Hall of Fame Inductee: Tim McAvoy

On Friday, March 16, 2012, the Huntington Country Club in Long Island, New York, was the place to be as APTA President ,Tim McAvoy received the APTA’s highest honor for his outstanding efforts on and off the court. Introductions began with Nationals Co-chairman, Duane Hayden (along with Tim Mangan) welcoming the crowd and introducing APTA Hall of Fame Member and keynote speaker Steve Baird. In attendance were hundreds of players, friends and family members traveling to Long Island to show their respect and appreciation for Tim.

The transcript of the induction speech delivered by Steve Baird introducing the 78th recipient is shown in its entirety below.

Where do you start when talking about Tim McAvoy’s contributions to the game? Well you start with his mom, Lucie Bel McAvoy, who was a pioneer of the game in the greater Philadelphia area and a Hall of Fame member (inducted here 20 years ago at the Nationals). Paddle is clearly in his blood and frames his perspective on the game. Those who know Tim well, know how committed he is to his family, and in many ways he treats platform tennis as an extension of his family.

He won six National Championships (two Mixed Nationals with Diane Straus Tucker and four Senior Nationals with John Adams, Scott Bondurant (twice), and Diane Straus Tucker). He also won over 20 President Cup Qualifier Tournaments including a stunning 14 Pennsylvania State Championships. He led Region III to eight President’s Cup titles (alongside Spear, Adams & Stefanik). Perhaps the tournament that most embodies his commitment to his family and this sport is his amazing nine Mixed MAPTA championships and 10 finals, all with his mom or his sister Laurie.

While Tim’s playing results are impressive, he is also renowned for his leadership contributions to the game:
• APTA Board President for the past three years
• APTA Board member for nine years
• Region III President for eight years
• Spearheaded tremendous growth in Region III
• Hall of Fame Committee member for eight years
• Nationals Chairman here in Long Island 20 years ago
• Philadelphia’s hosting of the Nationals three times

Tim’s leadership style has always been characterized by the strong relationships he develops with people, whether they are tournament and league organizers, teaching pros, fellow Board Members, or players of all abilities, sexes and ages.

He has an amazing wife, Nancy, and four terrific children. In fact, Tim never would have met Nancy if not for a paddle game after-drinks in a Toronto bar. Nancy had been to 20 straight Nationals before breaking the string to care for Tim during his battle with cancer.

Tim is probably the most admired and respected person in paddle today. I want to give you a few comments from his fellow players, friends and family:
• He is the most modest person I know
• He embraces life with boundless energy, never gets tired
• He’s a great partner, you play better because of him, you have fun, he blends his game
to fit yours.
• He is a quick, big man who “moves like a gazelle as he blitzes to the net”
• He has an unbelievably positive attitude
• He has a special determination — beating cancer twice with a “mind over matter”
resolve
• He has no temper, is gracious, win or lose
• He is selfless — and has “no ego” as a leader
• His sportsmanship on the court is unmatched
• He understands that paddle, at the end of the day, is about camaraderie, community
& competition.

In summary, our candidate is a champion player, an exceptional leader, and, finally, a true gentleman who is a role model for all.

And now, in recognition of these accomplishments, he is the recipient of the APTA’s highest honor, the Platform Tennis Hall of Faille award to Thomas B. McAvoy, IV.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 13, Issue 5, April, 2012