Charley Stevens (1934 -1997)

One of paddle’s brightest lights, hardest workers and nicest guys, Charley Stevens, who had just resigned as APTA President after a three-year term, died of cancer at the age of 63.

During his term, the change in the rules to play net cord services was a controversial step, and he led the Association during an era of new competition in equipment. The Wilson Sporting Goods Corporation entering the market with new racquets, and acquired the Vitteret platform tennis ball line from the Hedstrom Corporation, and Viking Athletics, formerly A2Z Products, rose from the ashes of its purchase of the platform tennis business of the Marcraft Corporation to become a major player.

Howard Sipe remembered, “…. he used [his] strength and competitiveness to help build a strong foundation for platform. You could fault Charley for tact, but you could never fault him for passion, especially when it came to paddle. I liked that about Charley.”

Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer & Fall 1997