2019

Mary Hatfield, 2019, Georgia

Exacting Professional & Volunteer

Mary Hatfield has come full circle. She started in the USTA family as a volunteer, moved into the office as a staffer, and is now back giving her time as a committee chairman.

In all those roles – paid and unpaid – Hatfield excelled as a consummate professional.

Beginning in her local community, Hatfield made contributions on the state, sectional and national levels.

A resident of McDonough, Ga., Hatfield spent the early part of her career in the classroom, teaching in middle school. Away from school, her volunteer energy was concentrated in developing the Macon Tennis Association’s (MTA) presence in the community. She was instrumental in focusing the MTA and other community tennis associations (CTA) on delivering a variety of tennis program. Also, she encouraged USTA Southern to mentor CTAs.

She was the recipient of three MTA awards: the Fred Hill Community Service Award, the Official of the Year Award and one accolade that is named for her – the Mary Hatfield Spirit of Tennis Award. The Macon Convention and Visitors Bureau recognized her with two awards: the Macon Believer Award and the VIP Award.

Randy Stephens, a former USTA Southern President & CEO and 2014 Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, spoke about Hatfield’s contribution to their community: “Mary was the first paid employee of the Macon Tennis Association. I believe she was paid $100 a week, which meant she made about 10 cents an hour! She professionalized the way community tennis associations should be run – a true trailblazer for CTAs across the country. Mary’s contributions to the growth of tennis in Macon were tremendous and we will always be grateful to her. Being inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame is an honor well deserved.”

Tapped to help on a statewide basis, she served on five USTA Georgia committees, chairing the USTA Adult League and Community Development committees. She served on the Board of Directors for six years, rising to President and Secretary.

In a 2014 interview, Hatfield told this story about running a junior tournament: “I remember getting reamed out by a father because we ran out of parmesan cheese. It was kind of funny because it must’ve been in the latter ’90s because he was going to send a letter to the president of the Georgia Tennis Association. I handed him my card so he would have my address … since I was the president. Then, for weeks afterwards, every time I turned around somebody was bringing me these little packages of parmesan cheese as a joke.”

Hatfield was honored with five USTA Georgia awards: Ruth Lay Award, Community Service Award, Tournament Director of the Year, League Coordinator of the Year and Educational Merit Award.

USTA Southern also relied on her expertise. She was named to the USTA Southern Board of Directors as a Delegate at Large. She was the chair of the State Presidents and Community Development committees, and also served on the USTA Adult League Committee. She is the recipient of the section’s Jacobs Bowl (its highest honor), Gerrie Rothwell and Educational Merit awards.

On the national level, Hatfield was honored with the USTA Eve Kraft Community Service Award. She has served as Community Development Chairman, along with being a member of the Junior Recreation Committee.

For 11 years, Hatfield worked in the USTA Southern junior department with Bill Ozaki and Sandy Hastings, completing a troika of veteran Southern junior experts. She retired in 2013. Originally, she was tasked with overseeing the use of TennisLink in the section. Recounting the hiring process, Hatfield said the USTA Southern Executive Board wanted Executive Director & COO John Callen “to hire somebody that would be helping our people with [TennisLink] customers, etc. and the committee told him to go find somebody. Two weeks later he called me.”

Later she was assigned to promote a program that was one of her great passions: Junior Team Tennis.

Hatfield is now hard at work again, once more as a volunteer. Based on her years of heading the program, she chaired the USTA Georgia Junior Team Tennis Committee before being named to the similar position as the USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis Committee Chairman and the Grants Subcommittee Chair. Currently she volunteers on Georgia’s Adult League Committee.

She noted, “I enjoy playing [USTA] League tennis. Since retiring I’ve served as captain of two or three teams a season. Of all the awards, the greatest accomplishment to me is the friends I’ve had the opportunity to make.

In his nomination of Hatfield, Hastings wrote, “Off court, both professionally and personally, Mary sought to live a life of high standards and, as a result of that, in working with her, you too were held to that high standard. She was not content in achieving at a lower standard and would not settle for those who worked with her to do so either. When you sat down to discuss an issue with Mary, through her personal understanding of how to correctly address a situation and how it should be handled, you came away more knowledgeable and a better person. Her continual efforts in encouraging you to properly manage the multitude and variety of situations propelled each of us who worked with her to a higher professional level.”

Hastings’ tribute echoes many who worked with Hatfield throughout her tennis career.

