Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Eugene Ray, Georgia, 1996

Eugene Ray. Georgia, inducted in 1996Eugene Ray

  • Involved as a local competitor, teacher and organizer and known as “Mr. Tennis” in Clayton County
  • Devoted much of his time to introducing tennis to local residents, maintaining the only 2 courts in the county, giving free lessons to juniors and adults and running tournaments
  • Began playing senior tournaments at age 60 and restricted himself to 10 tournaments per year, but still earned 21 number 1 Georgia rankings and 9 number 1 Southern rankings
  • Won all 6 Southern tournaments he entered in 1984 at age 80
  • Played few national tournaments, but earned wins over several nationally ranked players, including Bitsy Grant
  • Attained his highest national singles ranking of number 5 in the 85’s in 1990
  • Inducted into the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995

Henry G. “Hank” Crawford, Georgia, 1993

Henry G. “Hank” Crawford, Georgia, Inducted 1993Henry Crawford006

  • After a successful career in law and real estate he concentrated his efforts on tennis and won 12 national doubles titles in the 50, 55, 60 and 70 age divisions
  • European doubles champion with Gardner Malloy
  • Played on the 1979 United States Britannia Cup team and 1983 Crawford Cup team and was captain of the Crawford Cup team from 1985 through 1990
  • Captain of the 1992 Bitsy Grant Cup team
  • Received the USTA Senior Service Award in 1978
  • Inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977 and the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame the first year it was established in 1983

Russell Bobbitt, Georgia, 1993

Russell Bobbitt, Georgia, inducted in 1993Russell Bobbett

  • Ranked among the top 10 players in the United States as a junior player
  • Played for Georgia Tech where he won the 1938 Southeastern Conference singles and doubles titles
  • Played on the United States Junior Davis Cup team with Jack Kramer and Bill Talbert
  • Volunteer and administrator who served as Vice-President of the Georgia Tennis Association and President of the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association
  • President of the Senior Tennis Players of Georgia
  • First tennis player inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame
  • Inducted into the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame the first year it was established in 1983