2011 Hall of Fame & Awards Program

2011

Hall of

FAME

and Section Awards

2011 Annual Conference Sheraton Hotel Overland Park, Kansas December 3, 2011

Mission To Promote and Develop the Growth of Tennis

Vision To promote and grow the game of tennis in a way that is inclusive, accessible and maximizes our resources so that we achieve a significant annual increase in the USTA Missouri Valley program participation.

2011 Hall of Fame and Section Awards Ceremony ORDER OF CEREMONY Welcome 2011 Hall of Fame Inductees Rex Coad James “Buddy” Fields Janet Griffith Jane Pratt Kim Steinmetz Lunch Necrology 2011 USTA Missouri Valley Section Awards 2011 Junior Sportsmanship Awards 2011 President’s Award

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1986

Hall of Fame

2011 Rex Coad................................Wichita, Kan. James “Buddy” Fields........ Wichita, Kan. Janet Griffith............................Tulsa, Okla.

Jane Pratt..............................St. Louis, Mo. Kim Steinmetz.....................St. Louis, Mo. 2010 Charles Doughty .............. Wichita, Kan. Tommy English ..... Oklahoma City, Okla.

Paul Lockwood .............. Norman, Okla.

James Wadley .............. Stillwater, Okla.

2009 Nick Taylor ........................... Wichita, Kan. Skip Walther ................... Columbia, Mo. Sheldon Weiner ............. Rock Island, Ill. 2008 Gayle David Bradshaw .. PonteVedra Beach, Fla. Patricia Graham .......... Kansas City, Mo. Steve Prosser ...................... DeSoto, Kan. Leigh Strassner ................. St. Louis, Mo. 2007 Barbara Fackel ............... Rock Island, Ill. Ken Flach ............................. St Louis, Mo. Bob McKinley ... College Station, Texas 2006 Dave Freeborn .......................Tulsa, Okla.

Jay Louderback ......... South Bend, Ind. Terry Miller ............ Overland Park, Kan. Dave Riley ................................Tulsa, Okla.

Russell Warner........................Tulsa, Okla.

2

2011

2005 John Allen Been............ Houston, Texas Dr. Harry Clifton Burrus ..... Winter Haven, Fla. Jacque Croft.......... Overland Park, Kan. Richard Mechem ..... Fredericksburg, Texas Frank A. Thompson Jr. .... St. Louis, Mo. 2004 John Bregin ...................... Merriam, Kan. Don Dippold ...................... St. Louis, Mo. Don Gardner ..................... Wichita, Kan. Ken Lidie ........................... Bellevue, Neb. Su Oertel ..................... Mason City, Iowa 2003 Bill Brown.............. Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Cliff Buchholz............. Fort Collins, Colo.

Bob Green.................Atlantic Beach, Fla. Nancy Pearce-Jeffett......... Dallas, Texas Phil Landauer....................... Hillard, Ohio 2002 Patsy Rippy-Bond................ Sandy, Utah William Davis.................. Seminole, Okla.

Ralph Hart............................ St. Louis, Mo. Bill Rompf............................. Newport, R.I. Mary Norwood-Rompf.... Newport, R.I. 2001 Junior Coen................... Kansas City, Mo. Dick Gilkey........................Edmond, Okla.

Gene Land............ Oklahoma City, Okla.

Gerry Perry......................Springfield, Mo. Don McNeil....................Chickasha, Okla.

2000 Marilyn Mueller.................. St. Louis, Mo. Louis Gerdes........................ Omaha, Neb. Ollie Gresham.........................Tulsa, Okla.

Homer Robinson....................Tulsa, Okla.

Dr. Bryce Young...........Hilton Head, S.C. Judy Levering............................ Stowe, Vt. 1999 David Bryant........ Oklahoma City, Okla.

Dr. George Milton............ Emporia, Kan. Cliff Price...................................Tulsa, Okla.

J. Hal Surface Jr............. Kansas City, Mo. Dr. Steve Wilkinson....... St. Peter, Minn.

1998 W.E. Steve Broadie............. Wichita, Kan. Dr. Donald Klotz............. Iowa City, Iowa J.C. Louderback.......Arkansas City, Kan. Jim Reed..............................Winfield, Kan. S.L. Shofner.........................Prescott, Ariz.

