Tennessee

Pollard Parsons, Tennessee, 1980

Pollard Parsons, Tennessee, inducted in 1980

Southern tennis enthusiast and longtime tournament director.
Friends said Parsons was “about as informed about Nashville tennis as anyone could be.”
Provided the Southern Lawn Tennis Association with a foundation on which today’s programs were developed.
Served as an officer, committee member, and USLTA delegate during a period that lasted from 1929-1955.
Secretary/Treasurer of the Southern Lawn Tennis Association.
Vice President of the United States Lawn Tennis Association.
Passed away at age 88 in Tennessee.

Fran Chandler, Tennessee, inducted in 2015

Finalist at the 1980 TSSAA State Single Tournament in 1980 while attending Jackson Central Merry High School
Played number 1 singles and doubles for Murray State University posting a 52-6 singles record and winning the 1982 Female Athlete of the Year Award
Transferred to the University of Mississippi after her sophomore year, earning All-SEC honors in 1983 and 1984 and winning the 1984 Ole Miss Female Athlete of the Year Award
Won the Equitable National Husband and Wife Mixed Doubles Championships in 1985 2 years after marrying Willie Chandler
Won 12 National Singles Championships and 5 National Doubles Championships, ranked number 1 in the nation 7 years and ranked in the top three 4 other years between 2001 and 2012
Represented the United States on the World Cup Team, winning 3 Margaret Court Cup titles as team captain and won the individual World Doubles title in 2008 and the individual World Singles title in 2010 and 2013 and was ranked number 1 in the International Tennis Federation
Received the 2008 Slew Hester Adult Achievement Award and has been inducted into the Jackson-Madison County Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

Candy Reynolds, Tennessee, inducted in 2011

Tennessee native who attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she was an All-American
Became a professional after college and competed at the highest levels of the WTA tour and won 28 titles including the 1983 French Open Women’s Doubles Championships
Won doubles titles with Martina Navratilova at the 1982 Canadian Open, the 1983 Family Circle Cup and 2 other tournaments and was a finalist at the 1983 U. S. Open
Ranked as high as number 2 in the world in doubles and number 22 in the world in singles
Won doubles titles at the Italian, German, Swiss, Japanese and New Zealand Opens
A member of the “Final 8 Club” for all 4 grand slams having reached the semifinals or better in each event
Inducted into the University of Tennessee Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 1996

Bill Tym, Tennessee, inducted in 2004

Involved in tennis as a player, coach and administrator for over 50 years and regarded as one of the most influential and respected people in the game
Dominant player in Tennessee and attended the University of Florida winning the Southeastern Conference Championship
Joined the men’s professional tour in the late 1960’s and won 10 international titles
Following the pro tour became head pro at Manker Patten in Chattanooga and became known as a top coach and teaching professional, later served as President of the United States Professional Tennis Association, was one of the first members to receive the distinguished Master Professional Classification and was honored with the USPTA Lifetime Achievement Award
Won numerous USTA national championships and repeatedly ranked number 1 in his age group by USTA and USPTA
Coached at Baylor School, the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and Vanderbilt University winning the National Interscholastic Championships, the Southern Conference title, the National AIAW Small College Women’s Championship and making numerous NCAA Championship appearances
Inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame and the USPTA Southern Division Hall of Fame

Jane Crofford, Tennessee, inducted in 1996

Involved in tennis at the local, sectional and national levels
Helped start junior programs in Nashville and became President of the Nashville Tennis Association and the Tennessee Tennis Association
Chaired the Southern Tennis Junior Tennis Council and served as the Tournament Director for the Southern Boys & Girls 16 and 18 Closed Championships for several years
Served on the USTA Senior Tennis Council and the Sanction and Schedule Committee
Began playing competitively in her mid-30’s and won over 40 national championships
Represented the United States at multiple international team events and was World Tennis Magazine’s Player of the Year in 1968
Inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993