New England Inducts Five into 2024 Hall of Fame Class

USTA New England inducted five members into its Hall of Fame Class of 2024 on Sunday, June 9, at a ceremony at International Hall of Fame in Newport, RI.

Michael Beautyman, Beverly “Kris” Jaeger-Helton, Conway Haynes & Albert “Bootsie” Lewis (inducted together) and Bob Lechten (posthumously) made up this year's class.

Class of 2007 Hall of Famer, Charles "Whitey" Joslin Jr., was also honored as the 2024 Gardner Ward Chase Memorial Award Winner for his lifetime contributions to New England tennis. 

Meet the Class of 2024

Player: Michael Beautyman - Lake Worth Beach, FL (Hometown - Pittsfield, MA)

Beautyman is a decorated player who has earned many No. 1 USTA National and world rankings. Beautyman was presented by longtime friend and fellow New England Hall of Famer, John Mayotte. 

Contributor: Beverly “Kris” Jaeger-Helton - Foxborough, MA

Jaeger-Helton is an esteemed official who has worked all four Grand Slam Championships as well as Olympic Games. Jaeger-Helton was presented by longtime friend, Sheila McKenna. 

Contributor: Conway Haynes - Dorchester, MA

Contributor: Albert “Bootsie” Lewis - Mattapan, MA 

Haynes and Lewis are the dedicated co-founders of Sportsmen's Tennis & Enrichment Center in Dorchester, MA, the first Black tennis facility in the country. Haynes was presented by his son, Jelani Haynes ,and sportsmen's CEO, Toni Wiley, and Lewis was presented by one of his students/players, Naomi Thompson, and Toni Wiley. 

Contributor: Bob Lechten (Hometown - Brookline, MA)

Lechten was a respected coach and club owner. He worked with a number of top players, including multiple New England Tennis Hall of Famers. He was presented by son, William Lechten, and daughter, Bonnie Lechten. 

To read more about the inductees, click here. 

Gardner Ward Chase Memorial Award Winner: Charles "Whitey" Joslin Jr. - Loudon, NH

Joslin is a lifelong player, coach and club owner who coached throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He was presented by his daughter, Laura Joslin-King.

To read more about Joslin, click here. 

The day began with inductees (and award winners) and their families and friends taking photos on the Hall of Fame's historic Horseshoe Court. Photos were followed by a welcome gathering in the USTA Wing and then the ceremony/reception in the Horseshoe Piazza. 

More than 150 guests, including USTA New England and National board and staff members, as well as former Hall of Famers, attended the ceremony. 

Bill Mountford, Director of Tennis at the Hall of Fame, emceed the event. 

Nominations are now open for the Hall of Fame Class of 2025. 

To learn more about the New England Tennis Hall of Fame or to nominate someone, click here. 

To view the complete gallery of photos from the ceremony, click here.