1994 Wray Brown......................... St. Louis, Mo. Earl “Butch” Buchholz Jr. ... St. Louis, Mo. Beverly K. Buckley.... Des Moines, Iowa Joy Rodenberg................... Lincoln, Neb. Mervyn Webster................. Wichita, Kan. 1993 C.J. Hixon..................................Tulsa, Okla.

Wally Smith...................Ponca City, Okla.

Dave Snyder........................ Austin, Texas 1992 Jack Buss...................... Des Moines, Iowa Lucile Davidson..... Independence, Mo. Ed Doane................................ Tustin, Calif.

1991 Clarence Dyer......................Durant, Okla.

The Ward Parker Family... St. Louis, Mo. Tom McSpadden......... Muskogee, Okla.

1997 Lucien Barbour..................Winfield, Kan. Frank Ward..............................Jenks, Okla.

Anna Guerrant.............. Scottsdale, Ariz.

Dick Johnson.........................Ballwin, Mo. Nora Prosser...................... Merriam, Kan.

1990 Francis Baxter...................Edmond, Okla.

Earl H. Buchholz Sr.............. Sedalia, Mo. Charles D. Cunningham......Tulsa, Okla.

Bill Price................................. St. Louis, Mo. Len Prosser......................... Merriam, Kan.

1996 Harold “Buck” Balzer............Buhler, Kan. Justina Bricka...................... St. Louis, Mo. Kate Cushing...........................Tulsa, Okla.

Ted Drewes.......................... St. Louis, Mo. Phillip L. Edwards............... St. Louis, Mo.

1989 Gerald Perry....................Springfield, Mo.

1995 Jodie H. Adams..............Springfield, Mo. Carol Hanks Aucamp........ St. Louis, Mo. Mary Ann Eisel Beattie..... St. Louis, Mo.

1988 D. Keedy Campbell...... Kansas City, Mo. Harris M. Coggeshall......Des Moines, Iowa Marvin P. Richmond.......Leawood, Kan. T.H. “Curly” Vaughan........Winfield, Kan. 1986 Dwight F. Davis................... St. Louis, Mo. Charles McKinley ............. St. Louis, Mo.

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Rex Coad Wichita, Kansas

If one has been around the game of tennis at all in the Wichita area, they’re likely familiar with the name of Rex Coad.

Coad grew up in the Wichita area, began his competitive career as a junior netter in the USTA Missouri Valley section and played collegiate tennis at Wichita State University. Following his graduation from Wichita State, Coad became involved in the local tennis industry with the Wichita Racquet Club, where he would spend the next 20 years of his professional career.

Concurrently, he became the men’s tennis coach at Wichita State.

As a player at Wichita State University, Coad compiled 104 singles wins, a school record, and was named the team’s most valuable player in 1975, 1976 and 1978.

After completing his competitive eligibility, Coad took on the leadership of the Wichita State University Men’s Tennis program.

During his nine year tenure (1980-1988) as head coach, his teams won the Missouri Valley Athletic Conference title every year. The team achieved a top-20 NCAA ranking in 1980 and 1981 and reached the final 16 of the NCAA Team Championships five times during his career In recognition of his coaching achievements, Coad was named Missouri-Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 1980, 1981,1984, 1985 and 1986.

He was inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995 as both a coach and player. In May of 2010, Wichita State permanently recognized Coad’s contribution to the tennis program by naming the stadium courts at the school the “Rex Coad Championship Courts.”

From 1985-1997, he volunteered in many Kansas District Tennis Association and USTA Missouri Valley positions and was chairperson of the Junior Competition Committee from 19951997.

Following a 20-year association with the Wichita Racquet Club, Coad has been the tennis professional at the Wichita Country Club since 1998. It is evident to those who have watched him work that he truly loves to teach the game of tennis. The achievements of those he has mentored speak for themselves and include multiple Missouri Valley junior champions, KSHAA State High School Champions and a community of significantly improved club level players.

• His 104 career singles victories as a player stand as a Wichita State University record.

• Won nine consecutive Missouri Valley Athletic Conference championships as the coach of the Wichita State University men’s tennis program.

• Served as Head Tennis Professional at the Wichita Country Club since 1998.

• From 2000-2004, held a top-10 USTA national ranking with his father in the Super Senior Father and Son division.

