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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 2008 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.
Howard ‘Curly’ Davis is being recognized for his outstanding coaching career and contributions to tennis. Davis has taught tennis since 1968 and has coached many highly ranked players, including NCAA All Americans and ATP and WTA tour players ranked as high as top 30 in the world. He was named "Kentucky Professional of the Year" in 1984, 1985 and 1987. He has also coached the Kentucky Junior Davis Cup and Federation Cup teams, Southern Zonal teams and at the Nationals at Kalamazoo. Mr. Davis' other accomplishments include, contributing author to several tennis magazines and he authored the book "Play Smarter, Not Harder".
In addition, he is a former high-ranking junior and men’s tennis player in Kentucky who has played a major role in the USTA, the Southern Tennis Association (STA), and the Kentucky Tennis Association (KTA). His offices and chairmanships have included: USTA Area Training Center Head Coach & Administrator; KTA President, Vice-President, and Board Member; STA Junior Intersectional Coach for Boy’s & Girl’s 16 and under, Vice-Chairman of Junior Tennis Council, Vice-Chairman of Player Development, and Adult League Committee Member.
Davis is the former Tennis Director at Saddlebrook Resort and the Naples Bath and Tennis Resort inFloriday. He is currently the Top Gun Academy Director at the Tennis Club at Springhurst in Louisville.
Julie Ditty is being recognized for her remarkable and current tennis career. Her high school career included 11 varsity letters in tennis with three Kentucky State Singles Championships. As a junior player, Ditty won the USTA International Hard Court Championships and was named, “Kentucky Female Athlete of the Year.” She ranked number one in the nation in the girl’s 14 and under and finished her junior career ranked number 6 in the U.S. in the girl’s 18 and under division. Ditty then went on to play number one at Vanderbilt University for four years including finishing in the finals of the NCAA Championships. She was named “Tennessee Female Amateur Athlete of the Year,” a three-time “All-American,” and “All-SEC.” While at Vanderbilt, Ditty also won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Summer Nationals Singles and Doubles Championships, advancing to the US Open qualifying draw in each.
In 2002 Ditty began her professional career that has included two seasons in World Team Tennis and appearances at all four grand slams, Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. To date, Julie Ditty has captured a total of 31 career USTA and ITF Pro Circuit titles, eight in singles and 23 in doubles and has been ranked 89 in the world in singles and 98 in the world in doubles.
John English is being honored for his numerous tennis accomplishments and contributions to Kentucky tennis. English has been an active participant and contributor to tennis in Kentucky for over 40 years. He is an accomplished player who has served the tennis community as an investor, administrator, organizer, and promoter. English was one of the original investors in the first indoor tennis club in Kentucky, Louisville Indoor Racquet Club (formerly Plantation Club) as well as an original investor in Mockingbird Valley Racquet Club where he was Managing Partner for seven years. He was also part of the planning group that founded and built the Louisville Municipal Tennis Center, now called the Louisville Tennis Club. He served as Board Member of The Kentucky Tennis Patrons Foundation for 16 years and was President for three years. English served as Co-Chairman of the Louisville International Tennis Classic for seven years, Co-Chairman of the National Junior Clay Court Championships for the Boy’s 18 and under for 12 years, and Co-Chairman of the Women’s Virginia Slims Tournament in Louisville.
In addition to his philanthropy, English is an accomplished tennis player. He played three years at Atherton High School and went on to letter four years at Centre College where he captained his senior year and won the Men’s Doubles Conference Championship. Honors and awards held by English include: two-time winner of the Louisville Fall City Doubles Championship, four-time winner of the USTA Southern Senior Doubles Championship, seven-time winner of the Kentucky Senior Doubles Championship, 20-time winner of the Louisville Country Club Men’s Doubles Championship, and semi-finalist in the USTA National 50’s Clay Court Doubles Championship. English ended his playing career in 1992 with a wrist injury, but continues to support the game of tennis in Kentucky.
View all members of the USTA Kentucky Hall of Fame
2008 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!
Adult Player of the Year
Presented to a ranked adult player who has excelled in his/her tennis performance and sportsmanship.
Julie Ditty, Ashland
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.
Lauren Kline, Prospect
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.
John Herring, Lexington
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.
Colby Shaw, Lexington
Girls Junior Sportsmanship
Presented to an outstanding female junior player in recognition of her tennis performance and good sportsmanship.
Claire Spradlin, Russell
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.
Chris Cotton, Louisville
Emily Mallory, Louisville
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.
Chris Estes, Hodgenville
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.
Grant Roberts, Lexington
Jenna Sallee, Elizabethtown
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.
Jill Muse, Lexington (posthumous)
Family of the Year
Presented to a family who has been outstanding in their involvement and promotion of tennis.
The Paul Rowton Family, Paducah
Coach of the Year
Presented to an individual who has excelled in guiding and managing a scholastic tennis team.
Mark Beckham, Louisville
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.
Sue Parrigin, Bowling Green
Tennis Official of the Year
Presented to a tennis official who has made outstanding contributions to the cause of tennis officiating in Kentucky.
Judi Bigg, Louisville
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.
Tom McGraw, 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.
Louisville Tennis Center
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.
Tennis Association of Central Kentucky (TAK)
Special Tennis Event of the Year
Presented to a special tennis event that has been exemplary in the promotion and support of tennis.
Kenlake Weekend Invitational, Henderson
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.
Arthur Lloyd Johnson, Louisville
Fall Southern Closed, Louisville
Charity Event of the Year
Presented to a tennis event that donates its proceeds towards a philanthropic cause.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Bowling Green
Team Tennis Event of the Year
Presented to an event that demonstrates outstanding execution of a team event.
Newburg Tennis Association QuickStart League
Media Award
Presented to an individual who has contributed to the game of tennis by spreading information to the general public.
Rocky Stanley, The Daily Independent, Ashland
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