Richard K. Hebard elected APTA President (1953-1955) and FMTC President (1953-1955)

Hebard (1914-2007) graduated in 1933 from the Hill school in Pottstown, PA where he had an outstanding athletic record (see side-bar) and in 1937 from Springfield College. MA. He returned to the Hill School as a faculty member for a number of years and later during WWII he served as a lieutenant commander with the Navy.

After the war he joined his father’s business the R. W. Hebard Company Inc., an engineering and contracting company (had been involved in the Panama canal construction) and R. W. Hebard Associates, agents for Brazilian mining interests (Hebard had South American lineage through his mother’s side).

He was the National Boys tennis champion in 1928 at the age of 14 and continued to have great success on the tennis courts over his playing days.

Hebard married Lois Fuller the daughter of Percival and Kitty Fuller in 1948 and they were long-time members of Fox Meadow where Dick, following in his mother-in-law’s footsteps, amassed many platform tennis titles and became recognized as one of the finest players in the games history.

In tennis Hebard won the Men’s singles five times – 1947-1949 and 1961-1962; the men’s doubles nine times – 1946, 1948, 1951-1953, 1955-1957 and 1960; and the mixed doubles five times – 1949-1950, 1954, 1957, 1963, four of which were with his wife and the other with his mother-in-law.

In platform tennis he won the Men’s nine times – 1947-1948, 1951-1952, 1955-1957, 1963 and 1965 and the Mixed three times – 1953-1955, twice with his mother-in-law and once with his wife.

Both Hebard (1914-2007) and Kitty Fuller were among the first group of ten individuals¹ inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1965 for their contributions to the game (nine of the ten where Fox meadow members).

Historical Factoid: Note 1: Nine of the ten were Fox Meadow members