Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Charles W. Owens, Alabama, 2001

Charles W. Owens, Alabama, inducted in 2001charles owens

  • Called many things during his tennis career, but “character” is the most colorful and accurate as his on-court acrobatics and easygoing personality quickly made him one of the most entertaining players in the South
  • Ranked #1 in Alabama in the Boy’s 12’s, 14’s, 16’s and 18’s, #1 in the South in the 14’s, 16’s and 18’s and #6 in the nation in 1968 in the Boy’s 18’s when he won titles at the Georgia State Open, Southern Open, Orange Bowl, Alabama Men’s Championships, National Interscholastic and Sugar Bowl
  • Member of the United States Junior Davis Cup team and winner of the Allan B. Stowe Sportsmanship Award at the national championships in Kalamazoo in 1968
  • Attended Florida where he became the first freshman in SEC history to win both the singles and doubles titles at the conference championships before transferring to Samford where he went undefeated at #1 singles for 2 years and won the NCAA Division II Singles Championship in 1972
  • Turned professional in 1972 and played the U. S. Open on all 3 surfaces between 1972 and 1980, reaching the third round twice and a ranking of #56 in the world in 1979 when he won 4 tournaments
  • Won the USTA National 35’s Clay Courts singles and doubles championships 3 straight years and played on the United States Italia Cup team 3 years, including the 1987 world championship team
  • Inducted into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995

Jean Clarke Johnson, Alabama, 2001

Jean Clarke Johnson, Alabama, inducted in 2001

  • Emerged as a star in Southern junior tennis during the war years, earning a #2 ranking in girls singles in 1943 and #1 ranking in 1944
  • Played for Rollins College when they were ranked #1 in the nation
  • Held a #1 or #2 Southern ranking in at least one age division for 16 straight years between 1943 and 1959 and ranked 11th in singles and 8th in doubles in the nation in 1954
  • Played on the 1954 United States Pan American Games team
  • Won the Southern Women’s Singles title 8 times along with multiple championships at the Blue-Gray, Tennessee State Championships and Georgia State Championships
  • Competed in singles, doubles and mixed doubles in the 1956 Wimbledon Championships
  • Inducted into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame in with the first class in 1985

Timothy M. Wilkison, North Carolina, 2000

Timothy M. Wilkison, North Carolina, inducted in 2000

  • Joined the professional tour at age 17 in 1976 and made his first big mark in 1978 when he upset Guillermo Vilas in the second round at Wimbledon
  • Noted for his toughness, tenacity and all-out style of play, he was appropriately nicknamed “Dr. Dirt”
  • Won 6 singles and 9 doubles titles in his career on the Men’s ATP Tour and reached his higher career ranking of 21 in 1986
  • Began playing the Nuveen Senior Tour in 1995 and reached number 4 in the Masters point standings
  • Won the 1996 Wimbledon Men’s 35’s Doubles Championship
  • Served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the USTA
  • Inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987

Charles B. Morris JR, North Carolina, 2000

Charles B. Morris JR, North Carolina, inducted in 2000Charles Morris

  • Helped spearhead the opening of the Raleigh Racquet Club and served on the Board of Directors from 1971 to 1977 and as President from 1972 to 1975
  • Volunteered at the state and section levels for 25 years, served as Treasurer of the North Carolina Tennis Association for 15 years and later as Treasurer and President of the Southern Tennis Association and Chairman of the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation
  • Received the North Carolina Outstanding Tennis Personality Award in 1983, the President’s Award in 1982, 1985 and 1990 and the Special Service Award in 1991
  • Received the USTA Southern Jacobs Bowl in 1984 and the Touchstone Award in 1985
  • Served in various capacities on numerous USTA committees and chaired the Budget and Finance Committee, the Nominating Committee and the Governance and Planning Committee
  • The Charles B. Morris, Jr. Volunteer Service Award was established by USTA Southern in his memory in 1995 and is presented to a volunteer who has contributed outstanding service at the local, state, sectional and national levels
  • Inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983

Hugh Thomson, Alabama & Georgia, 1999

Hugh Thomson, Alabama & Georgia, inducted in 1999Hugh Thomson

  • Grew up in Australia where he started playing tennis at age 7 and captured over 50 junior titles and 20 open titles
  • Played college tennis at Mississippi State University where he had a 54-2 SEC record, won 3 SEC singles and 4 SEC doubles championships and led the team to a top 10 national ranking all 4 years
  • Coached the men’s team at the University of Alabama-Birmingham to a Sunbelt Conference Championship and was twice named Sunbelt Conference Coach of the Year and later coached Auburn where his teams won 2 SEC championships and he was named the 1983 SEC Coach of the Year.
  • Played national and international tournaments for the past 45 years and has improved with age, winning over 60 southern and national titles and earning the number 1 national ranking several times
  • Played on many Southern Senior Cup teams and Southern Intersectional teams and has represented the United States over 20 times in national team competition
  • A long time USTA volunteer at the local, state and section levels, he has made numerous contributions to the sport and is a USPTA professional and USTA referee
  • Received the Alabama Tennis Family of the Year Award and has been inducted into the Mississippi State Sports Hall of Fame and the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame