Jay O’Meilia sculpture for the Tribuno World Paddle Championship

Jay O’Meilia sculpture for the Tribuno World Paddle Championship

The APTA had been given a beautiful sculpture by Jay O’Meilia in the spring and had asked for background information about why the piece was created. Brad Drowne of Short Hills, NJ provided the history.

The “First Tribuno World Paddle Championship” was contested on April 3rd, 1976 at the West Side Tennis Club, better known in the tennis world by its location, Forest Hills. The sculpture was commissioned to be the trophy for the event. However, Jay O’Meilia, a noted sports artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, did not complete the trophy by the date of the championship final. Instead, he was to send a plaster model to Forest Hills for the presentation. Unfortunately, this was lost by the airline.

The May 1976 issue of Paddle Talk (predecessor to Platform Tennis News) confirms this account when it stated, “Russell and Gray received a check for $4,000.00 and the promise of a trophy for their victory in the climactic tournament of the Tribuno tour.”

Doug Russell and Gordon Gray were the winners of that 1976 World Paddle Championship when they came from behind to defeat the APTA National Champions of that year, Steve Baird and Chip Baird by scores of 4-6, 3-6, 6-1,6-3, 6- 2.

A crowd estimated at between 2,500 and 3,000 were treated to a tremendous display of outstanding paddle starting with the semi-finals in which Russell/Gray defeated Brownlow/Rogers, 6-3, 6-1, and the Bairds overcame Jennings/Steele, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6.

Also on the program, between the semis and the final, was a pro-celebrity event in which sportscaster Howard Cosell provided commentary on the cold and blustery day while holding tightly on to his hat and his hairpiece. It was planned to present the winners with small reproductions of the championship trophy.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1994

The big move was the lead story in Platform Tennis News

APTA relocates Montclair Office

The original sub-leased space had worked well, but the impending sale of the building and future ownership uncertainties necessitated a move.

The old office had been located on the second floor of a building in Upper Montclair called Thompson Executive Services. It had a unique feature that enabled several business people to use the computer and other equipment and secretarial abilities of the staff on a “shared” basis. This had worked well for the Association. Fortunately, two individuals who worked for Thompson Executive Services had located new space, developed it to their special needs, and invited the Association to be among their initial clients. Serious negotiation brought about an agreement that would lower the cost to the Association, provide several new advances in equipment and services, and a few more square feet. The office moved in the Fall.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1994

Gary Horvath’s “How-To” manuals published

Gary R. Horvath, a former APTA Director, current tennis and platform tennis teaching professional, and author of many articles and comments about platform tennis, called on his years of experience in the game to write four manuals published by R.J. Reilly. Jr. Platform Tennis Courts. Inc.

The manuals were titled:

• The Fundamentals of Platform Tennis

• Taking Your Game to the Next Level

• A Platform Tennis Chairman’s Guide to Running a Comprehensive Program

• A Curriculum for Conducting a Championship Platform Tennis Instructional Program

Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1994

Lineal Group stays on APTA team

The tour was back for a third go-round of the Lineal Group Grand Prix series of national ranking tournaments for men and women. Events would be held in Greenwich, CT; Chicago, lL; Philadelphia, PA; and, Brookside, NJ.

Over a thousand players had enjoyed the prizes, favors, and fun spawned by the prize money series in which competitive play and collaborative camaraderie have been the operative passwords. Several new twists were added to the tour as strengths are played up and weaknesses shored up. Approximately $30,000 in cash prizes would be contested, but a third of that would be won out of a special bonus pool that would emphasize expanded play in the four tour events, as well as the Nationals.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1994

Brian Zevnik passes the reins to Charlie Stephens and helps himself to a cold one

Charles J. Stephens, Jr. elected APTA President (1994-1997)

Remarks by Stephens upon taking over the reins from Zevnik:

“Generally, the first obligation of a new president is to promulgate laudatory remarks about the accomplishments of his predecessor. As 1 ascend to the presidency, that obligation is twofold and it is not really an obligation, but an ancillary privilege for me to have this opportunity to personally thank, publicly, Brian Zevnik, for his achievements during his term of office as president, and to abundantly heap accolades on our retiring past president, Chuck Vasol!.

Without Chuck and Brian heading our organization during the frightening period of paddle decadence, I might not have this opportunity to serve you as president. Their achievements over a six year period have placed paddle in the order of proper ascendancy and will now give me an opportunity to continue their achievements in growth and in contribution to our paddle membership. Chuck has led us from a period of corporate insolvency to the threshold of breaking the $100,000.00 eq uity position. His achievements are even more monumental when one considers that his achievements administratively were coupled with both a qualitative and quantitative increase in paddle competition.

Brian has taken Chuck’s accomplishments one step further and has led us to our current achievement in the Lineal Group Grand Prix competitions, has broken the barrier of 3,000 in individual memberships, and projected the Platform Tennis News and Update into periodicals anxiously anticipated by all members.

Chuck and Brian will be a tough act to follow and I will rely on their experience and guidance to advance the APTA one step higher on the ladder of competitive sports.

We will hope to take the first forward steps towards the accomplishment of a National Platform Tennis center in Westchester County, NY. We will also look to surpassing the 5,000 membership goal which will help to give us the visibility requi red to achieve many of the goals ordained by the future directions committee.

The progress that the APTA has made under the guidance of Brian and Chuck cannot now lay dormant. But through the communication among a ll the members who will be counted on to contribute their ideas and labor, we will continue to progress toward making the greatest sport in the world recognized as just that. particularly by the corporate heads who will be asked to become part of the paddle world through their participation in national events.

This year’s Board of Directors is an accomplished group of the composite paddle player, all of whom are driven by the desire to improve the game for the benefit of all players.

Each member of the Board will be receptive to the ideas expressed by all of our members and we are open to your suggestions for any improvement to this game and its administration.”

APTA approves new Marox ball Vittert, Marcraft and Marox are now main suppliers

The APTA granted approval to a new platform tennis ball developed by Marox, Inc. of Carteret, New Jersey. The new ball debuted in the 1994-1995 season.

Under the auspices of the Rules and Equipment Committee, a sample supply of the new ball was tested in February. When all APTA specifications were met, the Board of Directors gave its approval to this new product in March. Random testing of balls taken from production was planned to assure that the specifications approved for the sample would be met.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1994 and APTA May 1994 BOD Minutes

Sports Illustrated recognizes Bill and Dave Childs

It is rare that platform tennis, no less its players, find their way into a national sports magazine, but the “Faces In The Crowd” section in the April issue of Sports Illustrated featured two outstanding champions, the Childs brothers, Bill and Dave.

The article documented that they had just successfully defended their 55+ National Championship for the fourth consecutive year. It further noted that they had won the 50+ crown three times in a row. It also recorded Bill’s triumph with Birgit Maio in the Mixed Masters Championship, and indicated that he defeated his brother and Alice Duff in a semifinal match in that tournament.

The game in Poland

The U.S. Embassy had a paddle court on the grounds and the new ambassador Nick Rey and his wife Lisa were avid players, and members of Larchmont Yacht Club in Westchester, NY.

Lisa wrote back to her Larchmont friends:

“Paddle is terrific and a great release of energy and frustrations. I’ve got a regular Monday morning game, and we’ve had one round-robin tournament. People don’t play a lot, and it’s mostly teachers at the American school, Embassy types, and a few Brits. All are tennis players and basically play it as tennis. I’ve convinced at least my Monday group to play it as paddle, and the level of play has taken a huge leap……..”

Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1994