Mary Hatfield, Georgia, 2019

Honored with the USTA Eve Kraft Community Service Award
Recipient of the USTA Southern Jacobs Bowl (its highest honor), Gerrie Rothwell and Educational Merit awards
Honored with five USTA Georgia awards: Ruth Lay Award, Community Service Award, Tournament Director of the Year, League Coordinator of the Year and Educational Merit Award
Developed the Macon Tennis Association’s presence in the community, an example of an outstanding local organization for other CTAs in the country
Named to the USTA Southern Board of Directors as a Delegate at Large
Chaired the USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis Committee Chairman, USTA Southern Grants Subcommittee and the USTA Georgia Junior Team Tennis Committee
For 11 years, Hatfield worked in the USTA Southern junior department as the Manager of Junior Team Tennis & TennisLink

Julie Ditty, 2019, Kentucky

Kentucky Standout at All Levels

Here is a little known but telling fact about Julie Ditty: She played high school tennis – in the second grade!

From then on, her accomplishments grew with her.

The Kentucky resident would go on to success at the high school, college and professional levels, finishing with a top WTA ranking of No. 89 in singles and No. 65 in doubles and earning the honor of representing her country on the U.S. Fed Cup team.

Former No. 4 player Mary Joe Fernández, who coached Ditty as Fed Cup captain, was among the advocates supporting her nomination to the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame.

Before she was a high-school star at Ashland’s Russell High School, Ditty was ranked No. 1 in the country in girls’ 14s singles. She also was No. 1 in girls’ 16s doubles and 21-and-under in women’s amateur singles. She won 12 national juniors doubles championships plus another in singles.

In high school, the three-time state champion was named Kentucky High School Female Athlete of the Year.

Ditty starred for four years with the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team, leading the squad to the school’s first-ever national championship appearance in 2001. Her 114 singles wins is second-best in Vanderbilt history. Awarded with the 1999 Tennessee Amateur Athlete of the Year and the Vanderbilt University Female Athlete of the Year, she had 31 wins in 1999, the best single-season mark for a Commodore. An All-American in 1999-2001, she was named to the Academic All-SEC team and earned a bachelor of science degree in early childhood education. In 2009, Ditty was honored with entry into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame.

Geoff MacDonald, who coached her at Vanderbilt, wrote a first-person report when Ditty competed in a doubles match versus Serena and Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2010. “She was the first great junior player that I recruited to Vanderbilt,” MacDonald recalled. “With Julie, I also felt a pride in her for raising the level of her game in her senior year and leading a young team to the national championships.”

Starting in 1999, Ditty began a pro career that would land her a record 39 singles and doubles crowns on the USTA Pro Circuit, more than any other player. In 2005 and 2006, she racked up 12 doubles titles, then had her most successful tournament at the 2008 $75,000 Albuquerque event, where she won both singles and doubles.

She won four singles titles in USTA Southern: Raleigh, Hilton Head Island and Georgia’s Sea Island and Lawrenceville, where she was runner-up twice.

Also, in 2008, she competed in the main draws of Wimbledon and the Australian and French Opens.

One of Ditty’s top accomplishments was being named to the 2009 U.S. Fed Cup team. She teamed with Liezel Huber, winning the clinching doubles match 6-2, 6-3 to defeat Argentina and send the U.S. into the semifinals.
Ditty has remained in the world of tennis after her retirement from active play. Her positions have included Middle Tennessee State University women’s assistant coach, Vanderbilt University women’s tennis volunteer coach, tennis pro at the Louisville Tennis Club and Director of Tennis at the Bellefonte Country Club in Ashland.

Currently, she is the Director of Tennis at Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington. She serves as a USTA Kentucky Board member and Athlete Advisory Council Rep to the United States Olympic Committee. Additionally, she volunteers as the USTA Vice Chair of the USTA Davis Cup, Fed Cup and Olympic Team Events Committee. She was inducted into the USTA Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.

“Her extensive career as a player, teacher, volunteer and role model makes her an obvious candidate for this honor. As a player, Julie has a long list of accomplishments throughout the state, region and nation,” noted USTA Kentucky Executive Director Jason Miller. “In addition, Julie is a dedicated teacher, coach and volunteer. She provides countless hours of instruction, support and leadership to USTA Kentucky and the Louisville tennis community year-round.”

There is no doubt that Ditty is among the best players to ever come out of the Bluegrass State.

Julie Ditty, Kentucky, 2019

World ranking of No. 89 in singles and No. 65 in doubles
Won deciding doubles match in U.S. Fed Cup quarterfinals in 2009
Holds record with 39 singles and doubles crowns on the USTA Pro Circuit
Inducted into the USTA Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008 and into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009
Her 114 singles wins is second-best in Vanderbilt history
Named All-American while at Vanderbilt in 1999-2001
Awarded with the 1999 Tennessee Amateur Athlete of the Year and the Vanderbilt University Female Athlete of the Year

Gordon A. Smith, Georgia, 2019

Leading the USTA as Volunteer and Executive

The pinnacle of Gordon Smith’s leadership at the top of the USTA national staff may be the complete transformation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including two roofed stadiums. As USTA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Smith also oversaw the construction of 100 courts and the nation’s largest and most advanced tennis facility at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. However, the many building blocks that led him on an outstanding career in tennis were in place decades earlier.

