South Carolina

Jorge Andrew, South Carolina, 2022

There are probably not many tennis players in the Lexington/Columbia, S.C., area who haven’t had the pleasure of working with Jorge Andrew.

Connecting with people comes naturally to the native of Caracas, Venezuela. Andrew is the longtime Director of Tennis for the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission. He manages two large facilities: the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center (30 courts) and Lexington County Tennis Complex (21 courts). Both facilities host major national, sectional and state junior, adult and ITF tournaments.

Andrew, 69, played on the ATP Tour for more than 10 years and was ranked No. 61 in singles and No. 69 in doubles. His career spanned three decades, from 1968 to 1982. He had singles wins over Rod Laver, Guillermo Vilas, Dick Stockton and Raul Ramirez. The Davis Cup was one of his passions and he played for Venezuela for 18 years, serving as captain for two years.

He was one of the original eight PTR International Master Professionals in 1999 and reached the USPTA Master Professional in 2003. He is the second person in the world to attain the highest level in both teaching organizations. In addition to serving as the Professional Tennis Registry President from 2012-15 and USPTA Southern Secretary/Treasurer 2004-08, he received the following awards: 1991 PTR Professional of the Year, 2003 USPTA Southern Pro of the Year and South Carolina PTR and USPTA Pro of the Year (twice).

Andrew’s long list of USTA volunteer accomplishments include:

USTA Southern Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2019-present
USTA Local Play & Competition Committee, 2021-22
USTA Nominating Committee, 2019-20
Chair and Vice-Chair of USTA Southern Tennis Pro Committee, 2014-18
USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis Committee, 2013-18
USTA Local Play & Competition Committee, 2015-18
USTA Hispanic Task Force, 2015-18
Vice-Chair of USTA Junior Team Tennis Committee, 2013-18
USTA Davis Cup, Fed Cup and International Committee, 2011-13
USTA Nominating Committee, 2009-10
USTA Hispanic Participation Task Force, 2007-08
USTA Tennis in The Public Parks Committee, 2005-08
USTA Southern Junior Competition Committee, 2003-05

Among his many awards, one is most prominent: the 2016 International Hall of Fame Education Merit Award (pictured with International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO Todd Martin). Additionally, he received the 2009 Tennis Industry Association Service Award and the 2008 USTA South Carolina Lucy Garvin Volunteer of the Year award.

March 25, 2017; Orlando, FL USA: International Tennis Hall of Fame Annual Awards
Jorge Andrew – Tennis Educational Merit Award with Todd Martin

He is being inducted into his fourth Hall of Fame, as he is currently a member of the USTA South Carolina Hall of Fame (2012), Texas A&M at Corpus Christi Hall of Fame (2016) and USPTA Southern Hall of Fame (2019).

Former USTA Southern President and Southern Tennis Hall of Fame member Rex Maynard wrote, “You’ll find he checks every box of the criteria for selection, ‘Accomplishments in tennis as a player, coach, tournament official, teaching pro, administrator, or volunteer,’ I doubt there are many others who can say they have done all of this.”

Andrew and his wife, Ana, live in West Columbia, S.C., and have two sons, Juan, a firefighter, and Rodrigo, a PTR and USPTA Certify Tennis Professional.

Highlights

Ranked No. 61 In singles and No. 69 in doubles in the world with singles victories over Rod Laver, Guillermo Vilas, Dick Stockton and Raul Ramirez
Played Davis Cup for Venezuela for 18 years, serving as captain for two years
Inducted into his fourth Hall of Fame
Awarded the International Hall of Fame Education Merit Award (2016) and the 2009 Tennis Industry Association Service Award
Longtime Director of Tennis for the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission
One of the original eight PTR International Master Professionals in 1999 and reached the USPTA Master Professional in 2003
Served as the Professional Tennis Registry President, 2012-15

Dan Santorum, South Carolina, 2018

CEO of Professional Tennis Registry

Most people who are cruising down I-95 and headed to the famed Florida – Georgia football game don’t have second thoughts about their destination.

Dan Santorum did.

Thirty-three years ago, he took exit 28 in South Carolina, changing his career and his path to induction into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame.

“I was going to a Florida-Georgia game to meet my buddies that I went to school with at Florida,” Santorum said. “I saw the sign for Hilton Head Island. I made a last second turn and got off the exit.”

When he arrived at the club of PTR founder and President Dennis van Der Meer and his wife, Pat, they were both there. Although Santorum had already expressed interest in a coaching job with the famed tennis coach, organizer and advocate, Santorum was thrilled with the reaction he received.

He remembers Pat saying, “I was just thinking of you.” Then he realized that his decision to create an impromptu, uninvited job interview showed more than the usual amount of interest. The year was 1984, and he took Pat’s job offer without blinking.

