Utah's tennis greats will have have a "hall" of their own. It was announced this week by Lee Hammel, that a new Utah Tennis Hall of Fame was being organized.
The first introductions will be made at a banquet at the Cottonwood Country Club on Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. Cost is $12 per person. Those interested in attending can call Hammel at 943-5309 or Gaylen Young at 272-1911.The first year, 16 players will be recognized and place in the Hall of Fame.
Four of those players will be honored posthumously. They are:
- Sam Neal, a winner of the U.S. Doubles Cup with his brother, Carr, in 1896.
- Katie Williams, a winner of 10 Intermountain tournaments between 1905-1918.
- E.M. Garnett, a winner of eight singles and four doubles tournaments between 1909-1922.
- Ralph McElvenny, who played in the National Doubles tournament in Boston in 1926.
Also honored will be:
- Fred "Buck" Dixon, BYU tennis coach for 34 years and noted player.
- Mel Gallacher, national senior men's doubles champ.
- Earl W. Peirce, winner of several Intermountain tournaments.
- Ruth Crow Nelson, who dominated women's tournaments between 1926-28.
- David L. Freed, national seniors champion and coach of the U.S. Davis Cup.
- Grant Evans, member of U. of U. team, 1933-36, and nationally ranked player.
- Richard Y. Bennion, collegiate doubles champ in 1938 and ranked junior player.
- Frank Mehner, reached finals of NCAAs in 1945.
- Sally Tipton Coan, who won a number of Utah tournaments and was a ranked player in Northern California.
- Diane Hunsaker Jones, finalist in National Public Parks and first girls to play on boys' high school team.
- Richard L. Warner, who won a triple - singles, doubles, mixed doubles - in 1946.
- Linn Rockwood, who won six singles titles between 1948-63.