Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame

Randy Crawford

Many know Randy Crawford (Aspen) as the consummate tennis professional, wonderfully talented yet also incredibly humble. Randy grew up in Texas, won the state high school championship his senior year and went on to play No. 1 at Texas Christian University for four years. Randy became TCU’s first All-American tennis player, reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament and was named Co-Athlete of the Decade ('70s) for the Horned Frogs.

He played on the pro circuit for two years and reached a high of No. 69 in the world before a stomach injury prompted his tour retirement.

Randy was brought on to coach Martina Navratilova in 1987 and 1988 as she retained her No. 1 world ranking. He went on to coach Gigi Fernandez who also reached No. 1 in the world in doubles. The Aspen connection proved to be very powerful as he’s been the Director of Tennis at the Maroon Creek Club in Aspen since 1990.

Scott Davidoff

As one of the top ranked juniors in the country, Scott could have played college tennis nearly anywhere, but chose the University of Colorado out of the desire to help put the school on the Division I tennis map. He did just that, and during his junior season, the team won the 1993 Big 8 Championship, losing to Stanford in the second round at the NCAA National Championships.

After competing on the ATP tour, Scott was hired as Head Men’s Tennis Coach by his alma mater, where he received regional coach of the year honors during his tenure. He began coaching on the ATP and WTA tour in 2002, leading players to more than ten grand slam tournament titles combined.

Scott served as Olympic coach in 2008 and 2012 (India), and 2016 (China). In 2014, Scott and former tour player, Mahesh Bhupathi, started the International Premier Tennis League throughout Asia, in which top players, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have competed.

Nancy Rudd Popof

It was at Green Gables Country Club where a very young Nancy took her first swing at the tennis ball, but, on the courts at the Denver Tennis Club, where she really began to flourish as a player.

During her junior tennis career, Nancy was among the top two players in the USTA Intermountain section in every age division, from 1966-1973. She held a USTA national ranking high of No. 25 in 1972 in the G16 division.

Nancy went on play collegiate tennis at Stanford University from 1975-78. She captained the team during her senior season, when it took home the 1978 AIAW (pre-NCAA) Team Championship title edging out USC 5-4, breaking the Trojans' 36-match winning streak that began in 1975. It was Stanford's first-ever national team championship title in women’s sports.

Mary Jane Metcalf Donnalley

Growing up in Denver, Mary Jane launched onto the national tennis scene, reaching a US ranking of No. 13 in Girls’ 18 singles and No. 5 in doubles with Gussy Moran in 1940, and a top 25 US women’s ranking in 1941 and ’42.

She was also an accomplished coach and an important figure in the history of American tennis. Mary Jane designed the Mary Baldwin College tennis courts and developed a powerhouse women’s team — going undefeated for nine consecutive seasons — being named the Pepsi-Cola Outstanding Collegiate Tennis program in the US in 1967.

She returned to Colorado during the summer in the mid-1960s to teach at the Denver Tennis Club, and is author of numerous tennis articles and books on tennis.

Dennis Ralston

An International Tennis Hall of Fame member, Dennis reached the 1966 Wimbledon singles final, the same year he held a world ranking high of No. 5.

He is the holder of five Grand Slam doubles titles, and a finalist on seven other occasions in men's and mixed doubles. In 1963, Dennis was a member of the US Davis Cup squad that swept Venezuela at Cherry Hills Country Club. He served as Davis Cup coach (1968-’71) and was coach to professionals including Chris Evert and Gabriela Sabatini.

Dennis helped design the tennis facility at The Broadmoor, and as its director of tennis from 1993-2007, the resort was regularly ranked among the top in the country by Tennis Magazine.

Don Willsie

The mainstay of tennis umpiring in southern Colorado, Lt. Col. Don Willsie, US Air Force, retired, began officiating at the Lynmar Racquet Club and The Broadmoor Hotel beginning in 1976. Since that time, Don has also directed and organized umpiring operations for tournaments and college and high school matches in southern Colorado, and has trained dozens of new umpires for the USTA.

In addition, Don served as the director of junior development for the Southern Colorado Tennis Association for several years. In 2013, he received the USTA Nicholas E. Powel Award at the US Open in recognition of the importance of officiating at the local level.

Bob Curtis

During the years he called Colorado home, Bobby firmly cemented his place in the state’s tennis history. Born and raised in Houston, TX, he dominated on the courts, winning the University Interscholastic League Texas State Boys’ Championship singles title in 1936, ’37 and ’38 — each of the three years he played.

While at Rice University, Bobby won the Southwest Conference doubles championship three times in all and captured the NCAA national doubles title in 1947 with partner Sammy Match. He was inducted into the Rice University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973 and Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992.

In 1950, Bobby and Clayton Benham took home the National Public Parks Championship doubles crown, and in 1951 he beat Bill Talbert in the Good Neighbor Championship. He’s titleholder of one Denver City Open singles crown (1951), four doubles titles (1951, ’58, ’60, ’61), one mixed doubles title (1951) as well as two USTA Intermountain doubles championships (1950, ’52).

