTA Kentucky Volunteer of the Year, USTA Southern Gerrie Rothwell Award, and she was a recipient of USTA Southern’s Jacobs Bowl.
Professor R.W. Ross is being recognized for his influence in Kentucky tennis and for his dedication to develop and expand the game of tennis. Professor Ross’s impact on Kentucky tennis began at Booker T. Washington School in Ashland where he taught manual arts, mathematics, and English for thirty-four years. He began teaching young children tennis on the school playground.
From 1946 to 1975, he worked for the YMCA teaching tennis and directing the tennis courts at Ashland Central Park. During these years, Professor Ross offered free tennis clinics each summer to beginners thus, influencing some of the best tennis players in Kentucky. In addition, Professor Ross directed the only tennis tournament held in Ashland for thirty years, The Ashland City Championships. Beginning in 1965, a tennis tournament was held in his honor for more than thirty years. Professor Ross died in 1984 at the age of 98.
Livingston Taylor is being honored for his extensive and remarkable tennis career. Taylor began playing tennis at the age of 13 in his hometown of Charleston, Ill. He won the Southeast Illinois District High School Championship in 1948, and then went on to play varsity tennis at Northwestern University. His team won the Big 10 Championship in 1950 and Taylor captained the team in 1952. The summer after graduation, Taylor worked as a tennis instructor at South Shore County Club in Chicago before joining the U.S. Air Force. He won the Southwest Air Force Doubles Championship in 1953 and 1954 and was a Semifinalist in the All-Air Force Doubles Championships in 1953.
Throughout the years, Taylor continued his tennis success at the senior level. He was frequently ranked No. 1 in Kentucky in his age division for both singles and doubles. Taylor was honored as USTA Kentucky Adult Player of the Year in 1995. He won five USTA Southern Senior Sectional Championships that included: 1991 Open Clay Doubles Championships, 1994 and 1997 Indoor Doubles Championships, 1998 Hard Court Doubles Championships, and 2002 Indoor Singles Championships. Taylor not only participated in State and Sectional tournaments, he also participated in National and International Tournaments. He was a semifinalist in the USTA National Clay 50s Doubles Championships and a semifinalist in the USTA National Indoor 65s Doubles Championships. Taylor was a two-time champion in the National Public Parks Championships and won the Friendship Cup 70s Doubles Championships that was played in Japan. In addition to his accomplishments on court, Taylor co-founded, Capital City Racquet Club in Frankfort. Livingston Taylor died in 2006 at the age of 75.
View all members of the USTA Kentucky Hall of Fame
2009 USTA Kentucky Award Winners Named
Congratulations to this year's award winners and nominees! The quality of nominations for this year's awards was outstanding, making for difficult decisions in virtually every category. A very special thank you to those of you who took the time to nominate and individual, event, or organization - we truly appreciate it and look forward to your nominees for next year!
Volunteer of the Year
Presented to a person who has volunteered his/her time and services in an exemplary way to assist with USTA Kentucky functions and to grow the game of tennis.
Leony Barroso, Frankfort
Adult Player of the Year
Presented to a ranked adult player who has excelled in his/her tennis performance and sportsmanship.
Lloyd Settle, Elkton
Junior Player of the Year
Presented to an outstanding Kentucky junior player ranked in the boys or girls 18 and Under Division, in recognition of their tennis performance and sportsmanship.
Grant Roberts, Lexington
Leadership Award
Presented to an individual with outstanding leadership abilities and exemplary achievements toward the promotion and growth of tennis in Kentucky.
Betty Williams, Louisville
Mark Ragland, Junior Sportsmanship
Given in memory of Mark Ragland, Jr. and presented to an outstanding male junior in recognition of his tennis performance and good sportsmanship.
Tony LaRue, Louisville
Girls Junior Sportsmanship
Presented to an outstanding female junior player in recognition of her tennis performance and good sportsmanship.
Charlsey Graham, Louisville
Grace Trimble, Winchester
Boy's and Girl's Scholastic Achievement
Presented to both a male and female high school senior tennis player who has excelled in their scholastic work.
Alex Christie, Ashland
McKinley Mason, Lexington
Educational Merit Award
Recognizes an individual who has developed an outstanding tennis program that provides leadership and inspiration in junior programs for schools, colleges, parks and playgrounds, and benefits the growth of tennis.
Crystal Bailey, Paducah
Most Improved Girl and Boy
Given to the junior players, one boy and girl, who has made significant improvements in his/her ranking and overall tennis game.
AnnMarie Lyon, Lexington
Alex Gornet, Louisville
Dee Dee Long Spirit Award
Given in memory of Dee Dee Long and presented to an individual who best exhibits exemplary volunteer spirit throughout the USTA League Tennis program.
Margie Weldon, Mayfield
Family of the Year
Presented to a family who has been outstanding in their involvement and promotion of tennis.
The Joe Pittard Family
Media Award
Presented to an individual who has contributed to the game of tennis by spreading information to the general public.
Derek Poore, The Courier-Journal, Louisville
Coach of the Year
Presented to an individual who has excelled in guiding and managing a scholastic tennis team.
Chuck Brown, Lexington
Paulette Griffith Local League Coordinator Award
Given in memory of Paulette Griffith and presented to an individual who has demonstrated excellent leadership and management of a local USTA league or program.
Richard Wimsatt, Hopkinsville
Jr. Team Tennis Local League Coordinator of the Year
Presented to an individual who has demonstrated excellent leadership and management of a Jr. Team Tennis league or program
Ann Crush, Louisville
Tennis Official of the Year
Presented to a tennis official who has made outstanding contributions to the cause of tennis officiating in Kentucky.
Judy Brown, Lexington
Tennis Professional of the Year
Presented to a USPTA or USPTR Certified tennis professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in teaching the game of tennis.
Mark Fraley, Louisville
Tennis Facility of the Year
Given to an outstanding public or private tennis facility for its contribution and support in the promotion of tennis.
Kereiakes Park, Bowling Green
Special Tennis Event of the Year
Presented to a special tennis event that has been exemplary in the promotion and support of tennis.
Marshall County QuickStart Program, Benton
Adult and Junior Tournaments of the Year
One Adult and one Junior USTA sanctioned tournament that have been exemplary in demonstrating the USTA standards of organizing and conducting a sanctioned tournament.
Cherif Hechema State Championship, Berea
Tornado Classic State Championship, Paducah
Charity Event of the Year
Presented to a tennis event that donates its proceeds towards a philanthropic cause.
HOPE Tournament, Bowling Green
Team Tennis Event of the Year
Presented to an event that demonstrates outstanding execution of a team event.
Fall Interscholastic League, Kentucky
Member Organization / Community Tennis Association of the Year
Presented to a USTA Kentucky member organization for outstanding service to the local community, to the organization members, and to the game of tennis.
Frankfort Tennis Association, Frankfort
|
|
