Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Dennis van der Meer, South Carolina, 1998

Dennis van der Meer, South Carolina, inducted in 1998Dennis Van Der Meer

  • Teaching professional for over 50 years during which time he coached hundreds of players ranging from beginners to world-class players, including Billie Jean King and Margaret Court
  • Founder and President of the United State Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR), headquartered on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in 1976
  • Authored numerous instruction books and videos and taught more people to teach and play tennis than anyone in the world
  • Popularized the Stand Method of teaching, a model of stroke demonstration and teacher certification and has developed and nourished the careers of thousands of tennis coaches, both in the United States and internationally
  • Named the 1969 USTA Outstanding Educator, the 1983 Southern Pro of the Year, the 1997 United States Olympic Committee Developmental Coach of the Year for the sport of tennis and is a PTR International Master Professional
  • Founded and hosted the South Carolina Junior All-star camp for the top ranked junior players in the state in 1985 and donated his facilities and staff to host the weekend event on Hilton Head Island for over 20 years
  • Inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987, the PTR Hall of Fame in 2013 and the USPTA Hall of Fame in 2015

John C. Skogstad, Georgia, 1998

John C. Skogstad, Georgia, inducted in 1998John Skogstad

  • Played junior tennis in Florida where he won multiple Florida junior singles and doubles titles, the Interscholastic High School Doubles Championship, several Florida high school singles and doubles championships and the Boys 15’s Orange Bowl
  • Undefeated at the #1 singles position for Baylor University for 2 years
  • Transferred to the University of Miami where he was team captain and All-American in 1961
  • Helped Miami set the NCAA record for consecutive team wins
  • Continued to excel as an adult/senior player and won multiple Georgia and Southern championships
  • Served as President of the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) and Vice-President of the Georgia Tennis Association
  • Inducted into the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985