Susan Mehmedbasich Wright

Winner of nine national junior tennis titles, Susan reached a US ranking high of No. 3 in Girls' 18s. In 1974, at age 17, she joined the WTA tour, defeating former world No. 3 Wendy Turnbull. She left tennis but returned after moving to Grand Junction in 2000.

From 2003-2015, Susan amassed 80 Gold Balls, 35 Silver Balls and 10 Bronze Balls in national championship play. While on the US International Team, she earned 9 gold medals. Susan won four ITF world doubles titles (2006, ‘09, ‘12 and ‘13) and has completed the US “Golden Slam” on four occasions (2007, '08, ’12 and ‘14).

She's been ranked No. 1 in US singles 8 times, 6 times in team doubles, 9 times individually in doubles and 3 times in ultra-senior father-daughter doubles. Susan held the No. 1 ITF world ranking in W50 singles (2008) and W55 doubles (2013), and in 2014 she was inducted to the USTA Northern California Tennis Hall of Fame.

Andy Potter

A Colorado native, Andy won his first USTA Intermountain Summer Sectional Championships at age 10. He went on to win the tournament for three years in a row at age 16, 17 and 18.

He captured the 1986 Colorado High School State Championships title at the No. 1 singles spot for Regis High School. Andy reached a national ranking high of No. 29 in singles and No. 2 in doubles in the boys’18s division. He won boys’ 18s doubles titles at both the USTA National Clay Court Championship and USTA Indoor Championship in 1988.

Andy captured 12 major Colorado open titles in all at the Denver City Open, Colorado State Open and Intermountain/Boulder Open combined – 3 singles, 8 doubles and 1 mixed doubles.

Receiving NCAA All-American honors in 1992 at the University of Kentucky, Andy captained the team that won the school’s first SEC Championship in its 75 year history and reached a team ranking of No. 3 in the country.

Esequiel "Kelly" Lovato

For 25 years, Esequiel "Kelly" Lovato was program director at La Alma Recreation Center in west Denver, starting one of Denver Parks’ first youth tennis programs. A community/anti-gang activist, Kelly knew the value of a strong recreation center where the community could use their energy in positive ways.

Recognized in 1993 by the Rocky Mountain News as one of the Hispanic community’s unsung heroes, Kelly spent his life working with inner-city youth who were exposed daily to a host of dangers. He profoundly impacted an entire community and changed countless lives, teaching kids about responsibility, respect and how tennis could open doors to bigger opportunities. While many of his students went on to be successful tennis players, many more went on to become successful people.

Kelly was recognized previously with USTA Colorado’s inaugural Arthur Ashe Award in 1992 for his contributions to under-served populations.

Cory Ross

A two-time Colorado High School State No. 1 singles champion 1998-1999) and nationally-ranked junior player, Cory played collegiate tennis, first at Baylor, and then for three years at Louisiana State University, where he was named Second-Team All-Louisiana twice, in 2002 and again in 2003. In addition to his outstanding athletic performance, Cory was also recognized for his outstanding sportsmanship, winning the prestigious 1998 Bobby Kaplan Sportsmanship Award at the Boys’ 16 National Championships in Kalamazoo, MI, among many others.

In 2007, Cory completed the "Colorado Slam", winning all four of the major Colorado men's open singles events (Elam Classic, the Denver City Open, the Colorado State Open and the Intermountain/Boulder Open) in the same year, 40 years after Harold Sears accomplished this feat.

During his playing career, Cory captured 31 major Colorado events — amassing 10 Singles, 12 Doubles and 9 Mixed in all.

Art Thomson

Despite an inauspicious start in his first-ever tournament, Art competed for George Washington High School, later matriculating at the University of Colorado-Boulder, where he competed at the No. 1 singles position, finishing third in the Big 8 Conference.

Art captured the 1981 Colorado State Open singles title at age 34, and holds three major Colorado open doubles titles – two Denver City Open crowns (1971 and 1972) and one Intermountain Championships (1973), and was runner up at the Denver City Open twice (1970 and 1973).

A dominant force in age division play in Colorado and across the country, Art amassed 23 “triple titles” (singles, doubles and mixed) between the ages of 35-55, and in 1993, was named USPTA 45 and over singles player of the year.

During his 50 plus years as a teaching professional in Colorado, Art has shared his love and passion for the game of tennis with countless students.

Rita Price

Rita is a multiple World Champion and a double-digit National Champion, despite being a bit of a late bloomer who picked up the game seriously when she was 62 years old. Her first tennis tournament was the 1978 Denver City Open. Price won her first major title at the Senior Olympics in 1991, capturing the title again 1995 and 1997. She won in mixed doubles in 2001 and in 2003. During that period, she also captained Colorado’s first senior league team to win a National Championship in 1992 (and again in 1994). 

She captured her first USTA Gold Ball at age 79 in the 75s division (2005 US Grass Court Championship). She then started to roll, winning the 2006 doubles title at the Japan Friendship Cup and adding a pair of national titles in singles and an additional doubles gold ball. Price won three gold balls in 2007, as well as the 2007 World Championship doubles title in Christchurch, NZ. She earned the singles and doubles titles at the Senior Olympic Games in 2008 and another gold ball in doubles, bringing Price her first No. 1 world singles ranking, in the ITF 80s division. In 2009 she won the singles title at the Perth, AUS World Championships.