A native of Brevard, N.C., Smith grew up in Rome, Ga., honing his game by playing on some courts that didn’t have fences. By the time he attended Darlington School, he was on the path to be state high school champion and the top ranked junior in the State in singles and doubles.

His next step to tennis glory led to the University of Georgia, where he played under legendary coach and 1981 Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Dan Magill. During Smith’s four years at UGA, from 1972-75, the Bulldogs were four-time SEC champions. He served as captain and was a two-time All-SEC selection. As a senior, he also captured the conference #1 doubles title with current UGA coach Manny Diaz.

Smith stayed at the University and earned his Juris Doctorate with honors from the Georgia Law School. His accomplishments at, and beyond, UGA were showcased in 2014 when he received the Bill Hartman Award, which recognizes former University of Georgia student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence in their profession and/or in service to others for 20 or more years of superior performance after graduation.

While working as an attorney in Atlanta, Smith rose to senior partner of King & Spalding, which was cited as one of the top 50 law firms in the world. Former USTA Southern President Mike McNulty noted in his nomination of Smith that he was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, recognized in multiple editions of “The Best Lawyers in America,” and named in a variety of listings including Who’s Who Legal, Chambers and Partners, and Georgia Super Lawyers, among others.

Smith kept his hand in the game and volunteered at USTA Southern for two decades, receiving the Jacobs Bowl as the Southern Section’s outstanding volunteer in 1995. He served as USTA Southern’s counsel for many years and served on multiple committees before rising through positions on the Board of Directors. In 2003, Smith was elected President of the Southern Section. He also served multiple terms as a Trustee of the Southern Tennis Foundation.

Smith’s recognition soon ranged far beyond the South as he volunteered on USTA committees, including the Budget, Compensation, Public Affairs and Strategic Planning Committees. He served as Chair of the Constitution and Rules Committee and as Vice Chair of the Grievance Committee. He became a Director at Large on the USTA Board of Directors and served three years as Vice President. He also served on the USTA Tennis and Education Foundation.

He was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2010, the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012, the Rome -Floyd (Ga.) County Sports Hall of Fame and was named a Darlington School Distinguished Alumnus in 2011.

In November 2007, Smith dove into full-time service to tennis when he accepted the post of USTA Executive Director and COO. His title of COO was elevated to CEO in early 2018.

McNulty wrote, “He has overseen the introduction and roll out of the USTA’s historic Net Generation and 10 and Under Tennis initiatives and has been at the helm for the unprecedented growth of the US Open, which has posted increasing annual attendance and revenue.” McNulty also cited the building of the USTA National Campus and the establishment of two ATP tournaments in Southern states (the BB&T Atlanta Open and the Winston-Salem Open) as extraordinary achievements.

Recent improvements to the fan-friendly atmosphere of the US Open have been roundly lauded by visitors and the media. Most notable among these USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center improvements were adding a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium and a second retractable cover over the newly rebuilt Louis Armstrong Stadium. Among the other instant favorites are the new Grandstand, Court 17, expanded walkways and improved dining choices.

Not all of Smith’s leadership has been about tennis courts. During his continuing tenure, the USTA has worked tirelessly to promote diversity on and off the court. Also, in an effort to expand the reach of the sport, there has been an increased focus on programs that attract juniors and young adults.

USTA Southern Executive Director John Callen noted that Smith touched so many aspects of greatness, he was an excellent player, tireless talented volunteer, outstanding lawyer, thoughtful leader, and a great family man.
In her support letter for Smith’s nomination, 2017 Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Pat Devoto wrote, “In his life as a community volunteer, no one has served in more varied posts or with more distinction than Gordon.”
There are many throughout the South who couldn’t agree more.

Gordon A. Smith, Georgia, 2019

Accepted the post of USTA Executive Director and COO (which was later elevated to CEO)
Led the transformation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including two roofed stadiums
Oversaw the construction of the nation’s largest tennis facility at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
Served as USTA Director at Large on the USTA Board of Directors and three years as Vice President
Four-time SEC champion while playing for the University of Georgia, from 1972-75, served as captain and was a two-time All-SEC selection
Awarded the Jacobs Bowl as the USTA Southern outstanding volunteer and elected USTA Southern President & CEO in 2003
Inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2010, the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Rome -Floyd (Ga.) County Sports Hall of Fame