USTA Iowa Hall of Fame nominations open

Who do you know in Iowa that would be a worthy recipient of induction into the USTA Iowa Hall of Fame? It could be an outstanding player, coach, tournament director, official or advocate.

Dave Will was nominated and enshrined in 1997 for his contributions to tennis. He said it was a tremendous honor, and it was nice to be recognized.

“What most people don’t realize is that the Hall of Fame is not just for good players who win lots of tournaments, but also to recognize people who have done things that encourage the growth of tennis,” Will said. “Many times the people behind the scenes are the ones that accomplish the goal of promoting tennis to the public. The local tennis organizations, the local tournament directors, the local high school coaches are vital to the growth of our sport.

“Normally the people who get the recognition are the people whose jobs involve the sport. This is a chance for us to recognize community people who have greatly contributed to the sport.”

The USTA Iowa Hall of Fame was established in 1974 to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to tennis. If you would like to submit a nomination, please send the individual’s name as well as a one-page summary of his or her activities and achievements to Fred Pedersen. His email is fred-pedersen@uiowa.edu.

To view the list of individuals who previously have been inducted into the USTA Iowa Hall of Fame, click here.