Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Bill Tym, Tennessee, 2004

Bill Tym, Tennessee, inducted in 2004Bill Tym

  • Involved in tennis as a player, coach and administrator for over 50 years and regarded as one of the most influential and respected people in the game
  • Dominant player in Tennessee and attended the University of Florida winning the Southeastern Conference Championship
  • Joined the men’s professional tour in the late 1960’s and won 10 international titles
  • Following the pro tour became head pro at Manker Patten in Chattanooga and became known as a top coach and teaching professional, later served as President of the United States Professional Tennis Association, was one of the first members to receive the distinguished Master Professional Classification and was honored with the USPTA Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Won numerous USTA national championships and repeatedly ranked number 1 in his age group by USTA and USPTA
  • Coached at Baylor School, the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and Vanderbilt University winning the National Interscholastic Championships, the Southern Conference title, the National AIAW Small College Women’s Championship and making numerous NCAA Championship appearances
  • Inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame and the USPTA Southern Division Hall of Fame

Nancy Yeargin Furman, South Carolina, 2004

Nancy Yeargin Furman, South Carolina, inducted in 2004furman._nancy_yergin copy

  • A star for the Greenville High School and Christ Church School tennis teams, leading both to several state championships and was consistently ranked number 1 in South Carolina and the top 5 in the South in her age division from 1968 to 1973, including number 1 in the South in the Girl’s 18U in 1972 and number 1 in the nation in the Girl’s 16U and 18U
  • Won 6 singles and 2 doubles titles at the Palmetto Championships in Belton as well as many other state and section championships
  • Played at Rollins College and won the Southern Collegiate Sportsmanship Award in 1974, 1975 and 1976, named All-American in 1976 and 1977, Scholar Athlete of the Year and team captain
  • Member of the 1974 USTA Junior Wightman Cup and 1976 and 1977 USTA Junior Federation Cup teams
  • Played the WTA women’s professional circuit from 1977 to 1985 and competed in all 4 grand slams, was consistently ranked in the top 100 in the world (with a high ranking of number 53) and in 1982 was selected to receive the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award
  • After retiring from the tour became the Head Tennis Professional at the Greenville Country Club and was name a National USTA Junior Coach
  • Inducted into the Rollins College Hall of Fame in 1988 and the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989