NAMED FOR USTA SOUTHERN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & COO WHO PASSED IN APRIL 2022
The Southern Tennis Foundation (STF), the charitable arm of United States Tennis Association (USTA) Southern Section, announces the establishment of the John Callen Scholarship in 2021.
The STF mourns the loss of our beloved John, who passed away on April 3, 2022. Frances, his wife of 45 years, encourages donations to the John Callen Scholarship in his honor.
In 1989, Callen was named USTA Southern Executive Director and later was named its Chief Operating Officer. In June, 2021, Callen announced his retirement. He worked through March 2022. He was currently the longest serving USTA section executive director.
Callen was a member of four Halls of Fame: the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame (inducted in 2013), the Alabama Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame (2000), and the Georgia Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame (2004). He was also an honorary member of the Georgia Professional Tennis Association and member of their Hall of Fame.
Over the span of more than a half century, Callen’s contributions to Southern tennis run the gamut of the tennis world. Starting as a noted junior and college player, he also was a standout coach, volunteer and, ultimately, a leading tennis executive.
Callen grew up in Birmingham, Ala., where he was Student Body President, Athletic Club President, a member of the National Honor Society and a varsity tennis player who went undefeated in high school dual matches.
He went on to play at the collegiate level at Georgia Tech from 1970-1974, where he served as co-captain and played No. 1 to No. 4 singles and No. 1 to No. 2 doubles over his four-year career. In 1974, he began a 15-year tennis pro career as Head Tennis Professional at Big Canoe (Ga.), Director of Tennis at the Indian Hills Country Club and Athletic Director at Standard Club. Callen continued to hone his skills as a player, winning numerous Southern tennis titles and reaching the No. 1 ranking in the section for multiple years across many age groups.
Callen, of Johns Creek, Ga., was dedicated to volunteerism in the Southern Section. He was a founder of the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame, founding member of the Georgia Tennis Patrons Foundation and founding member of Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) Foundation. He served as Georgia Tennis Association President from 1982-1983. He was also elected to ALTA’s Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of the Georgia Professional Tennis Association. Callen coached winning Georgia Junior Davis Cup teams. He served as USTA Southern Vice President along with being a member of numerous USTA committees.
Since his hiring to lead USTA Southern, the section’s membership rose to a high of more than 187,000, representing 25 percent of the national membership. During that time, the section has been at the forefront of growing grassroots tennis, including fostering USTA League expansion, Junior Team Tennis formation and growth, and hosting an array of junior and adult tournaments in the section’s nine states. The section has a robust adult program, including the largest Combo and Mixed Doubles leagues in the country. As Southern Tennis Foundation Executive Director, Callen oversaw the giving of approximately $5 million, notably to NJTL programs, junior tournament players and college students.
Callen was survived by Frances, and daughters Ashley, Melanie and Courtney, along with three grandchildren.