Hall of Fame inductees – Briggs, Baird, and Maier

The setting, the Nationals Championship dinner in the clubhouse at the New York Athletic Club’s summer home on Travers Island in Pelham, New York, was perfect and the recipients elite. Elizabeth “Buffy” Briggs, Steven W. Baird, and Richard K. Maier were added to the illustrious roster that is called the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame.

The first inductee to be introduced by Brook Kindred was Elizabeth “Buffy” Briggs. He extolled her organizational talents for women in paddle, as well as her ability in the play of the game.

Steve Baird was the next to be honored. Kindred again stepped to the podium to make the introduction and record the impact that Baird had on the game. It started with two Junior Championships with his brother and then, teaming with Rich Maier, to win 10 Nationals titles and be a finalist in three others. It was noted he also served on the APTA Board of Directors for six years, and was President for two, from 1982 to 1984.

“Guess who?” Bob Brown asked the audience when he returned to the microphone to award the green jacket to the third recipient. It was obviously the other half of the team with Baird, Rich Maier. His accomplishments with Baird in men’s competition were worth repeating, and Brown did repeat them. He also added Maier’s other triumphs in mixed, and now in the senior 45+ competition. But again, it was not all as a player that the award is judged. Maier is a teacher and much admired as a person by his students and around the country.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1999