Fessenden S. Blanchard becomes first APTA President (1934-1938)

APTA letter to members of the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association explaining the benefits of the game
APTA letter to members of the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association explaining the benefits of the game

Blanchard, a co-inventor of the game along with James Cogswell, and one of the five co-founders of the American Paddle Tennis Association became the first President. Although Jack Ten Eyck Jr. had been the driver behind starting the APTA, it seemed sensible to have Blanchard take the lead, as he was a tireless promoter of the game he loved. Ten Eyck served as the APTA’s first Secretary. During his tenure on the APTA Board Blanchard also acted as Secretary (1935-1941), chief correspondent and publicist for the game. He authored two books on the game – Paddle Tennis (1944) and Platform Paddle Tennis (1959).

Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944, and Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959