Player/Contributor

Off the court, Bob leased the largest private tennis club in New York State in the ’70s and managed his family-owned sleep-over tennis Academy in the 80′s.  He then helped to create and was National Program Director for the Ashe/Bollettieri “Cities” Tennis Program (ABC) which later became the Arthur Ashe Safe Passage Foundation.   As CEO, this program introduced tennis to more than 20,000 inner-city children and provided health screenings, tutoring and academic support to these children in 10 U.S. cities across America. Once the Safe Passage Foundation closed its doors, Bob created Black Dynamics, Inc., which offered scholarships to the most talented minority youth to the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy.  The founding belief of Black Dynamics was that youngsters needed world class competition in order to reach world class performance. Two alumni of Black Dynamics represented the United States on the Federation Cup Team.  Bob then created the Panda Foundation, Inc.  (www.thepandafoundation.com). The Panda Foundation, modeled after the extremely successful Safe Passage Foundation, provides introductory tennis instruction to more than 500 urban youth each year.  These under-served youth also receive dental and health related services as well as mentoring by local professionals. All Panda programs are free to the children. Bob also coaches professional players and served as the coach of the Jamaican Davis Cup Team in 2013.

Player/Contributor

Eaton was an excellent student. He graduated from Johnson C. Smith University in 1937 and wanted to go to medical school in North Carolina to continue his education. Unfortunately, African Americans were not admitted to any of North Carolina’s medical schools. He therefore attended the University of Michigan and earned his M.D. in 1942. Eaton actively fought for integration both on and off of the tennis court. In his native Wilmington, N.C., Dr. Eaton led efforts to desegregate Wilmington College (forerunner of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington), the YMCA, the Municipal Golf Course and the County Library System.  He served on the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, serving as chairman in 1981.  Dr. Eaton ran for a seat on the New Hanover County Board of Education in 1952, 1954 and 1956. He lost those races but made history by becoming the first African America to run for public office in New Hanover County since the 1890s. Dr. Eaton was a leading local civil rights activist and sued New Hanover County to provide equal funding for black public schools.  This successful litigation led to the eventual desegregation of the County School System. In 1984, Eaton was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a tremendous tennis player and outstanding leader.

Player/Contributor

While at Eastern Tennessee State University, Lenny played #1 singles for three years and was ranked #1 in the Ohio Valley Conference for three consecutive years.  In 1964 and 1965 Simpson and Luis Glass won the ATA Men’s Doubles Championship. In addition, Simpson and 2009 Black Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee Bonnie Logan won the ATA National Mixed Doubles Championship four consecutive times from 1967-1970.

In 1974, Simpson made history once again by becoming the first African American to play World Team Tennis, signing with the Detroit Loves. He was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. Simpson continues to give back to the tennis community and support future tennis champions. The not-for-profit tennis program that Simpson currently leads serves more than 200 children per week in the Wilmington, North Carolina community.

Pioneer                                       

Brown was one of the leading tennis activists of his day. He felt strongly that black players should not be content with winning ATA championships.  Brown openly expressed his belief that there should be a strong societal push to allow black players to enter white only tournaments like the US Nationals at Forest Hills and Wimbledon. Unfortunately, he was not successful in convincing the white governing bodies to integrate these tournaments when he was a player. However, he became a legend of black tennis because of his extraordinary talents on the court and his fight to eliminate tennis segregation off of the court.

Pioneer

Both sisters graduated from college with degrees in education and became school teachers in the Kansas City area. Eva Belle Bracy started playing tennis at the age of 14.  She was fortunate to have sister, Mary Etta, and brother, Leo as hitting and training partners.  She was a spirited and determined athlete, however, and played several other sports.  In addition to the National titles that she earned with her sister, Eva’s son Theron played college tennis on scholarship at Kansas City Kansas Community College and Baker University.

Player/Pioneer

Arthur completed his final year of High School at Sumner High under Mr. Hudlin’s tutelage. Mr. Hudlin spent 36 years as the coach at Sumner High School. In addition, he served as the president of the Muny Tennis Association and was the first black member of the St. Louis District Tennis Association. In addition to coaching Ashe and Gibson, Hudlin coached Bruce Foxworth and Juan Farrow. He was both a champion as well as a champion maker.  Hudlin was a teacher, leader, mentor, supporter, donator and defender. He passed away in 1976, living long enough to see both Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe win the U.S. Open and the prestigious Wimbledon titles. In 1992, Hudlin was inducted into the St. Louis Tennis Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Tennis Association Tennis Hall of Fame.

Contributor

Henry Talbert – Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world because of incredibly talented athletes and extraordinary administrators. Unfortunately, tennis fans rarely recognize those individuals who, behind the scenes, do the hard work that enable talented tennis players to become legends. Henry Talbert is one of those individuals who, quietly behind the scenes, helped to diversify the leadership of the sport and grow the game. After graduating from UCLA and serving in Vietnam, he became the National Urban League’s Director of Veterans Affairs. A life-long tennis player with a game developed on the public park courts in Los Angeles and at Dorsey High School, Talbert began his legendary service to the USTA in 1974. He made history by becoming the first African-American to be a USTA administrator on the national level.

Talbert demonstrated his extraordinary leadership skills by developing and running successful national tennis programs in the USTA’s headquarters in New York City, Princeton and White Plains.  He felt a calling to leave the USTA national office and become the Executive Director of the USTA Southern California Section in 1997. He held that position until he retired in 2013. 2002 ITHF Inductee Pam Shriver, who is part of the broadcasting team for the Australian Open television, said from Melbourne, “I feel fortunate to have known Henry for decades from east coast to west coast.  Henry’s love of tennis was only surpassed by his love of family and friends.”

Talbert set a moral, ethical and quality standard that tennis leaders, along with everyone in the game, should aspire to achieve. He was a caring and loving individual who opened doors of opportunity for most of today’s new crop of US tennis administrators and mentored every African American who held leadership positions in the USTA.  His passing in January of 2014 was treated in the world of tennis administrators the same way the passing of a pro player who won all four of the Grand Slam Championships would be treated by tennis fans. He was a true gentleman who raised the bar of administrative leadership in the sport of tennis.