webmaster, Author at Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Dec 10 2015

Jack Mills, South Carolina, 2009

Jack Mills, South Carolina, inducted in 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

Dec 10 2015

Steve Duffel, Arkansas, inducted in 2009

Played tennis for the University of Arkansas from 1965 to 1967
Ranked number 1 in Arkansas and number 1 in the South in senior doubles numerous times and won several Southern Senior Championships in doubles and mixed doubles
Played on and captained Southern teams to the title at the USTA National Intersectional Championships over 15 years
Active volunteer for USTA Arkansas, USTA Southern and USTA as a tournament director, serving on and chairing numerous committees and filling leadership positions since 1977, including President of Arkansas in 1981-1982, President of Southern in 1986-1987 and a member of the USTA Executive Committee in 1988-1989
Chaired the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation, served on numerous Foundation boards as a trustee and advisor and (after his selection as a 2009 inductee) chaired the Hall of Fame Selection Committee for 6 years
Received the Victor Sheshunoff Educational Merit Award and President’s Award in Arkansas and the USTA Southern President’s Award and Jacobs Bowl
Inducted into the Arkansas Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998

Dec 10 2015

William “Bill” Weathers, North Carolina, inducted in 2008 Bill Weathers

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 tourna-ment 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

Dec 10 2015

Lisa Spain-Short, Georgia, inducted in 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
Received the first full women’s tennis scholarship at the University of Georgia where she played number 1 singles and doubles 4 years 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

Dec 10 2015

Stan Smith, South Carolina, inducted in 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