4

James “Buddy” Fields Wichita, Kansas

James “Buddy” Fields, a former football standout, starred on the gridiron for Hutchinson County Junior College in Hutchinson, Kansas. But a passion for competing between a different set of lines soon took hold.

Fields played tennis occasionally as a child, but he started playing more seriously after graduating from college.

Like many in the Wichita area, Fields was introduced to the game by Missouri Valley Hall of Famer Charles “Goose” Doughty, a fixture in the local tennis community.

Fields’ children quickly caught the tennis bug and he followed by beginning to play frequently with them. The family started to play at McAdams Park in Wichita and were frequent participants in the programs there.

Soon, Fields began to coach in the local parks, helping develop many players in the Wichita area through his tireless efforts. As his sons grew older and into strong players -- two of them played at Wichita State University -- the family founded the BK Tennis Academy in Wichita. The family owned and operated the facility through 2009.

A frequent competitor in American Tennis Association (ATA) tournaments, Fields dominated the competition in his later years. He was ranked as high as No. 1 in the ATA as an adult, winning the ATA 45s singles national title three times as well as the 55s national title once.

In addition to the ATA tournaments, Fields also competed in USTA national tournaments, finding success there. In 2007, he reached a national ranking of No. 9 in the 60s singles division and No. 1 within the Missouri Valley section.

In his professional life, Fields started his career at Boeing Aircraft Company in Wichita as a human resources manager, and worked there until his retirement in 1999.

Fields is married to Deloris Fields and they have three sons, Barry, Brent and Kenny. In recognition of the Fields’ accomplishments and contributions to tennis, the family was named the 1997 USTA Missouri Valley Tennis Family of the Year.

• In 2007, was ranked No. 9 nationally in the USTA 60s division.

• In 2007, ranked No. 1 in the Missouri Valley section in the 60s singles division.

• Three-time American Tennis Association national champion in 45 singles division, as well as once in the 55 singles.

• Fields’ family was named the 1997 USTA Missouri Valley Family of the Year.

• Chairman of the Kansas district Diversity Committee in 1996 and 1997.

5

Janet Griffith Tulsa, Oklahoma

It was on Janet Griffith’s 10th birthday that she received a gift that would change her life. Her father gave her a tennis racquet in hopes that she would like the sport as much as he did. Turns out, she did.

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Janet’s junior career is filled with accomplishments. She was consistently ranked among the top two players in the Missouri Valley section in both singles and doubles. In 1968, she achieved her highest USTA national junior ranking of No. 4 in the Girls 14s division.

Janet also remains proud of winning four sportsmanship awards during her junior career, at both section and national tournaments.

After her decorated junior career, she attended Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma, and finished her freshman season with a spotless 22-0 record. She advanced to NCAA nationals and was selected to play on the Junior Wightman Cup team. She then transferred to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, for her sophomore year, where she ranked among the top 15 amateurs in the nation. After that season, she married and moved to Norman, Oklahoma, where she played on the first-ever OU women’s tennis team in 1975.

After graduating college, Janet continued playing in adult tournaments throughout the nation. In 1980, she won the state and regional Equitable Family Tennis Tournaments and made the quarterfinals of the national tournament, held concurrently with the US Open in Flushing Meadows. In 1985, she won a Virginia Slims qualifying tournament in Oklahoma City and advanced to play in the main draw. She also won two individual adult tournaments, the Missouri Valley Indoor 25-35 women’s singles title in 1983 and the section’s Indoor 35 singles title in 1989.

Janet also found success not just as a player, but as a coach. From 1980-85, she led the Oral Roberts University women’s tennis team. In 1985, she was named Coach of the Year in the Oil Country Athletic Conference.

Besides teaching private and group lessons to all ages, Janet directed local tennis tournaments, and coordinated team tennis groups, after-school programs and clinics. She worked with the USTA’s NJTL program, giving lessons to underprivileged children -- giving back to the game that gave her so much.

After serving as a USPTA professional from 1981-1991 at three clubs, Janet retired from teaching and founded S & J Vending Company, where she is the owner and operator. She has been married to her husband for 27 years, and they have two daughters and four grandchildren.

• Ranked as high as No. 4 nationally in the Girls 14s division • Won the US National Hard-Court Doubles in 1968 in Girls 14 division • One of eight players selected to the Junior Wightman Cup Team in 1973 after going 22-0 in her freshman season at Central State University.

• Coached from 1980-1985 at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, winning the conference Coach of the Year in 1984-1985.

6

Jane Pratt

St. Louis, Missouri Jane Pratt was involved in the game of tennis her entire life. She was a player, an organizer, a supporter and a fan since the first day she walked onto a court.

Jane is remembered as a crafty, solid doubles player on the court. In 1969 and 1976, Jane and Marilyn Mueller won the National Public Parks Senior Women’s doubles title.

In 1976, they held the No. 1 national ranking in senior women’s doubles. Their success continued, as the duo won the women’s doubles title at the National Senior Olympics in 1993 and 1995.

Off the court, Jane’s contributions were immense.

In 1965, she became president of the Municipal Tennis Association, serving for 43 years in that role. For more than 40 years, she was a fixture at Dwight Davis Tennis Center.

Judy Dippold, a fellow tournament director, remembered Jane by saying, “What she did for tennis was unbelievable. Her willingness to be out there every summer was incredible. The love of Jane’s life was the Dwight Davis Tennis Center.”

Her work at Dwight Davis included serving as one of the founding board members of the facility, as well as recruiting new volunteers. She tirelessly campaigned to improve the facilities. She helped raise money for the tennis center and contributed her own funds.

Her contributions have helped Dwight Davis Tennis Center become one of the best public tennis facilities in the nation.

She told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 1981, “People ask you what the rewards are. There are rewards, but not the kind most people think of. When you see a tournament go through pretty much the way you projected, you have a sense of really having done something.

That’s all.” That same year, friends and tournament players came together to honor Jane.

They collected funds to send both Jane and Marilyn to New York City to the US Open, an event that Jane had never attended despite it being a lifelong dream of hers.

In her professional life, Jane was an elementary school teacher, serving the St. Louis schools for more than 45 years.

Jane is indelibly linked to St. Louis tennis. Her efforts to support tennis in countless ways in the St. Louis area left a permanent positive impact on the sport. The game of tennis is better because of her tireless efforts.

• In 1969 and 1976, won the National Public Parks Senior Women’s doubles title with partner Marilyn Mueller • Served as president of the Municipal Tennis Association for 43 years • Founding board member of Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis, Missouri

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Kim Steinmetz St. Louis, Missouri

Kim Steinmetz, a life-long St. Louisian, was born December 22, 1957.

She began playing tennis when her dad signed his three daughters up for group tennis lessons at the local public park. Kim, the youngest, was seven years old. At the time, her dad hoped that one of the girls would learn tennis well enough just to play with him. Little did he know that tennis would change the course of Kim’s life forever.

From the start, Kim loved and embraced the game. Tennis and tennis tournaments quickly became a regular part of Kim’s summers. She won her first tournament barely more than a year after she hit her first tennis ball. Her junior career culminated with a Missouri Valley ranking of No. 1 in singles and doubles in both the 16s and 18s division and a national ranking of No. 15 in the Girls 18s.

Kim was the first woman to receive a full tennis scholarship at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She attended SMU for two years, followed by two years at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. There, as a captain, she led her team to two top-10 NCAA finishes. During her collegiate career, Kim was a two-time All-American and Trinity’s 1980 Woman Athlete of the Year.

After graduation, Kim joined the professional tennis circuit and initially reached a world ranking of No. 188. Within three years, she rose into the Top 100 and competed against such greats as Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Pam Shriver and Billie Jean King. She owns doubles victories against Steffi Graf, Jo Durie, Betty Stove and Hana Mandlikova. Her biggest win came in singles at the 1988 US Open, when she defeated the eighth-ranked player in the world, Natasha Zvereva.

Kim’s professional tennis career lasted 10 years and included 26 Grand Slam tournament appearances. She retired in 1990 and immediately began her second passion, teaching others about the game she loved. Kim was a member of the 1994 St. Louis Aces and in 2000, she was inducted into the St. Louis Tennis Hall of Fame.

Kim, still doing what she loves, is currently the tennis director at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

• Formerly held No. 1 rankings in the Missouri Valley in Girls 16s and 18s singles and doubles.

• Two-time All-American player at Southern Methodist University (1978) and Trinity University (1979).