Santorum taught for two years traveling the world with Dennis and Pat. Van der Meer was looking for an executive director and his search was coming up dry. “I’ll give it a try,” said Santorum. The next day, the Butler, PA, native was in charge of the fledgling organization with a charge to make it grow . . . and grow it he did.

As CEO of PTR for the past 31 years, Dan leads the world’s largest global organization of tennis teachers/coaches. Santorum has conducted more than 400 PTR educational workshops on six continents, 45 countries & 200+ cities. He is proud that he is the first person to conduct tennis coaches’ workshops in all 50 US states and meeting so many wonderful and dedicated tennis professionals and coaches along the way.

Former USTA and USTA Southern President Lucy Garvin remarked, “Dan will quickly tell you it was a blessing beyond words to have had Dennis as his mentor and friend. He used many of the skills that he acquired from Dennis and developed his own talents to grow the organization into the wonderful organization that it is today.”

In the early 1990s, Santorum created the PTR ACE Program, whose first spokesperson was none other than the legendary Arthur Ashe. Today, the ACE program, which continues to excel, has led to thousands of coaches of color becoming educated and certified to teach tennis in the USA. In 2001, he developed a successful program aimed at increasing the number of young tennis teaching professionals in the United States — PTR on Campus. In 2010, he provided the vision for a new education and certification pathway that helped revolutionize the profession. During his tenure, PTR has grown from an organization of 2,500 members in 68 countries to an organization with more than 16,000 members in 125 countries.

Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Roy Barth said, “In the past ten years since Dennis fell ill, Dan has been the face and the visionary of the PTR. He was ahead of the curve on implementing the 10 & under program as well as developing five educational pathways for pros to meet their individual educational goals.”

A dedicated USTA volunteer for the past 28 years, he has served on several USTA, USTA Southern and USTA South Carolina committees. He’s a member of the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame and the USTA Middle States Hall of Fame. Additionally, he is the recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Educational Merit Award and the ITF Service to the Game Award.

Santorum is one of two current USTA Southern presidential appointments and is a member of its Tennis Professionals Committee. He also sits on numerous non-profit tennis industry boards including the International Tennis Hall of Fame, National Public Parks Tennis Association and Tennis Industry Association.

Santorum holds a B.S. degree in Business Management from the University of Florida. He and his wife, Missy, live in Hilton Head Island where they raised their three children – Caroline, Allie, and Michael.

Dan Santorum, South Carolina, 2018

Served as PTR’s Executive Director since 1986
Also inducted into South Carolina Tennis and USTA Middle States halls of fame
Created the PTR ACE Program, which led to recruiting thousands of coaches of color
Serves as a USTA Southern Presidential Appointee and member of the Tennis Professional Committee
Recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Educational Merit
Board member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, National Public Parks Tennis Association and Tennis Industry Association
Recipient of the ITF Service to the Game Award.

J. Allen Morris, South Carolina, North Carolina, 1985

J. Allen Morris, South Carolina, North Carolina, inducted in 1985

Attended Georgia Tech on football scholarship but left to play tennis in South Carolina.
Won four South Carolina State intercollegiate tennis titles at Presbyterian College.
Ranked number 16 in the United States and quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 1956.
Won the North Carolina Open Singles Championships seven times between 1958-67.
Head Tennis Coach at the University of North Carolina from 1980-93.
Led his UNC team to ACC Championships in 1990 and 1992.
Member of seven Halls of Fames.

Rex Maynard, South Carolina, 2016

Rex Maynard is a man with a big personality and an even bigger heart. In 2016, he will reach his 40th anniversary of volunteering for the USTA.

While it’s easy to measure the length of his selfless giving to the sport, it’s harder to fathom how much he has done to support tennis in his hometown, his state and in the United States. He began as a local volunteer in his hometown of Belton, South Carolina, population 4,200. Maynard has risen to serve as USTA Southern President and twice as USTA Delegate for USTA Southern. In 2015, he received the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor bestowed on citizens of South Carolina.

Outside of tennis circles, Maynard is known as the owner of Maynard Home Furnishings and for appearing in television ads in the upstate of South Carolina using his trademark introduction, “Hello Nice People.” Additionally, there are few in the USTA Southern family that haven’t been touched with Maynard’s exuberance and contagious let’s-have-fun attitude.

Maynard has served as the Palmetto Championships Tournament Director for 35 years. The Palmetto, which was established in 1957 and serves as the South Carolina junior qualifying tournament, won the USTA Southern Junior Tournament of the Year in 1990 and 2008. Dedicated to his hometown’s involvement in tennis, he has also served as President of the Belton Tennis Association for several terms and presently serves as Treasurer. The BTA received the 2013 USTA Southern Community Tennis Association of the Year Award. He established the Hall of Fame Classic for high school girls in 1987; the tournament celebrated its 29th anniversary in 2015 and was named the 2012 USTA Southern Team Event of the Year. Maynard most recently started the South Carolina Men’s Collegiate Championships in 2014 further confirming Belton’s reputation as the “Tennis Capital of South Carolina.”

