Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Judy Utley, North Carolina, 2014

Judy Utley, North Carolina, inducted in 2014Judy Utley

  • USTA League and recreational player and helped create the Gate City Women’s Tennis League and the Carlton Harris, Jr. Tennis League and was President of the Greensboro Tennis Association
  • Served as North Carolina State League Coordinator and as a member of the Board and was elected President of USTA North Carolina in 2000
  • Chaired the North Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation Board and the Foundation Building Committee which raised over $1 million to build the USTA North Carolina offices and North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame
  • Received numerous North Carolina awards for her dedication to the sport including the 1989 Adult/Senior Tennis Council Award, the 1990 and 1997 District Service Award and the 1997 USTA League Award
  • Chairman of the USTA Southern League Committee, elected to the USTA Southern Board in 2001, President in 2007 and Chairman of the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation in 2011
  • USTA Southern Delegate, a member of the USTA Executive Committee, Learning and Leadership Committee, Adult League Committee and Chairman of the USTA League Regulations Subcommittee, a USTA Council Chair and Chairman of the USTA Advisory Group on Committees
  • Received the Gerrie Rothwell Award, Jacobs Bowl and Charles Morris Volunteer Service Award from USTA Southern, the Barbara Williams Leadership Award from USTA and was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 2011

Randy Stephens, Georgia, 2014

Randy Stephens, Georgia, inducted in 2014Randy Stephens

  • Began playing tennis as a freshman at Georgia State and played on the varsity team in 1976 and 1977, and has held leadership positions at the local, state, section, national and international levels since 1989
  • Served 2 terms as President of the Macon Tennis Association, Tournament Director for the 14U Southern Closed and a teaching professional in Macon before becoming a financial advisor in 2007
  • Elected President of 3 Georgia organizations for 2 terms each…USTA Georgia, the Georgia Professional Tennis Association and the Southern Professional Tennis Association
  • Chaired numerous USTA Southern Committees, including Junior Competi-tion and Nominating (twice), elected Southern President in 2001 and later served as Chairman of the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation
  • USTA Southern Delegate and a member of the USTA Executive Committee, chaired the USTA Tennis Innovation and Wheelchair committees and served on numerous other national committees as well as the ITF Wheelchair Committee
  • Ranked number 1 in Georgia and in USTA Southern Men’s 35’s, 45’s and 55’s Doubles and 35s Mixed Doubles
  • Received the USTA Southern Jacobs Bowl in 2000, the Charles Morris Volunteer Service Award in 2003 and has been inducted in numerous Hall of Fames including the Georgia Tennis Professionals Hall of Fame, the USPTA Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame

 

Armstead C. Neely, Georgia, 2014

Armstead C. Neely, Georgia, inducted in 2014

  • Outstanding junior player and a member of the United States Junior Davis Cup team
  • Played number 1 for the University of Florida in the late 1960’s where he never lost a SEC singles dual match in 3 years of competition, was a 2-time All American, served as team captain and won 2 SEC singles and 2 SEC doubles titles
  • Began a 7-year pro career in 1971 where he won 11 titles on 5 continents, appeared in 3 Grand Slams and cofounded the first international tennis satellite tour, the first tournaments to award ATP points for satellite competition and established a Masters satellite tour-ending event
  • Coached the University of Alabama men’s team from 1977 to 1981
  • Supervised or directed more than 50 professional and junior tournaments, along with USTA satellite tour stops in Florida and Texas
  • Won 9 singles and 17 doubles titles at USTA National Championships in various age categories and played for 9 United States teams in international team competition, including 5 championship cup teams
  • Inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame and the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame