Southern Tennis Foundation

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Mildred F. Southern, North Carolina, 1991

 

Mildred F. Southern, North Carolina, inducted in 1991Mildred Southern

  • Attended Appalachian State University where she took up tennis as a recreational player and later worked for the City of Winston-Salem Recreation Department for 14 years supervising numerous tournaments
  • Began to play competitive tournament tennis at age 40 – winning five national championships – and started a long career as a player and volunteer
  • Organized the Winston-Salem Young Folks Tennis Program involving kids 6 to 18 years old in tennis classes and later organized the Twin City Kiwanis Junior Tournament to give young people a chance to compete. Served as the Winston-Salem Tennis Association President.
  • Served as President of the North Carolina Tennis Association where she introduced “Tennis Weekend” featuring workshops and clinics which attracted over 300 attendees and later introduced the same idea to the USTA Southern Tennis Association. Led the NC Tennis Foundation, where she served as President
  • Served as USTA Southern President and Southern Tennis Foundation Chairman
  • Organized the first Southern Senior Cup with teams from the 9 states competing and ranked #1 or #2 in the South in several different age groups in both singles and doubles
  • Received the Touchstone Award in 1982, the USTA Southern Jacobs Bowl in 1983, the Charles B. Morris Volunteer Service Award in 1998 and was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2013
  • Served on numerous USTA committees and received the USTA Senior Service Award in 1991
  • Due to her and her husband, Harold, generosity and service, the following are named after them: The Harold T. and Mildred F. Southern North Carolina Tennis Center, the stadium court at the Winston-Salem Open was named the Harold and Mildred Southern Stadium Court and the Wake Forest University Tennis Competition Seating was named for The Southern Family.

Newton Cox, Alabama, 1991

Newton Cox, Alabama, inducted in 1991Newton Cox

  • Begin playing tennis at age 16 and was involved in the sport as a player, coach and administrator the remainder of his life
  • Attended the University of Alabama on a tennis scholarship and after a term in the Army returned to Alabama where he coached the men’s tennis team 13 years
  • Coached and taught at the Mobile Tennis Center for over 35 years
  • Served as President of the Mobile Tennis Club, the Alabama Tennis Association, the Southern Tennis Association, the Alabama Professional Tennis Association, the Southern Professional Tennis Association and was Vice President of the United States Professional Tennis Association
  • Tournament Director for numerous prestigious tournaments including the Alabama Open, Senior Bowl Championships, Southern Junior Open and Closed Championships and several men’s and women’s professional circuit tournaments
  • Wrote a weekly column titled “Mobile Tennis Notes” in the Sunday edition of the Mobile Register for over 25 years
  • Received over 20 major awards, including the USTA Southern Jacob’s Bowl and was inducted into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame in 1990

Roscoe Tanner, Tennessee, 1990

Roscoe Tanner, Tennessee, Inducted in 1990Roscoe Tanner

  • Ranked #1 in the nation in the Boy’s 18-and-under and led the Baylor School team to two straight High School National Championships and was considered the best junior player ever from the South
  • Three time All-American at Stanford, runner up in the NCAA Singles Championships twice and won the NCAA Doubles champion once
  • Turned pro in 1972 and over the course of his 10 year career won 15 ATP championships and was runner up in over 20 other tournaments
  • Grand Slam record stands at 90-32, including the singles championship at the 1977 Australian Open, a finalist at the 1979 Wimbledon Championships where he lost a classic 5-set match to Bjorn Borg and a quarterfinalist or semifinalist at 9 other Grand Slam events
  • Represented the United States on the Davis Cup team 5 times, including the 1981 championship team
  • 1981 WCT Tour Champion whose fastest serve was clocked at 153 MPH
  • Inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994

Tommy Bartlett, Tennessee, 1990

Tommy Bartlett, Tennessee, inducted in 1990Tommy Bartlett

  • Captained both the basketball and tennis teams at the University of Tennessee where he was undefeated in singles or doubles
  • Tennis coach for the men and women at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga compiling an overall record of 579-92, an 86 winning percentage
  • While coaching college tennis, he held teaching pro positions at several prestigious tennis facilities including the Chattanooga Tennis Club, Cherokee Country Club and Manker Patten Tennis Club
  • Recognized by fellow coaches and players as an outstanding teacher, coach and competitor winning numerous USPTA awards including Coach of the Year (3 times), Pro of the Year (3 times) and Player of the Year (6 times)
  • Held numerous USPTA offices, including Florida President and Regional Vice-President and was a member of the NCAA Selection Committee
  • Outstanding player winning 27 national championships, 35 Southern championships and 60 state championships
  • Inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, was a member of the first class inducted in the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992 and was inducted in the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993

H.A. Ted Bailey, jr. M.D., Arkansas, 1989

H.A. Ted Bailey, JR. M.D., Arkansas, inducted 1989Ted Bailey

  • Had a distinguished medical and business career in Little Rock, Arkansas, serving as head of the Division of Ear, Nose and Throat at the University of Arkansas Medical School and later as the Chief of Staff of the Baptist Hospital in Little Rock
  • Funded the United States Davis Cup team to play an exhibition at the dedication of the Little Rock Racquet Club in 1968
  • Charter Trustee and President of the Arkansas Tennis Patrons Foundation at its inception in 1970, positions he held for over 20 years
  • Won the Arkansas State Father/Son Championships in 1970 and 1980 with his son, Ted III and ranked #1 in Arkansas in doubles in both the 50’s and 55’s age divisions
  • President of the Arkansas Tennis Association in 1970 and 1971 and established the first office and staff for the association
  • President of the Southern Tennis Association in 1974 and 1975 and served on the USTA Executive Committee for eight years
  • Inducted into the Arkansas Tennis Hall of Fame during its first year in 1979