Father-Daughter Duo Bonds Through Tennis

“It was pretty neat to see her play again, as I hadn’t seen her play for a while,” Tom said. “When you’re a roving official, you’re watching two or three matches at the same time. So I could position myself where I could sort of catch a little of all of it. It was really neat. I enjoyed it.”

“My parents are unbelievable supporters and have seen almost every match I have ever played,” Mallory said. “It’s really fun to see him find his passion in reffing and get to do that. It was not any added pressure. Just really a fun dynamic I’ve not gotten to experience with him, and just a different way for us to both enjoy tennis.”

Tom — who primarily officiated the WTN Tournament featuring high school and collegiate males — did his best to multitask while working at the 18-court Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park.

“I didn’t want to be caught looking way over there when I should be paying attention to what’s going on pretty close to me,” Tom said. “I had to pick and choose. If they were chasing balls or getting ready to serve — before they got to the service line — I’d sneak a peek over there to see what was going on.”

Mallory, USTA Missouri president, had a strong showing at the National Public Parks Tennis Championships while her dad looked on. She captured the Women’s Open singles event without dropping any of her six sets. Mallory also teamed with Larry Holmes — Cooper Complex head tennis pro — to earn a second-place finish in the Mixed Open doubles tourney.

“I am exceptionally lucky to have two parents who are supportive,” Mallory said. “They were both working full-time jobs and did everything they could. One parent was always with me, if not both. They sacrificed a ton for me to get to the level I was at. For my dad to find enjoyment later in life in reffing is really fun for me to watch.”

Tom — who lives with Judy in Belleville, Illinois — grew up playing baseball and was a catcher at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. Tom’s father attended nearly all his high school and college baseball games.

“I felt the same way and just really didn’t want to miss anything,” Tom said. “You think it’s a long time. But four years of high school and college, those eight years go by in a hurry. Even in the juniors — when Mallory first started until you get to the 18s and you’re finally too old — you meet a lot of friends. But you don’t realize how fast the time is really going.”

When he retired at the age of 65 four years ago, Tom decided to give officiating a shot at his wife’s urging. With his experience watching tennis at the junior and college level, Tom transitioned smoothly to the role and has enjoyed meeting people and seeing old friends.

“It’s just fun giving back to the kids,” Tom said. “When I was a kid playing ball, the older people — my dad and others — all gave back so we could play ball. And now it just sort of feels like you’re giving back so these kids are playing on a quality level of tennis. You’ve got an official there, and there is structure for them. It’s really good.”

Tom credited his USTA St. Louis colleagues — including John and Carobeth Kelly and Lew Conley — for their help in training him as an official. Mallory called officials like her dad “crucial to the game.”

“Tennis is such a unique sport where you are calling your own lines,” Mallory said. “Imagine a baseball or softball game where kids are calling their own balls and strikes. It’s crazy to see that. So what they do is exceptionally important. They’re promoting sportsmanship. They’re helping tournaments run smoothly. They’re teaching the game. They’re huge in the development of kids. He definitely is serving an important role and all those officials are. We certainly need more of them.”

Both Tom and Mallory said individuals who enjoy tennis and want to impact the game locally should consider becoming an official. Both USTA St. Louis and USTA Missouri are always on the hunt for officiating help. With USTA Officials Appreciation Week occurring November 12-18, it’s a great time of year for interested individuals to learn more about becoming an official.

“My dad is a really good example of it,” Mallory said. “He didn’t grow up playing the sport. He came into it in a roundabout way. He’s found a lot of enjoyment. You meet a lot of people. You get to participate in neat tournaments. There is a lot of satisfaction helping kids learn the game or helping an adult through a league match. It’s rewarding. If you have even a little bit of interest in tennis, you can find some joy in participating with it.”