• Played in 26 Grand Slam events over 10 years on the pro tour.

• Reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 94 in the world in May of 1983.

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2011 Award Recipients Outstanding Junior Tournament-Baird Iowa Open (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Junior Player of the Year (Female)- Brooke Urzendowski (Omaha, Nebraska) Junior Player of the Year (Male)- Matt Hagan (Omaha, Nebraska) Junior Recreational Player of the Year- Jacob Thompson (Andover, Kansas) USTA Jr. Team Tennis Organizer-Ken Brown (Independence, Kansas) Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program- Eric Rand (Olathe, Kansas) Outstanding High School Coach- Mary Kessinger-Wassom (Frankfort, Kansas) Outstanding Adult/Senior Tournament- USTA National Women’s 65,75,85 Indoor Championships (Overland Park, Kansas) Adult Player of the Year-Nick Taylor (Wichita, Kansas) Adult Recreational Player of the Year - Art Staden (Chesterfield, Missouri) Outstanding Contributor USTA League Tennis Program- Kathy Anderl (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Outstanding Tennis on Campus Program-Sooner Tennis Club (Norman, Oklahoma) Tennis Family of the Year-Mel Brown Family (Topeka, Kansas) Facility of the Year-Riverside Tennis Center (Wichita, Kansas) Outstanding Community Tennis Association-Maureen Connolly Brinker Foundation of Kansas (Wichita, Kansas) Member Organization of the Year-Oklahoma City Tennis Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Outstanding Official-Dwayne Campbell (Enid, Oklahoma) Media Excellence-Mark Dewar, Johnson County Sun (St. Joseph, Missouri) Event of the Year-Oklahoma Energy Classic Kids Clinic (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Community Service Excellence-Bud Petit (Lawrence, Kansas) President’s Award-Surprise Announcement

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Outstanding Junior Tournament

Baird Iowa Open - Cedar Rapids, Iowa • Longest consecutively run tournament in the state of Iowa • This level 2 district tournament ran from July 27-29 • High quality players and volunteers • Tournament director Mark Fiala and tournament crew offered expertise and ran a smooth tournament for all participants

Junior Player of the Year (Female)

Brooke Urzendowski - Omaha, Nebraska • Won fourth straight Class A state championship title this year • Voted the 2011 Girls Senior Tennis Athlete of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association • Named to the Nebraska Class A All-State, All-Metro and All-State academic teams • Plays for St. Louis University • Featured in Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd.”

Junior Player of the Year (Male)

Matt Hagan - Omaha, Nebraska • Graduate of Omaha Creighton Prep High School • Won the Nebraska Boys Class A State singles title in 2010 • Plays for the University of Iowa • Was ranked No. 7 in the Missouri Valley 18s this summer • Finished second in Segment 2 Super and fourth in the Sweet 16 • Good sport and great example on and off the court

Junior Recreational Player of the Year

Jacob Thompson - Andover, Kansas • Played Junior Team Tennis for the Wichita Riverside Junior Explorers • Only lost one doubles and one singles match the entire season • Always displays good sportsmanship and camaraderie • Jacob played No. 1 and No. 2 singles for Andover Central Middle School • Played three novice tournaments Summer 2011 winning the first two and placing second in the third

USTA Jr. Team Tennis Organizer

Ken Brown - Independence, Kansas • Patterned after World TeamTennis, has organized Jr. Team Tennis for high school boys and girls for more than 20 years • His 14 and under won the Kansas District in the Missouri Valley Sectionals • Had over 70 compete on Jr. Team Tennis teams • His CTA has sponsored Tennis Night in America the last two years promoting summer youth tennis programs

Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program

Eric Rand - Olathe, Kansas • Kansas City United Tennis Owner/Director • 16 years coaching experience • Developed 38 Missouri Valley champions, 8 national champions, and an ITF title holder • Coached 14 players who have obtained Division I NCAA tennis scholarships • Coached several collegiate All-Americans and NJCAA national champions • USTA Regional Training Center coach

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Outstanding High School Coach

Mary Kessinger-Wassom - Frankfort, Kansas • Coached for over 18 years • Sponsored three State tournaments and many regional tournaments • Camp director of Marysville tennis camps for over 15 years • Hosted many NJTL events • Coach for many Jr. Team Tennis teams and events