In 2011, Price held the No. 1 singles ranking in the nation in women's 85 singles, earning three national titles. In 2012, Rita won five gold balls, and three more in 2013. In 2014, Rita completed a Gold Slam, winning the USTA 85s doubles championship on all four surfaces (including a singles championship on clay). She won a second Gold Slam in 2015. Price has been celebrating her 90s in style, sweeping doubles at every national championship since 2016 with her long-time partner Doris Lutz. She and Lutz have split the gold and silver balls at most of those events, with Price sweeping in 2016-17 and sharing titles in 2018-19.

The pandemic of 2020 was the only thing to keep Price away from a National Championship, having won a gold ball in 24 consecutive events. Dating back to her first year of competition in the USTA 85s, Price has won 43 gold balls in the last decade, 51 overall, in addition to her dozens of second place silver ball trophies.

Gil Roberts

Under Gil’s guidance during his three years as Colorado Tennis Association president (1975-77), individual membership more than doubled and club membership nearly tripled.

He professionalized the organization — opened an office, created the position of executive secretary, and then, to keep Colorado USTA members informed, started a newspaper — High Bounce (1976).

Gil went on to represent Colorado at the sectional level, working to create more cohesiveness in the region, thus giving the Intermountain section a stronger voice at the USTA national level. He served the USTA in various leadership capacities from 1976-1985, including time on the executive committee and chairman of the Junior Davis cup committee.

John Whistler

At Denver East High school, John captured the high school doubles championship in 1955, helping the angels win the team title. He matriculated at the University of Colorado, captaining the tennis squad his senior year.

John captured the 1963 Denver City Open singles crown and was runner up in 1962, ’64 and ’67. He and fellow Colorado Tennis Hall of Famer Jim Landin amassed an impressive eight total doubles titles in the Denver City (1963, ’65, ’68, ’69 and ‘73) and Colorado State Open (1965, ’68 and ’73) .

From 1952 to 1976, John and his father Rick, won every Father/Son tournament they entered accumulating numerous titles in Colorado majors as well as four USTA national titles.

Chad Harris

A native Coloradan, Chad held the No. 3 ranking in the country in the Boys' 14s division, and the No. 2 spot in the 16s division. He finished his junior career at No. 5 in the Boys' 18s division. At Cherry Creek High School, Chad helped the Bruins win four State Championship titles by capturing the No. 1 singles title three consecutive years, 1997-9.

At Vanderbilt University, Chad compiled more wins than any other player in school history (101). In his junior season (2002-03), the Commodores fell to No. 1 ranked Illinois in the NCAA finals, ending the year at No 4 in team rankings with Chad at No. 10 in the individual rankings. In his senior season, Chad advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships. He ended his collegiate career at No. 8 in the nation.

In 2000, at age of 18, Chad won the Colorado State Open, becoming the first teen to win the event since Bobby Riggs in 1937 at 19. He followed that up in 2001 with championship titles at the Colorado State and Denver City Open, becoming the first teen to win both singles titles in the same year.

Victoria Heinicke

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Victoria played her first tournament at age 6, and by the time she was a teenager, began playing on the men’s and women’s circuit. In 1956, she won the first of her 17 USLTA titles. Victoria won national singles and doubles titles in the Girls' 13s, 15s and 18s divisions, and ranked No. 1 four times (G15s, 1958-9; G18s 1961-2).

When she was 14, Victoria became the youngest competitor to play the US Championships at Forest Hills. In 1960, at 15, she sat at No. 8 on the women’s tour. After losing in the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 1962, she came back strong at Forest Hills, defeating Billie Jean and then Wimbledon champion Karen Hantze Susman.

Indelicately dubbed "the Grunter" by fellow tour players, she is remembered by tennis journalist and author Bud Collins as the sport's first-ever grunter, a harbinger of modern tennis' epic noise makers. She retired from competitive tennis at the age of 19 and moved to Colorado Springs that same year and became a fixture on the Colorado Springs tennis teaching and coaching scene.

Warrick Jones

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Warrick was introduced to tennis at age 11 and took to the sport quickly, competing in USTA tournaments with good success. As a senior, he reached the finals of the Ohio State High School Championships. A recognized leader on and off the court, Warrick was selected to be a ball boy for the US Davis Cup squad on four separate occasions.

After graduating from Long Beach State, Warrick competed in professional satellite tour events, becoming a two-time champion at the American Tennis Association (ATA) Championships.

He enlisted in the US Army in 1984 and was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. While in the Service, Warrick was a three-time Army Tennis Team member and won the Armed Forces Tennis Championships three times (one singles and two doubles crowns), and since coming to the state has won numerous Colorado State Open age division events.

On the national stage, Warrick has won five USTA National Championships—the National Hard Court Men’s 40 and 45 singles, the National Indoor Men’s 45 singles and doubles, and the National Grass Court Men’s 50s doubles. He was also a multiple selection to compete on the USA National Dubler Cup Team (M45).

Maricaye Christenson Daniels

Born in Grand Junction, Maricaye Christenson Daniels took up tennis at age ten, during a time when she also excelled at diving and horse jumping. In spite of the scarcity of indoor courts, practice partners and weather-friendly months for an outdoor-sport, success came rather quickly for Maricaye.

