APTA studies the history and formats used in the Presidents Cup in order to provide guideline for future events – Gary Horvath chairs the committee

Purpose of the study:

At the May 1988 meeting of the APTA Board of Directors Gary Horvath was asked to chair a committee to work with Fran Sennas to study the Presidents’ Cup. This study will be conducted in several phases.

Phase I is the compilation of the history of the APTA Men’s and Women’s President Cup. This event has developed a tradition as rich as that of the National Championships.

The event has had a number of formats, a wide variety of sponsors and at times its share of controversy – primarily in administrative matters. Throughout it all, the events have been characterized by an unparalleled amount of camaraderie, sportsmanship and fun.

Hopefully an accurate record of these happenings can be compiled while the individuals who made this event so great are still interested in the great sport of platform tennis.

The purpose of establishing an accurate record of the Presidents’ Cup is to make it easier to determine what direction the event should have in the future.

Phase II will be the compilation of a variety of viewpoints in hopes of placing as many ideas on the table as possible considerations for the direction of the event.

Phase III will be a set of recommendations and guidelines to the APTA Board of Directors as to the future of the Presidents’ Cup.

Read: Full Report

US Ambassador to Poland, Walter Stoessel, imports Platform Tennis to Warsaw

Ambassador Walter Stoessel, a keen player and lover of the game, introduced the game to Warsaw when he was appointed US Ambassador there in 1968.

They had been initiated in the game at the Chevy Chase Club in Washington, D.C. and while they were far from expert they loved the game and thought it would be ideal in the long Polish winters.

Using plans Supplied by APTA, they built a wooden court at the American Embassy in Warsaw. It worked, although it was quite a hybrid. The wood was obtained locally, the wire came from West Germany, and the lights were regular Warsaw street lights.

The game caught on rapidly and was played enthusiastically by members of the American community in Warsaw and their friends in the foreign community.

In 1970 he sent a letter to Paul Molloy, APTA President, enclosing a picture taken on February 20, 1970 before the inaugural game on the Warsaw Embassy Platform Tennis court.

Some years later (1974) when he moved to Moscow he had a court constructed there and annual contests between the two Embassies ensued.

Source: Paddle World, Vol 1 No 2 Mid-Winter 1976

Barbara Koegel with Zan Carver (Honor Award, 1970).

Alexander H (Zan) Carver, Jr.

Carver (1919-1982) was the number one tennis player at the University of North Carolina and from there went on the tennis circuit as an amateur. He played at the premier United States Tournament, the Nationals at Forest Hills, six times in 1940, 1944, 1946-1948, and 1952. In 1944, he played his way to the quarterfinals, disposing the eighth seed in the round of 16 to get there. He emerged from Forest Hills that year ranked 11 nationally.

Carver served as a Major in the US Army Air Forces and had a brilliant career as a bomber pilot

In tennis Zan won the club Singles eight times – 1952-1956 and 1963-1965, the Doubles seven time – 1954, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1969, and 1970-1971, and the Mixed once in 1958

In platform tennis he won the clubs’ Men’s ten times – 1959, 1965-1966, and 1968-1974, and the Mixed six times – 1959, and 1961-1965.

Zan also amassed an enviable APTA National Championship record; his win with Barbara Koegel in the Mixed in 1964 was one of the sweetest as Barbara was battling terminal cancer at the time.

Carver was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1970 (see Carver>)

APTA Annual Meeting Minutes

The Annual Meeting Minutes covered the results of tournaments including the new Senior Veteran’s (60+) which was contested for the Ken Ward Trophy, the financial health of the APTA, and the Honor Award presentations to George Harrison and William Pardoe. [See]

APTA Annual Meeting Minutes

The Minutes paid a tribute to the late Fessenden Blanchard who had died suddenly shortly after the meeting.

Two of the 1963 National Tournaments recorded the largest number of team entries in the history of the APTA – 85 teams in the Mixed Doubles and 83 teams in the National Men’s Championshps.

The Minutes reflected two important initiatives:

A National Boy’s Tournament was established:

“Over the past year, a keen interest in an APTA Boys’ Tournament was reflected by many member clubs and individuals. The APTA Executive Committee has therefore decided to create and endorse a new National Boys’ Doubles Tournament. The provisions of this tournament are as follows:

a. It is to be a pure junior tournament, not to be confused, with the USLT Junior Tournament age rulings. It is open to all boys who have not reached the age of 20 by the date of the tournament.

b. The bowl to be presented to the winners of this tournament will be known as the “Earle Gatchell Memorial Trophy.” This bowl is being donated by the APTA in memory of one of Platform Tennis’ most devoted friends.

c. The Fox Meadow Tennis Club has granted use of its courts for this tournament for the period Dec. 26-28, 1963.

d. Rawle Deland and John Ware will act as tournament co-chairmen. Entry fees will be minimum. Tournament announcements will be mailed in late November.

The success of this Tournament depends on all member clubs encouraging their boy members to participate. We count on your support!”

Seniors’ Tournament Age Change
“For the past two years your Association has attempted to sample the sentiment for a change in the age requirement for entry in the Seniors’ Tournament. Accordingly, the Executive Committee has decided to increase the age requirement from 45 to 50 years of age and over, or who become 50 on or before December 31st of the year in which the tournament is held. This change is not irrevocable. However, it is confidently hoped it will prove to be a constructive and wise one.”

American Lawn Tennis Magazine on Paddle and Platform Tennis

The article “Paddle Game a welcome Member of Tennis Family” by Howard Cohn appeared in the January 1950 edition of American Lawn Tennis. Cohn wrote that “tennis with a paddle not only teaches youngsters the fundamentals of lawn tennis, but it also provides wonderful off-seasom recreation for thousands of devotees of the older sport.”

The article provided and excellent account of the development of paddle tennis and platform tennis.