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Bill Tym, Tennessee, 2004

Bill Tym, Tennessee, inducted in 2004

Involved in tennis as a player, coach and administrator for over 50 years and regarded as one of the most influential and respected people in the game
Dominant player in Tennessee and attended the University of Florida winning the Southeastern Conference Championship
Joined the men’s professional tour in the late 1960’s and won 10 international titles
Following the pro tour became head pro at Manker Patten in Chattanooga and became known as a top coach and teaching professional, later served as President of the United States Professional Tennis Association, was one of the first members to receive the distinguished Master Professional Classification and was honored with the USPTA Lifetime Achievement Award
Won numerous USTA national championships and repeatedly ranked number 1 in his age group by USTA and USPTA
Coached at Baylor School, the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and Vanderbilt University winning the National Interscholastic Championships, the Southern Conference title, the National AIAW Small College Women’s Championship and making numerous NCAA Championship appearances
Inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame and the USPTA Southern Division Hall of Fame

Nancy Yeargin Furman, South Carolina, inducted in 2004

A star for the Greenville High School and Christ Church School tennis teams, leading both to several state championships and was consistently ranked number 1 in South Carolina and the top 5 in the South in her age division from 1968 to 1973, including number 1 in the South in the Girl’s 18U in 1972 and number 1 in the nation in the Girl’s 16U and 18U
Won 6 singles and 2 doubles titles at the Palmetto Championships in Belton as well as many other state and section championships
Played at Rollins College and won the Southern Collegiate Sportsmanship Award in 1974, 1975 and 1976, named All-American in 1976 and 1977, Scholar Athlete of the Year and team captain
Member of the 1974 USTA Junior Wightman Cup and 1976 and 1977 USTA Junior Federation Cup teams
Played the WTA women’s professional circuit from 1977 to 1985 and competed in all 4 grand slams, was consistently ranked in the top 100 in the world (with a high ranking of number 53) and in 1982 was selected to receive the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award
After retiring from the tour became the Head Tennis Professional at the Greenville Country Club and was name a National USTA Junior Coach
Inducted into the Rollins College Hall of Fame in 1988 and the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989

Edgar A. “Ned” Neely JR, Georgia, inducted in 2003 Edgar A Neely

Started playing tennis at age 8 and won local, state and section champion-ships in the early 1950’s, culminating with his first national singes and doubles titles at the 1955 National Boy’s 15U Singles Championship followed by a title at the National Junior Clay Court Championships
Finalist at the 1956 National Interscholastic Championships and ranked 8th in the nation in the Boy’s 18U in 1958
2-time All-American at Georgia Tech leading the Yellow Jackets to the 1960 Southeastern Conference team title, winning SEC championships in singles and doubles and finishing with a doubles record of 55-13
After serving in the Marine Corps, joined the professional world tennis circuit making 3 appearances at Wimbledon, 5 at the U. S. Open and playing in every major tennis stadium in the United States, Europe and Australia and ranked number 11 in United States Men’s Singles in the mid-1960’s
Gave up the professional circuit to become a lawyer and primarily competed in local and state tournaments since the late 1960’s
President of the Georgia Tennis Foundation, board member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and established the Tennis Academic Program to provide academic and tennis instruction for disadvantaged children ages 8 to 12 at community centers throughout Atlanta
Inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 1969 and the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991

Leslie Clarke Longshore JR, Alabama, inducted in 2003

Played for Tulane University where he won the 1946 Southeastern Conference singles championship
A North Carolina state singles champion for 3 years, an Alabama state singles champion once and was ranked in the top 10 in the south for 10 years, including one year as number 1
Competed in the United States National Championships (now known as the U. S. Open) between 1952 and 1959 and reached the round of 16 in 1958
Coached college tennis for 5 at years Clemson University and 13 years at Samford University
Worked as a teaching professional and founded the Southern Professional Tennis Association in 1962 and served as President for 7 years
President of the United States Professional Tennis Association in 1974 and 1975
President of the Alabama Tennis Association and helped found the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame in 1986 and was inducted into his state’s hall of fame in 1991

Ann Etheredge, Alabama, inducted in 2003

One of the greatest women’s players to come out of Alabama and the south winning 22 USTA Gold Balls and 2 USTA Silver Balls
Member of numerous Alabama Senior Cup and Southern Intersectional championship teams
Played on the winning United States Young Cup and Margaret Court Cup teams
Held the number 1 national ranking in both singles and doubles in several age divisions
Instrumental in opening the Pelham Racquet Club, a public facility with 20 clay courts and 5 hard courts where she served as Director of Tennis
Considered to be one of the top instructors in the South
Became the youngest person ever inducted into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame in 1997