Remembering Bill Batchelor

Longtime tennis instructor Bill Batchelor passed away May 1 at the age of 76. Batchelor was a tennis instructor for more than 30 years, and it’s estimated he taught the game to around 5,000 people over the years, according to Jim Shada.

“Bill taught tennis lessons at Offutt Air Force Base and the City of Bellevue’s Department of Recreation,” Shada said. “His love for the game influenced thousands of people to learn and enjoy the great game of tennis.”

Shada is the Bellevue Parks and Recreation Director and worked alongside him for many years. He said Batchelor started the Learn to Play Tennis Lesson Program, as well as the Winter Indoor Tennis Tournament, where the city partnered with Offutt Air Force Base.

“Bill was terrific to work with, he told me what we needed to do to grow the game of tennis and the City of Bellevue and myself would strive to make it happen,” Shada added. “He was a true professional and wonderful to work alongside of.”

Batchelor’s daughter, Sara McArdle, is a 5.0 USTA player. She played college tennis at Missouri Western State College and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She said her dad taught her the mental side of tennis, and credits him for her emotional discipline on the court. Some of her best memories are playing mixed doubles with her dad in national tournaments.

“We competed in six national USTA father/daughter championship tournaments coast to coast,” she said. “We made several appearances in the hard court championships in Palm Springs and San Diego. We competed at the indoor in Barrington, IL, grass in Boston, and the clay in West Palm Beach, Florida. We liked to joke saying we were ‘on tour’. We ended our father-daughter ‘tour’ with a #7 national ranking.”

McArdle said her dad would always put a positive spin on everything, and wanted to see people enjoy the game.