Her junior career led her to the University of Southern California where she played No. 1 singles, and was ranked in the top ten in the Southern California women's open singles for 10 years in succession. After graduating from USC, she joined the women's professional tour, which took her around the world and played at famous venues such as Wimbledon, Forest Hills, and the French Open.

Maricaye won several tournaments as an adult, including winning singles, doubles and mixed at the Intermountain Championships in 1977. As a senior player, she has won numerous gold and silver USTA National Championship balls.

She continues to compete in sectional and national events.

Scott Humphries

Born and raised in Greeley, Scott Humphries is one of the greatest tennis players our state has ever produced. Scott first started playing with fellow Colorado Tennis Hall of Famer Sherrie Farris.

A member of Team Colorado, he finished the year No. 1 in the nation at age 12. He also won the 12s national championships in singles and doubles. Scott moved to California before relocating to the Palmer Tennis Academy at Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa.

Scott would go on to win several national doubles titles alongside longtime partner, BJ Stearns. In 1994, he became the first American in more than a dozen years to capture the Boys' Wimbledon Championship.

After becoming an All-American at Stanford, Scott left to compete on the ATP tour. He focused exclusively on doubles, following two elbow surgeries at the age of 21. His professional career includes 11 tour finals, a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open, and a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon with Justin Gimelstob.

After his professional career, Scott worked with American Mardy Fish and later with former world No. 1, Jelena Jankovic.

Alicia Salas

Alicia began her competitive career training at Ken Caryl Ranch and Team Colorado. She played junior leagues, and by the age of nine had won her first tournament. Alicia was the top-ranked player in both Colorado and the Intermountain section throughout her junior career.

In 2000, Alicia became the first four-time 5A Colorado No. 1 high school singles champion. She graduated from Cherry Creek High School and matriculated at the University of Notre Dame.

During her four-year career with the Fighting Irish, Alicia was twice voted MVP. In 2004, she was named the Midwest Region's Senior Player of the Year. Following her collegiate career, Alicia was one of five women's college tennis players selected to compete on the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's American Express "All-Star team" in Hong Kong and Beijing.

In a five-year span beginning in 2001, Alicia won seven women's singles, eight women's doubles and eight mixed doubles titles at the Denver City, Colorado State, and Boulder/Intermountain Open Championships.

Art & John Hagan

Well-known sports business entrepreneurs Art & John Hagan are Colorado natives. Art and his younger brother John both played high school tennis, and both attended college on tennis scholarships.

The brothers worked together at The Aspen Leaf, a tennis retailer. They helped grow the business from one store, to 17 stores across three states.

The Colorado tennis community greatly benefited from the Hagan's support. They brought the first women's professional tennis tour event to Colorado with the Virginia Slims of Denver tournament. The Hagan's stores often donated balls, racquets and shoes to many area charities. For a number of years, their business supplied men's and women's USTA events with trophies.

John served on the product development team for Head Tennis Products, leaving his mark on the design of racquets and shoes. He strung the racquets of some the best players in the world, including Arthur Ashe, Billy Jean King and Bjorn Borg. Art served on the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation, Colorado Tennis Association, the Intermountain Tennis Association and the Denver Tennis Club boards.

Brenda Vlasak

Brenda Vlasak started playing tennis at age five, and has gripped her tennis racquet with two hands ever since. At age eight, she won her first tournament at Ken Caryl Ranch.

Brenda continued to play tournaments through grade and middle school, winning her first national singles title at the Columbus Indoor Championships (G12). She reached No. 16 in the G14 division. The next year, firing her signature two-handed backhand and forehand, she parlayed a USTA National Indoor Championship and a fifth-place at the National Clay Court Championships to a top-3 national ranking.

Brenda's collegiate career began at Tyler Junior College in Texas, where as the No. 1 singles player she led the team to a pair of NJCAA titles (1998-99). After transferring to the University of Arkansas - where she played No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles - Brenda and her Razorback teammates advanced to the NCAA Championships

Brenda became the head coach of the men's and women's tennis teams at University of Northern Colorado, following 2006 and in 2010 was named the university's UNC's director of tennis.

Kent Woodard

Kent was 7 years-old when his father built a tennis court in the backyard of his family's Grand Junction home. Before that, no one in the family had ever played tennis. By the time he was 13, he was competing across Colorado, and in regional and national tournaments.

For two years, Kent played on the perennial top-10 University of Utah tennis team. He later transferred to the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he competed at No. 1 singles and doubles.

After college Kent started dominating the Colorado tournament scene. He amassed 13 titles at the Denver City Open, Colorado State Open and Intermountain Sectional Championships combined.

But Kent wasn't just a Colorado phenomenon, he also traveled around the world playing tournament-level tennis. He finished sixth in singles on the South African Tour, and played pro tournaments in Sweden and Spain.

After his competitive days, Kent spent many years as a tennis professional at the Maroon Creek Club in Aspen.

