USTA NorCal Hall of Fame
EXCITING NEWS!
We now have a new USTA NorCal website—visit ustanorcal.com to explore the refreshed site. Most information will move there in the future as we reorganize this site. Feel free to look around, and if you have any questions, reach out to us at marketing@norcal.usta.com. We’d love to hear from you!
2025 Hall of Fame
USTA Northern California is proud to announce the Hall of Fame class of 2025:
The 2025 Hall of Fame will be on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the InterContinental® Mark Hopkins® San Francisco.
Be part of an unforgettable evening — Register now for the 2025 Hall of Fame!
See photos from the 2024 event to get you excited for this year.
Become a Hall of Fame Sponsor
Support the legacy of tennis in Northern California while putting your brand in front of a passionate tennis community. The USTA NorCal Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honors the game’s greats and benefits NJTL youth programs across the region. Interested in becoming a sponsor for the 2025 event? Learn more here or reach out to marketing@norcal.usta.com.
Make a USTA Northern California Hall of Fame Nomination
If you would like to nominate an individual to be considered for the USTA NorCal Hall of Fame, fill out the application online here or download this application and return the completed form to the USTA Northern California Executive Director, Summer Verhoeven, at 1920 North Loop Rd., Alameda, CA 94502, or at sverhoeven@norcal.usta.com.
Hall of Fame History
The USTA Northern California Hall of Fame was established in 1974 to recognize outstanding players, coaches or individuals’ contributions to growing the game of tennis in Northern California. The USTA Northern California Hall of Fame was founded by Elmer Griffin. A retired investment banker, Elmer started two clubs in his career, including the Beverly Hills Country Club.
Since its inception, the Hall of Fame has honored hundreds of men and women for their dedication and contributions to the game of tennis.
Elmer Griffin
He was the youngest of three brothers. His oldest brother, Peck, went on to fame as Bill Johnston's doubles partner, and Mervyn, who was a fine tennis player in his own right, is now best remembered for his son, Merv. Jr., the television mogul.
Elmer had taken great care in asking around NorCal to see if there was enough interest in a hall for him to secure the sponsorship of the USTA Northern California section. USTA NorCal has handled the operation ever since. An induction committee annually nominates and selects the inductees.
The first class of inductees totaled 31 was the Hall's biggest ever. It included Don Budge, Helen Wills Moody Roark, Helen Jacobs, Alice Marble and Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman. The Hall of Fame held enshrinement ceremonies in 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1979, inducting a total of 56 individuals.
After Elmer's death in 1980, the Hall of Fame was discontinued until then Executive Director, Peter Herb, resurrected it in 1991. As of 2022, there are 183 individuals who have been honored for their accomplishments as players or for their contributions to the game off the court in Northern California.
For 12 years, the enshrinement ceremony was been held in July, during the Bank of the West Classic WTA tournament on the Stanford University campus.
There is also a Hall of Fame wall, which includes plaques commemorating the members that have been established, in the USTA Northern California Section office at 1920 North Loop Road in Alameda.
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