Outstanding Adult/Senior Tournament

USTA National Women’s 65,75,85 Indoor Championships - Overland Park, Kansas • Held at Midtown Racquet Club and headed by Dave Gary and the Midtown Racquet Club staff • Tournament is a Category 1, National Adult Championship and ITF Seniors Event • 40 women from across the country competed to win the “gold ball” • Goodie bags were presented to each player • Volunteers from the Midtown Racquet Club organized a luncheon buffet every day • Dave Gary arranged for television cameras to be there to highlight the play on the evening news

Adult Player of the Year

Nick Taylor - Wichita, Kansas • Australian Open doubles champion • US Open doubles champion • US Open USTA Wheelchair doubles champion • British Open doubles champion • Currently ranked No. 3 in singles in ITF Wheelchair Quad rankings • Currently ranked No. 2 in doubles in ITF Wheelchair Quad Rankings • Appeared on NBC’s Today Show during the US Open

Adult Recreational Player of the Year

Art Staden - Chesterfield, Missouri • Began playing USTA leagues in 2010 • In 2011, he played 38 league matches, 8 section matches and 28 tournament matches • Played Adult, Seniors, Mixed, Senior Mixed, and Tri-Level Leagues • Member of the St. Louis 3.5 and 8.0 Senior Mixed National teams • Suffered from a mild heart attack after one of his Senior matches on July 18 • Had stents put in the next day and played his first match back at 3.5 Adult Sectionals on August 19 of the same year

Outstanding Contributor USTA League Tennis Program

Kathy Anderl - Cedar Rapids, Iowa • In 2011, Kathy successfully captained nine USTA League teams • 108 men and women played on Kathy’s teams and 31 players joined or re-joined the USTA because Kathy recruited them to play on her teams • Kathy has been a member of the Iowa USTA League Tennis Operations Committee since 2010

Outstanding Tennis on Campus Program

Sooner Tennis Club - Norman, Oklahoma • Coached by Felipe Lopez and Sooner Club president Garret Gann • Membership and talent level of the team continue to grow each year • Team qualified for the Tennis on Campus National Championship this spring held in Cary, North Carolina • The team traveled to Tulsa, Stillwater, Denton (University of North Texas), and Fort Worth (TCU) for tournaments during the year • Hosted duals at Westwood Tennis Center with several schools throughout the year

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Tennis Family of the Year

Mel Brown Family - Topeka, Kansas • Mel has led several USTA Mixed Doubles to advancement in Section and National Championships • Played on third place National Championship Mixed team in 2001 • Jason and Junior(sons of Mel) were both standout high school tennis players before both playing in college • Junior and his dad, Mel, are the only father/son sports All American’s in the history of Cowley County Community College • Junior and his wife Marissa have won two USTA National Husband/Wife tournaments and have finished second three times

Facility of the Year

Riverside Tennis Center - Wichita, Kansas • Riverside Tennis Center is part of the Wichita Parks and Recreation Department with three indoor courts and 10 outdoor courts • Donations were solicited to install top of the line wind slats. Thanks to the work of volunteers seeking donations and sponsorships, tax payers saved $10,000 • Riverside underwent a substantial renovation with hard dollar cost and volunteer labor totalling almost $600,000 • Volunteers donated hundreds of hours to further leverage the over half million dollar committment saving approximately $20,000 in labor cost • Riverside hosts league events, school tournaments, adult and junior programs.

Outstanding Community Tennis Association

Maureen Connolly Brinker Foundation of Kansas - Wichita, Kansas • Maureen Connolly Team Tennis Annual Charitable Fundraiser has been a fixture of the Wichita tennis community for almost 40 years • The Foundation has an active Board with directors involved in many different local businesses and professions • Maureen Connolly grants have totalled in the six figures over the years and support adaptive tennis at the highest levels, special populations and improvement of public facilities among other goals

Member Organization of the Year

Oklahoma City Tennis Center - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • The Oklahoma City Tennis center hosts many USTA programs including 10 and Under Tennis, Cardio Tennis, Jr. Team Tennis, USTA Adult Leagues and USTA Flex Leagues • Hosted the first Men’s Pro Circuit event held in Oklahoma City • Hosted Missouri Valley Futures tournament, Nine Oklahoma district tournaments, the Jr. Team Tennis district Playoffs, Adult Mixed District Championships, Adult, Senior, and Mixed league tournaments • Hosted Oklahoma Energy Classic Kids Clinic • Hosted the Boys and Girls State Championships for all classes for the State of Oklahoma with over 7,000 spectators for the two weekend event • Hosted 26 High School and Junior High tournaments • Hosted the 2011 National Native American Tournament

Outstanding Official

Dwayne Campbell - Enid, Oklahoma • Worked 11 dual matches during the collegiate season • Worked 10 junior tournaments along with the League Playoffs • Volunteered to serve as referee for Enid’s sanctioned and non-sanctioned tennis events

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Media Excellence

Mark Dewar, Johnson County Sun - St. Joseph, Missouri • Reported on both boys and girls high school teams in the Kansas City area • Featured stand out tennis players in the Kansas City area • Honored All-Metro and and All-State tennis players from Kansas City area • Reported details and results for USTA Missouri Valley tournaments including the 2011 Sweet 16

Event of the Year

Oklahoma Energy Classic Kids Clinic - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Held at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center on September 25, 2011 • Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish made the rounds, stopping at every court of instruction • 15 courts of instruction and games were held including 36 foot, 60 foot, and full size courts • Over 400 kids participated in the event • 15 local area teaching professionals, 45 volunteers, and the Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University women’s teams volunteered at the event

Community Service Excellence

Bud Petit - Lawrence, Kansas • PTR certified instructor who coaches all ages and brings latest techniques to Lawrence tennis community • Manages Lawrence Open and the Douglas County Closed • Manages outdoor WTT leagues • President of the Lawrence Tennis Association for five years • Shows up every league night, monitors play and encourages everyone • Has brought many new players into the game due to on-court enthusiasm

President’s Award

Surprise Announcement

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2011 Junior Sportsmanship Award Winners Girls 10s Girls 12s Girls 14s Girls 16s Girls 18s Boys 10s Boys 12s Boys 14s Boys 16s Boys 18s

Brianna Liu (Omaha, Nebraska) Kat Rosenberger (St. Louis, Missouri) Jordan Henry (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Michelle Han (Tulsa, Oklahoma) Briana Menolascino (Manchester, Missouri) Garret Lewis (Joplin, Missouri) Christopher Dean (Papillion, Nebraska) Rohit Chouhan (St. Louis, Missouri) Jeff “ Buddy” Wren ( Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Will Welte (Kansas City, Missouri)

I think sportsmanship is knowing that it is a game, that we are only as a good as our opponents, and whether you win or lose, to always give 100 percent.

-Sue Wicks

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2010-11 USTA Missouri Valley Executive Committee Scott Hanover - President Kim Reser - First Vice President Stuart Dusenberry - Vice President Larry Haugness - Vice President Susan True - Secretary Alex Lee - Treasurer Shelley George - Immediate Past President

2011 USTA Missouri Valley District Presidents Bruce Baldwin - Heart of America Mark Jackson - Iowa Rick Thompson - Kansas Marianella Padron - Missouri Jane Hines - Nebraska Gary Trost - Oklahoma Gwen Moore - St. Louis

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RETURN THE SERVE Give the gift of tennis by contributing to the Missouri Valley Tennis Foundation, which provides grants and support to programs and players that promote tennis and education in your community.

Your gift is an investment in making a difference in your community’s future by helping establish and promote tennis programs devoted to the development of healthy lifestyles and physical fitness through tennis. Playing tennis “returns the serve” of improved physical health, personal confidence and cognitive abilities to those who participate, regardless of age. With your help, the Missouri Valley Tennis Foundation will continue to encourage and provide assistance for tennis intiatives that will promote health, character, sportsmanship and responsible citizenship for youth and adults.

a 501(c)(3) not for profit Please mail donation and completed form to:

Missouri Valley Foundation 6400 West 95th Street, Suite 102 Overland Park, KS 66212 Questions can be directed towards Mary Buschmann at (913) 322-4824 or mbuschmann@movalley.usta.com

Thank You Thank you! Today we celebrate the passionately tireless individuals, rookies and veterans, who work to grow the game of tennis all accross the Missouri Valley.

As we welcome five new inductees into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame and honor our 2011 section award winners, please share your gratitude for their service to our communities and the game of tennis.

From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.

-Arthur Ashe