Vernon John

A crafty and powerful left-hander, Vernon would rise to No. 7 (No. 5 in doubles) in the nation as a junior. He captured the 1933 Cheyenne Mountain Invitational singles title, one of the top tournaments in the country at the time, defeating Californian Jack Tidball, the 1933 National Intercollegiate singles champion. In 1934, Vernon became the youngest man to win the Denver City Open Men’s Singles title. He won it again the following year, taking the doubles title as well.

He attended the University of Southern California, earning intercollegiate rankings in both doubles (No. 7) and in singles (No. 2), reaching the finals at the 1936 National Intercollegiate Championships. Later that year, he competed at the US National Clay Court Championships, losing to eventual champion Bobby Riggs 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in the semifinals. Despite the loss, John would go on to beat Riggs several times in future sanctioned events.

Rhona Kaczmarczyk

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Rhona was 15 when she first represented her country at the Federation Cup, an honor she would have on three more occasions. A national champion at every junior age group, she was Ireland's top-ranked player at age 16. After a brief professional career, Rhona attended college in the United States.

She has been a consistent challenger at the championship level here in Colorado, amassing more than 11 singles and doubles titles at the Denver City Open, Colorado State Open and Intermountain Championships. In 1996, Rhona won the singles and doubles titles at both the Denver City Open and Intermountain Championships. She dominated the State Open in 1997-8, winning both the singles and doubles titles in each of those years. In 2006, at the age of 41, Rhona pulled off the rare singles/doubles sweep again at the Denver City Open. That same year, Rhona also captured the USTA National Women's 40 Indoor Championships and earned the USTA Colorado Joan Birkland Award as the state’s top female player.

Jack TerBorg

Jack discovered tennis when his family moved to a house across the street from Washington Park in Denver. After three perfect seasons (1945-47) at No. 1 singles at South High School, Jack received a scholarship to the University of Southern California where he played his freshman and sophomore years.

He transferred from USC to Denver University where he completed his undergraduate work and later law school. The DU team captured the Skyline Conference championship for two consecutive years with Jack playing No. 2 singles and fellow Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame member Irwin Hoffman at No. 3.

A prolific champion, Jack won 6 major Colorado singles titles – two Denver City Opens (1958, 1962), two Colorado State Opens (1961, 1962) and two Intermountain Sectional Championships (1954, 1961). He also amassed 9 doubles championships, including 8 Denver City Open doubles titles in 12 years (1950, 1952, 1955-8, 1960-61) and the 1954 Colorado State Open doubles title.

Becky Varnum Bucolo

A native Coloradan, Becky became the first-ever Colorado prep tennis player to win four consecutive No. 1 singles titles, finishing her prep career a perfect 68-0, never losing a single set. The top-ranked player in the Intermountain Section, Becky rose to No. 18 in the country.

She was named as a Sportswoman of Colorado three times (1994, 1996, 1998), earning automatic induction into the Sportswomen of Colorado Hall of Fame in 1998.

At the University of Notre Dame, Becky earned Big East Rookie of the Year (1998) honors, and by 2001 she was ranked No. 8 in the country in doubles, earning All American accolades. She was voted team captain in 2002.

In local competition, Becky holds 10 Denver City, Colorado State, and Intermountain Section Championship titles, seven coming in 2001 when she dominated the local calendar with singles victories at the State and Intermountain Championships, mixed titles at the City and Intermountain, and a sweep of the women’s doubles titles at all three major events.

Charles Gates, Jr.

A graduate of Stanford University in 1943, Charlie became President and CEO in the family business, Gates Rubber Company, a world leader in the manufacturing of automotive and industrial hoses and belts.

Charlie was a passionate advocate of community progress and was involved in directing money to charitable organizations through his leadership of the Gates Family Foundation (GFF). In 1975, the GFF gifted the Gates Tennis Center to the citizens of Denver. Wanting to ensure its long-term sustainability, the GFF entrusted the facility to The Park People, a non-profit organization committed to preserving and enhancing Denver’s parks.
For the next 20 years, the GFF spent $1.5 million on improvement projects at the Center. Beginning in 2004, plans were developed to update the Center to serve the next generation of tennis players. At his last board meeting prior to his death, Charlie expressed his wishes to invest the dollars necessary to make the project a reality.

In his honor, the newly constructed West Center Court bears his name. Charlie’s Court is a fitting homage to the man whose leadership helped transform the one-time trash dump at Pulaski Park into one of America’s premier public tennis complexes.

Allen Kiel

Allen began playing tennis in high school, later competing for two years on the tennis team at DePaul University, and then finishing his collegiate career at the University of Northern Colorado, where he remained undefeated in conference play.

He owned and operated tennis clubs in his native Chicago, teaching players of all ages and abilities, including former No. 2 in the world, Andrea Jaeger.

Allen co-wrote the first USPTA certification test, and in 1974, was one of seven USPTA professionals who helped develop and pilot the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP), used for all USTA league play.

As a USTA volunteer, Allen has served the Colorado tennis community in many significant ways over the decades – as vice president of USTA Colorado, president of the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation and president of USTA Intermountain. Allen also helped spearhead the creation and implementation of Touch Tone Tennis, the predecessor of TennisLink, which revolutionized the way players registered for USTA leagues and tournaments.

He has been a member of numerous USTA committees, assisting in numerous initiatives focused on creating new opportunities for players, minorities and volunteers.

Katie Koontz

A native Pennsylvanian, Katie took up tennis at the age of 35. But the late start hasn’t kept her from reaching the pinnacle of the sport in national competition.

She won her first national championship title (gold ball) in 1990. Since then, Katie has added an additional 20 gold balls, 18 silver balls (runner-up) and five bronze balls (3rd place) to her trophy collection.

In 2004, Katie and her doubles partner captured the elusive “Gold Slam”, winning all four USTA National Championships on different surfaces – indoor, clay, grass and hard court – in the same calendar year. They extended that streak to seven consecutive national titles, just one surface win shy of back-to-back Gold Slams.

Katie has represented the United States in numerous international competitions, captaining the US Kitty Godfree Cup Team (Women 65 and older) to a second place finish in 2004. She has also competed on the Alice Marble Cup Team for Women 60 and older.

Jeff Loehr

A Colorado native who began playing tennis at the age of 3, Jeff was fated to join his father, James, in the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame.

Jeff owns two high school state singles titles, and was a member of the Wheat Ridge High School championship team in 1991 that broke Cherry Creek’s winning streak of 19 straight team titles.

Jeff attended the University of South Florida from 1992-1996. He rattled off 18 straight wins to start his senior year, finishing with a 27-4 record and earning a Top-100 NCAA Division I ranking.
For nearly two years, Jeff competed on the men’s professional tour, reaching the top 500 in the world. In 1998, he was among the top 40 American male players.

Jeff dominated local events in the 1990s, winning the Denver City Open singles title for the first time at the age of 18 in 1993, and again in 1996 and 1999. He earned the City doubles titles in 1999 and 2005 as well. Jeff also owns four Colorado State Open singles titles, taking his first in 1996, followed by back to back wins in 1998 and 1999 (including the doubles title), and then again as a dark horse in 2005. In 1999, he captured both the Intermountain Sectional singles and doubles championship.

Sandra Elliott

At Grand Junction High School, Sandra was a basketball and tennis standout, earning consecutive No. 1 singles titles her junior and senior years. She was honored with the Joe Biggs Memorial Award as the school’s outstanding athlete and scholar.

In 1983, Sandra led the University of Northern Colorado to fourth place at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Compiling a 24-0 record, she captured the national doubles championship title, in addition to reaching the singles final. She won the doubles title again in 1985 and 1986, reaching the semifinals in singles both years and earning All-American honors.

Ranked No. 1 in singles and doubles by the Division II Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association (ITCA), Sandra was named to the ITCA All Star Team, and was a two-time recipient of the ITCA Scholar Athlete Award.

In 1996, Sandra was inducted into the University of Northern Colorado Hall of Fame, and was joined by the rest of her 1983 Bears team, which was inducted in 2001.

Roald Flater

After serving two years in the US Army during World War II in Europe, Roald attended and played tennis at Northwestern University, where he obtained his Mechanical Engineering degree in 1949. In 1962, he moved to Denver and has had a virtual lock on the No. 1 spot in every age division from the 45 through 80 and over in Colorado and Intermountain rankings. He has also held USTA national and ITF world rankings as well.

Roald holds several titles in USTA national competitions, and has represented the US against Mexico numerous times in the Osuna Cup. In 2007, he was a member of the USTA International World Cup Team at the Gardnar Mulloy Cup in New Zealand. Roald is also a passionate tennis instructor, coach and official. In 1972, at the age of 45, he earned his teaching certification and was the head professional at Hiwan Country Club.

He became the Intermountain Section’s first Prince representative and helped Howard Head roll out the world’s first oversized racquet.

Andrea Jaeger

Sister Andrea (she became an Anglican Dominican nun in 2006), uses her professional tennis career to help children with terminal illness and their families.

She became the youngest-ever Wimbledon seed at 15 years-old, and was the youngest semifinalist in US Open history. A finalist at the 1982 French Open and 1983 Wimbledon, Andrea climbed to the No. 2 world ranking, her career-best. Her tennis career ended with a severe shoulder injury at the 1985 French Open, and she retired in 1987.

During her playing career, Andrea became aware of her life calling to help children. With the prize money she earned on the tour, she moved to Aspen in 1989 and started the Little Star Foundation, which provides specialized medical, financial, educational, camp, family and hospice programs – at no cost to the families – for terminally ill, abused or at-risk children.

In 2001, she was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

Willard Douglass Corley & Willard Douglass Corley, Jr.

Few Coloradans have had the kind of impact on the growth of tennis in the state that Douglass had. He was president of the Southern Colorado Tennis Association during the 1950s-60s, and represented the Intermountain Section for the US Lawn Tennis Association. Douglass helped organize and build the Colorado Springs Racquet Club in 1965, and in 1968, the club named its nascent junior tournament, The Corley Cup, in his honor.

His son, Doug, won the Colorado High School championship in 1953 and 1954. At Colorado College, he won eight singles and doubles Rocky Mountain Collegiate Conference titles. He competed at the 1957 NCAA Championships, winning the singles consolation draw. Doug compiled six titles in the region’s three major tournaments: Denver City Open, Colorado State Open and Intermountain Sectional Championships. He also competed in the US Open three times and the qualifying round at Wimbledon.

Don Harker

Don is “the grand old man of Denver tennis.” He is regarded as one of the strongest and most impressive players in Colorado tennis history. A steady and smart player, Don was very consistent and was best known for grinding down his opponents during matches.

He was an avid tournament player for many years, and between the years of 1897-1925, Don won no less than 24 titles combined in the Denver City Open and Colorado State Open, and held a top position in the state for over 25 years. A number of his titles came when he was in his 40s, when he competed against players many years his junior.

Undoubtedly, Don would have captured more Denver City Open titles had the tournament started earlier. He had been competing for 17 years prior to the inaugural year of the tournament in 1914.

Carlene Petersen

Carlene attended William Jewell College, where she won numerous tournaments, and became the first woman to play on the men’s tennis team, where she competed at the No. 1 singles spot her sophomore through senior years. Carlene was the first woman to participate in the NAIA Men’s Collegiate Championships in 1964.

An avid competitor, she won many Missouri Valley and Intermountain Section tournaments and is holder of at least 17 combined titles at the region’s three major tournaments: Denver City Open, Colorado State Open, and Intermountain Sectional Championships.

Carlene was a tennis professional at many clubs within the Denver area, and coached the women’s tennis team at the University of Denver for 10 seasons, beginning in 1974. She received Conference Coach of the Year honors while at the University of Denver, and in 1994, was inducted into the William Jewell College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Bill Wright

Bill attended Southern Methodist University, helping his team win the school’s first Southwest Conference Team Championship. He competed in the US Open five times, and achieved a No. 44 national ranking in 1963 and No. 52 in 1964.

Bill was the tennis director for the Vail Recreation District for 27 summers, and in 2003, Vail dedicated the Bill Wright Tennis Center at Ford Park in his honor.

After coaching stints at the University of Denver, Colorado State University and the University of Illinois, he spent 12 years at the University of California-Berkeley and 19 years at the University of Arizona. His 1980 UC-Berkeley squad won the National Indoor Team Championships and was runner-up in the NCAA Team Championships.

Bill has coached 12 All-Americans, a Pac-10 singles champion, and a doubles team that reached the quarterfinals at the French and US Opens. He also coached and captained the US Junior Davis Cup team. Bill was selected NCAA Coach of the Year in 1978, Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1981, Region 8 Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2004. In 2006, he was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame. In addition, he published Aerobic Tennis in 1980, an instruction book emphasizing fitness.

Arnold Brown

As a teenager in Detroit, Michigan, Arnie was a talented table tennis player. His talent for the game helped him to become a proficient tennis player as well. He attended Western Michigan University on a tennis scholarship, where he played No. 1 singles and was the team captain. After graduation, Arnie became serious about table tennis again and went on to win numerous state championships, including 26 Colorado state and Intermountain titles. 

Arnie moved to Denver to become an insurance agent. In the early 1960s he joined Cherry Hills Country Club as a tennis teaching professional. Under Arnie's guidance, Cherry Hills became one of the top clubs in Colorado for junior tennis. And while he was there for only five years, the mark he left on Colorado tennis is legendary.

Thanks to Arnie's efforts, Colorado tennis gained international recognition. He and Colorado Tennis Hall of Famer Gene Reidy arranged for the Davis Cup to come to Cherry Hills Country Club in 1963. The U.S. squad, led by Dennis Ralston, defeated Venezuela 5-0. Other members of the team included Marty Reissen, Eugene Scott, and a Davis Cup rookie named Arthur Ashe. It was the only time a Davis Cup match has been played in Colorado. While playing a key role in all aspects of hosting the Davis Cup, Arnie was also a top junior teaching pro in Colorado, producing numerous tournament players, many at the National level. Among them was 8-year-old Jake Warde, a 2002 Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame inductee. Arnie introduced Jake to tennis and ultimately developed him into one of the finest junior players ever to come from Colorado, becoming the first Coloradan to hold a national No. 1 ranking in any age division. During that time, Arnie founded the Cherry Hills Invitational, a tournament that brought in many nationally ranked junior players.

Word of Arnie's coaching success spread throughout the country, and with no indoor courts in Denver at the time, Arnie reluctantly moved to Boston where he could coach year-round. He spent time as a pro at various clubs throughout the Northeast including the Suburban Indoor Tennis Center outside of Boston, the Wianno Country Club on Cape Cod and the Belmont (Mass.) Country Club. He continued to produce top junior players including Ferdi Taygan, who went on to win the NCAA doubles title with Peter Fleming and reached career high professional rankings in the top 100 in singles and top 10 in doubles.

Chet Murphy

A former long-time tennis professional at the Broadmoor Hotel, Chet is internationally known as a tennis teacher having conducted clinics for players and teachers throughout the United States as well as Canada, Mexico, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Chet began playing tennis as a sophomore in high school. With his twin brother, Bill, he won the Illinois state high school doubles championship in both his junior and senior years. He went on to play No. 1 singles and doubles at the University of Chicago. His senior year, Chet was the Big Ten singles and doubles champion as well as the NCAA runner-up in both events.
Chet and Bill teamed together to play in the Eastern grass court circuit, the major tournaments of the era. With wins over players such as Gardnar Mulloy and Bobby Riggs, they rose as high as No. 9 in the national men's doubles rankings.

After serving five years as a navy aviator, Chet began a successful coaching career. He first taught and coached at the University of Chicago, followed by stints at the University of Detroit, University of Minnesota and the University of California-Berkeley.

During one of his summer breaks, Chet accepted a teaching position at the Broadmoor. In his first season there, there were only two courts. By the next summer, six courts were added and Chet launched a program that helped established the Broadmoor as one of the preeminent tennis facilities in the United States.

While at the Broadmoor, Chet and a few club members established the Broadmoor Family Invitational Doubles Tournament. Prominent players from the region, as well as local tennis playing families, were invited to play. The tournament grew to become one of the most popular in southern Colorado.

Chet is an honorary member of the USPTA and has been a featured speaker at many of their annual conferences. He has served as president of the U.S. College Tennis Coaches Association, chairman of the U.S. Tennis Committee for World University Games and of the USTA Committee of School Tennis Development. He has been inducted into the National Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, the Tilden Tech High School Hall of Fame and the University of Chicago Sports Hall of Fame. He has also been awarded the USTA Educational Service Award.

In addition to his on-court achievements, Chet is the author of several highly regarded tennis books and has contributed articles to tennis magazines and educational journals.

Jeanette Paddock

Jeanette's involvement in tennis spans three decades. An intense competitor and winner of National, Intermountain and Colorado titles, she has also been a dedicated and highly successful high school coach. Jeanette was a pioneer NTRP verifier at the district and sectional levels, and a founder and coordinator of the southern Colorado Junior Team Tennis program. Since 1985, she has been a USPTA teaching professional and the Director of Tennis at Lynmar Racquet Club in Colorado Springs, where she has organized numerous tournaments, events and tennis programs. As a player, Jeanette's top competitive years were 1971-1991. In age division competition, she has won national doubles titles on clay and indoor hard courts, and was a national indoors singles and doubles runner-up as well as grass court doubles runner-up. Jeanette held national rankings for ten years, and was ranked as high as No. 11 in Women's 35 Singles. In 1983, she played in the 35s division of the U.S. Open. Jeanette held the No. 1 ranking in 35 singles in the Intermountain Section for five consecutive years in addition to top 3 rankings in 40 singles and 35 doubles. She is also the title-holder of numerous southern Colorado open singles championships.

Jeanette was the recipient of the National USPTA Female Player of the Year/Open Division in 1987, and again in 1990 for the 35s division. She was the Intermountain USPTA Player of the Year from 1987-91 for the 35s Division. Jeanette was inducted into the Colorado Sportswoman Hall of Fame in 1987.

As head coach at Air Academy High School, Jeanette produced her first state champions in 1982 at the No. 1 doubles position. In the 2004 and 2005 seasons, her teams placed second in 5A competition, and earned three individual state titles, including the 2005 No. 1 singles championship. In 2004, her squad was awarded the Colorado Tennis Association's Willa Wolcott Condon Award for the outstanding girls' high school tennis team, and Jeanette received All-Colorado Girls Tennis Coach of the Year honors. Jeanette was named USPTA-Intermountain High School Coach of the Year in 2002 and again in 2005. 

Willa Wolcott Condon

Born in Boulder in 1910, Willa began playing tennis at an early age. Her father, a son of pioneers, was an administrator and controller at the University of Colorado. He had regular tennis matches with P.I. Folsom, for whom the current CU football stadium is named, and many other professors. This group comprised Willa's main set of practice partners.

She graduated from Boulder Prep High School in 1926 where she played on the tennis team. While still in high school, Willa began a dominance of Colorado women's tennis that lasted eight years.

Willa won 19 major Colorado and regional singles championships. At ages 14 and 15, Willa reached the women's singles final of the Denver City Open. She went on to win the tournament five times between 1926-32. Her mastery continued with three women's singles titles in the Cheyenne Mountain Invitational in Colorado Springs between 1930-33, five Colorado State tennis championships between 1927-34 and four Intermountain singles titles from 1928-32. Willa also had success as a doubles player, winning five consecutive Colorado State doubles titles beginning in 1930. After graduating from the University of Colorado in 1930, Willa moved to San Francisco to attend Mills College. From there, she went on to work as a secretary at the Mayo Clinic. It was there that she met Bill Condon of Greeley, whom she married in 1940. They moved back to Denver in 1946 and had two daughters, Karen and Ann. Back in Denver, Willa continued to play tennis. Beginning in 1952, she started playing a weekly doubles match with a group of women that included Colorado Tennis Hall of Famer, Carolyn Byrne. That Friday morning tradition lasted 40 years. In her honor, the Colorado Tennis Association named its annual award for outstanding girls' high school tennis team the Willa Wolcott Condon Award.

At her memorial, the minister spoke of Willa's love for tennis and it's impact on her life when he said, “The style with which Willa played tennis is the style with which she lived her life. She placed her shots while the world ran ragged chasing them; and she placed her shots carefully, thoughtfully, skillfully and accurately so that what she did made a difference.”