John Childress Beck ( 1932-2015)

The Childress family racquets dynasty at Fox Meadow Tennis Club included Hall of Fame inductees Madge Childress Beck and Maizie Childress Moore as well as Madge’s daughter Susan Beck Wasch.

Madge’s son, John Childress Beck, a Nationally ranked player in the 1970s won the Mixed Nationals in 1972 with sister Susan and lost in the finals of the following year to future APTA President Mike North and Sis O’Connell (6-1, 14-12). He also teamed with Herb Fitz Gibbon to win the Men’s Nationals in 1974.

John spent his whole career at his father’s firm Beck, Mack and Oliver and was instrumental in growing the company into a leader in investment counseling. He chaired Princeton University’s Investment Committee and created the Princeton Investment Company during his tenure as a Trustee of Princeton.

In addition to his prowess in paddle and tennis he was an avid rower and was a member of the nationally ranked crew team at Princeton that narrowly missed an Olympic berth for the 1952 games.