Maynard has attended and enlivened every USTA Southern Annual Meeting since 1989. He was elected to the Executive Committee member in 2001 and became a Vice-President in 2003. Six years later (in 2009), he was elected USTA Southern CEO and President. During his term as president, Maynard spearheaded several successful projects including bringing big-time professional tennis back to Georgia with the purchase of BB&T Atlanta Open. He personally made it his mission to shake the hand of every ticketholder in its debut year of 2010. He served on the tournament oversight committee for many years and was the Co-Chair of volunteers for the 2015 event.

Maynard was awarded the USTA Southern’s Jacobs Bowl in 2010, the President’s Award in 2011 and the Charles B. Morris Jr. Service Award in 2012. Maynard is currently on the USTA Southern Board and Human Resources Committee. He has served on a long list of USTA Southern committees since 1989.

In 2001, he was inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, which he helped establish. He is also the recipient of the following USTA South Carolina honors: Family of the Year, the President’s Award twice, the Junior Council Volunteer Service Award, the Lucy Garvin Volunteer of the Year Award and the District Volunteer Service Award. He was President of USTA South Carolina in 1994 and 1995. Maynard is a former Chairman and current Treasurer of the South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation and has served as the Historian for the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame located in the Belton depot since it opened in 1983.

On the national scene, Maynard was honored with the 2014 USTA Eve F. Kraft Community Service Award. He has served as a volunteer at the US Open in 1995 and 2003. Maynard has served on a number of national committees, including Publications, Junior Ranking, Community Development, and Youth Competition and Training. He is currently serving his second two-year term on the USTA Nominating Committee.

One of Maynard’s passions is his service to the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation. He is a past trustee and chairman and presently serves as an advisor. Over many years he has worked diligently to increase donations, including spearheading the production and distribution of new funding, communications and marketing. He is also a driving force in establishing a foundation website.

Induction into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame

Rex Maynard, South Carolina, inducted in 2016

Volunteered to help with the Palmetto Championships in his hometown of Belton in 1976 and has served as the Tournament Director since 1980
Served 2 terms as President of the Belton Tennis Association, founded the Hall of Fame Classic girls high school tournament in 1987, the South Carolina Men’s Collegiate Championships in 2014 and was instrumental in starting the Southern SPUD tournament in 2011
Led 3 major 5-figure fundraising drives to rebuild tennis facilities in the community, including a $250,000 6-court public park project in 2014
Helped establish the South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation as its first chair in 1982 and open the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983, volunteer editor of South Carolina Tennis Magazine for 4 years and President of the South Carolina Tennis Association in 1994 and 1995
Member or chairman of USTA Southern committees since 1990, elected to the Board in 2001, President in 2009 (when Southern purchased an ATP tournament sanction), USTA Delegate in 2011 and 2015 and Patrons Chair
Served on USTA committees since 1991 including Publications, Community Development, Junior Ranking, Junior Competition and Nominating and was USTA Southern Delegate and a member of the USTA Executive Committee
Received volunteer service awards in South Carolina (President’s Award and Lucy Garvin Award), Southern Section (President’s Award, Jacobs Bowl and Charles Morris Award) and USTA (Eve Kraft Award), and was inducted in the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001

Brenda Carter, South Carolina, 2015

Brenda Carter, South Carolina, inducted in 2015

Played intramurals at Georgia Southern University
Competed in adult tournaments since the 1980’s, moved to Charleston in 1999 and made her first major mark winning the 55’s singles and doubles titles at the 2001 National Hardcourt Championships, the first of many national singles and doubles titles
Ranked number 1 in her age division 8 times from 2001 to 2013 (and within the top 5 the 4 remaining years), won the 2013 65’s singles national championships on 4 different surfaces (clay, hard, grass and indoor, dubbed the “Golden Slam”) and won doubles titles in 3 of 4 championship events
Won a World Singles title in 2007 and also has a World Doubles title and a World Mixed Doubles title
President of the National Senior Women’s Tennis Association 2009 to 2011 and served two terms on the USTA Adult/Senior Competition Committee
Played on numerous South Carolina Senior Cup, Southern Intersectional and National teams and captained the champion United States 65’s team at the 2014 Kitty Godfree Cup
USTA South Carolina Adult Player of the Year twice (2001 and 2006), USTA Southern Slew Hester Adult Achievement Award twice (2003 and 2011) as well as the NSWTA Margaret Russo Sportsmanship Award and the Betty Gray Washington Sportsmanship Award and was inducted into the Georgia Southern Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 and the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009