Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Tommy Bartlett, Tennessee, 1990

Tommy Bartlett, Tennessee,inducted in 1990Tommy Bartlett

  • Captained both the basketball and tennis teams at the University of Tennessee where he was undefeated in singles or doubles
  • Tennis coach for the men and women at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga compiling an overall record of 579-92, an 86% winning percentage
  • While coaching college tennis, he held teaching pro positions at several prestigious tennis facilities including the Chattanooga Tennis Club, Cherokee Country Club and Manker Patten Tennis Club
  • Recognized by fellow coaches and players as an outstanding teacher, coach and competitor winning numerous USPTA awards including Coach of the Year (3 times), Pro of the Year (3 times) and Player of the Year (6 times)
  • Held numerous USPTA offices, including Florida President and Regional Vice-President and was a member of the NCAA Selection Committee
  • Outstanding player winning 27 national championships, 35 Southern championships and 60 state championships
  • Inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, was a member of the first class inducted in the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992 and was inducted in the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993

H.A. Ted Bailey, jr. M.D., Arkansas, 1989

H.A. Ted Bailey, JR. M.D., Arkansas, inducted 1989Ted Bailey

  • Had a distinguished medical and business career in Little Rock, Arkansas, serving as head of the Division of Ear, Nose and Throat at the University of Arkansas Medical School and later as the Chief of Staff of the Baptist Hospital in Little Rock
  • Funded the United States Davis Cup team to play an exhibition at the dedication of the Little Rock Racquet Club in 1968
  • Charter Trustee and President of the Arkansas Tennis Patrons Foundation at its inception in 1970, positions he held for over 20 years
  • Won the Arkansas State Father/Son Championships in 1970 and 1980 with his son, Ted III and ranked #1 in Arkansas in doubles in both the 50’s and 55’s age divisions
  • President of the Arkansas Tennis Association in 1970 and 1971 and established the first office and staff for the association
  • President of the Southern Tennis Association in 1974 and 1975 and served on the USTA Executive Committee for eight years
  • Inducted into the Arkansas Tennis Hall of Fame during its first year in 1979

Roberta Alison Baumgardner, Alabama, 1989

Roberta Alison Baumgardner, Alabama, inducted in 1989Roberta A. Baumgardner

  • Accumulated numerous junior titles including the Southern Open, Southern Closed, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Kentucky State, Florida Yacht Club and Tampa Bay
  • Held the #1 ranking as a junior in both Alabama and the South, and was nationally ranked in the top 20 four times
  • Played on two National Junior Wightman Cup Teams and was a member of the Southern Intersectional Team five years
  • Received the first varsity letter and athletic scholarship awarded by the University of Alabama where she played #4 singles and #2 doubles on the men’s team
  • During her college years she won the Women’s College Championships and the USLTA National College Girls’ Tennis Championships in both singles and doubles
  • Served several years as a volunteer high school tennis coach
  • Inducted into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame and the National College Women’s Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987 and the University of Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame in 1988

Victor Sheshunoff, Arkansas, 1988

Victor Sheshunoff, Arkansas, inducted in 1988Victor Sheshunoff

  • Nationally known in the field of metallurgy and in the sport of tennis
  • Born in Moscow, Russia and educated in Harbin, China, he came to the United States to attend Columbia University where he played #4 on the tennis team
  • Member of the Knoxville, Tennessee tennis team and President of the Knoxville Tennis Club
  • Moved to Magnolia, Arkansas in 1951 where he served the Arkansas Tennis Association as a Director and Vice President.
  • Held eleven different positions with the Southern Tennis Association and served as the President in 1966-67
  • Served on numerous USTA committees
  • Inducted into the Arkansas Tennis Hall of Fame and a received the Southern Tennis Association Jacobs Bowl

William Jacobs, South Carolina, 1988

William Jacobs, South Carolina, inducted in 1988William Jacobs

  • Responsible for bringing the South out of the “Tennis Dark Ages” during the late 1930’s
  • President of Presbyterian College where he became known as the “Founder of the Tennis Clinic” in 1936 when he hosted the first regional tennis clinic, a format adopted by the USLTA the following year as its model for the organization
  • Organized South Carolina’s first big time tennis exhibition in 1940 featuring Don Budge, Mary Hardwick, Bill Tilden and Alice Marble.
  • Appointed Bobby Riggs as a traveling public relations representative for Presbyterian College and hired Bill Lufler as clinic director and the school’s first full time tennis coach, and Presbyterian was ranked in the top 10 nationally during that era and gained the nickname of “Tennis Tech”
  • Served as President of the Southern Lawn Tennis Association and Vice President of the United States Lawn Tennis Association
  • Published the AMERICAN LAWN TENNIS MAGAZINE and authored several books on tennis, including “Tennis, Builder of Citizenship” in which he emphasized court demeanor and sportsmanship and proper stroke techniques
  • The Jacobs Bowl, the highest volunteer honor presented by USTA Southern, was established in his memory and he was inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1986