The Southern Tennis Foundation and USTA Southern announced two tennis luminaries have been voted into the 2021 class of the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame during a recent meeting of the HOF Selection Committee. When concerns about COVID-19 have eased, they will be formally placed into the hall during an upcoming USTA Southern Annual Meeting.
Mike McNulty, of New Orleans, has been a dedicated volunteer for four levels of the USTA, starting with the founding of the Lake Area Community Tennis Association and leading USTA Louisiana and USTA Southern as President. Following a term as USTA First President, McNulty currently has the post of USTA President-Elect in anticipation of his election as USTA Chairman of the Board and President for the 2021-22 term.
Susan Sloane, of Lexington, Ky. was a Kentucky high school champion in the sixth grade and a five-time USTA junior champion. While playing on the WTA tour, she rose to No. 19 in the world and won the 1988 WTA Virginia Slims of Nashville singles title. She has been inducted into the Kentucky Tennis and Kentucky Athletic halls of fame.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lucy Garvin Southern Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will not be held in January 2021. McNulty and Sloane are now scheduled to be honored in the 2022 ceremony and banquet. The ceremony is traditionally conducted during the USTA Southern Annual Meeting in Atlanta.
Mike McNulty (click for full bio)
Family Influence Fueled Rise to USTA Helm
- Currently serving USTA President-Elect and is slated to be elected USTA Chairman of the Board and President for the 2021-22 term after serving as USTA First Vice President.
- Elected as USTA Southern President in 2011. Also served as Southern Tennis Foundation Chair and as Section Delegate to the USTA.
- Served as USTA Louisiana President.
- Inducted into the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame.
- Chaired the Truist Altanta Open Tournament Committee (called the BB&T Atlanta Open at that time).
- Honored with USTA Southern awards: Jacobs Bowl, the Charlie B. Morris Service Award and the President’s Award.
- His family is the recipient of the USTA Louisiana Mickey McNulty Family of the Year Award.
- Winner of the Louisiana Father/Son Championship with his father, Mickey.
- Named to the Best Lawyers in America-Insurance Law and Personal Injury and Best Lawyers in Louisiana.
Susan Sloane (click for full bio)
Love of Tennis Drove Her to WTA title and No. 19 Ranking
- Captured three Kentucky high school singles titles from sixth through eighth grades
- 1 in USTA Southern girls’ 12s at the ages of 9 and 10
- Winner of five USTA national girls’ titles
- Trained at the Bollettieri IMG Academy
- Won the 1988 WTA Virginia Slims of Nashville singles title
- Reached No. 19 in the world in 1989
- Inducted into the Kentucky Tennis and Kentucky Athletic halls of fame
- Former owner of the Kentucky Tennis Academy
- Teaches at the Top Seed Tennis Club