The “pro-circuit” had made those who could not compete feeling left out. The ‘B’ events were designed to address this issue.

Formed in the fall, the Association had the objective of establishing standards for playing and teaching.

Founding members were: Doug Russell, John Brownlow, Bob Callaway, Peter Chase, Hank Irvine, Dave Jennings, Craig Mielke, Steve Nycum, Chuck Saacke, Robin White and Joan Silbersher.

The Paddle Tennis Center in Norwalk, Connecticut held the first training and certification session on the weekend of October 25 and 26.

Source: Paddle Talk, No.2

The Dr Pepper Junior Development Program consisted of two aspects: educational, which covered the Exhibition-Clinic program and the printing of 10,000 rules booklets, and the tournaments. Dr Pepper sponsored the two-part program for the 1975-76 season to the tune of $50,000.

This funding was to be spent on mounting the Exhibition-Clinics, providing prizes at the tournaments, and advertising and promotional materials. At the tournaments, Dr Pepper would provide prizes, supply sweatshirts and travel bags, and have coolers with refreshments at each court location. A representative of the Company would present the winners of each tournament with a check for the cost of their transportation to the 1976 Nationals. Miss Teen New Jersey would present the prizes at the Nationals.

Jim Gollhofer, New York Metro Manager for the Dr Pepper Company, commented that the program offered the Company “the opportunity to work with youth on a semi-National basis” and that the Company was pleased to be involved with “a good sport – prestigious but with broad appeal.”

Source: Paddle Talk, No.2

In November, Tennis Trade started a new publication, Paddle World, devoted entirely to platform tennis. All APTA members received one year’s free subscription.

The spring edition of Paddle Talk carried this story.

“If the Dutch haven’t heard of platform tennis yet, then they soon will, or so at least hopes Cees Cuppens of Bellfires BV in Holland. Recently he visited the U.S.A. and met with Gloria Dillenbeck of the APTA to discuss his plans for marketing courts in Europe. The Dutch are already tennis-mad, inspired by the success of their national tennis heroes, Betty Stove and Tom Okker. And the tennis twosome just happened to be paddle freaks, too.

Bellfires BV makes fireplaces, but recently decided to expand the business. They have chosen to go into the leisure industry, ironically one of the few areas that have benefited from current adverse economic conditions. The path that has led Mr. Nico de Wal, President of Bellfires, and Cees Cuppens to see the potential of platform tennis was determined by conditions specific to a tiny country inhabited by 15 million people. Cuppens explains that the shortage of land in Holland is so severe that each community boasts a recreation director, whose job is solely to determine how recreational land can be used in the most productive way. There are, for instance, no golf courses at all in Holland. Bellfires are convinced platform tennis must catch on with both the powers that be and the population once they learn about a sport that gives so much enjoyment and takes such a small space. Indeed, Cuppens has already attracted support and interest in his preliminary discussions with Dutch municipalities.”

Source: Paddle Talk, No. 1

Executive Director Gloria Dillenbeck recalled the event:

“One day a gentleman from Holland called the APTA office to ask me about our game. He wanted to visit the US to see the game played and to talk to a court builder. As it happened we had readied a court for play at Forest Hills next to the stadium for a televised exhibition. He flew over to see that match which was umpired by Howard Cosell. Half way through the match a strong gust of air blew Cosell’s toupe off his head and floated slowly to the platform deck. The crowd fell silent. I was ‘on air’ commenting for TV and was dumb-struck but Howard never lost his cool and play went on. After watching the match Nico de Wal agreed to build two courts and he invited me to bring sixteen ranking players to Eindhoven to stay for a week as guests of Bellfires and introduce some of the top tennis players in Holland to the game.”

At the end of the week Gloria knew enough Dutch to thank everyone for their hospitality at the closing dinner celebrations.

Source: Gloria Dillenbeck Dodd, Hall of Fame remarks after receiving her award

Ambassador Walter Stoessel, a keen player and lover of the game, had introduced platform tennis to both Moscow and Warsaw, and had courts built in both capitals.

The Warsaw Chapter of the APTA sent the association a report on an inter-embassy tournament played on April 26 and 27 between them and a team from Moscow that included Stoessel, the American Ambassador in Moscow.

The Moscow Chapter claimed the title of Champions of the Eastern Hemisphere based on their triumph in the tournament, in which they won eight of the contests.

Source: Paddle Talk, No. 1

Paddle World Vol. 1 No. 2 Mid-Winter 1976

In early September, the APTA and Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York announced the start of an exciting new relationship.

Discussions between Mr. Charles E. F. Millard, President and Chief Executive Officer of CCBCNY, Jack Cantwell of their advertising agency, Jack Cantwell Associates, and the APTA resulted in the agreement that covered a men’s tour, the production of educational materials, and a junior development program.

Millard was a keen player and loved the game.

Source: Paddle Talk, No. 1