Mark Holtschneider on John Horine’s tenure as APTA President

Mark Holtschneider summed up Horine’s many accomplishments over 11 years of service.

In 1993, John Horine joined the APTA Board of Directors. In 1997, he became the President. This May, John’s term ends and he leaves the APTA as its longest serving President. He also leaves as one of its best.

Great progress was made during John’s tenure as President:
• The APTA’s internet site was created. The website allows members instant access to all tournaments, applications, rules, and other information, including on-line membership sign up.

• Platform Tennis News was replaced with Platform Tennis Magazine. The former newsletter was in black and white and focused primarily on tournament results. The new full-color, 32-page magazine includes tournament results, but is focused on instruction and player feature articles.

• The Professional Platform Tennis Association was created. This organization provides teacher certification and has united teaching professionals.

• The Platform Tennis Hall of Fame Foundation was created. The goal of the Foundation is to build a permanent home for platform tennis memorabilia and dedications to the members of the Hall of Fame.

• APTA membership grew from 3,500 to 8,300. Many leagues have joined the APTA and thus many players have become APTA members for the first time.

• The let rule was deleted. The NCAA plays tennis without the let rule and one day the rest of the tennis world may follow. The APTA was out front on this one.

• Numerous new national tournaments were added, including the Women’s 60+, the Men’s 70+, 75+ and 145+, the mixed masters, the husband-wife, seven new junior tournaments, and the Viking Cup.

• The APTA bylaws were amended to place term limits on directors. This amendment assured that the APTA will always have fresh ideas and energy to continue to grow the game.

• John hired two Executive Directors (Carolyn Tierney and Marjorie Hodson), got us through two deficits, moved the office, and left the APTA with a sufficient cash reserve to continue to operate normally.

In addition to being a great President, John is a great husband, father, businessman, and friend. Despite all the time he has put into the APTA, John always had time for his family and friends. John is also a great competitor and player. He has won numerous Region III tournaments and has played on championship President’s Cup teams.

The APTA will miss John and we thank him for his hard work and contributions.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 5, April, 2004

Platform Tennis Magazine has a new look

Dollard Publishing Company (DPC), the publisher of PTM, was awarded a significant contract for publishing another magazine and this prompted DPC to seek additional publishing and design help which, in turn, lead to an update to the design of PTM.

Wayne Dollard, PTM editor, wrote in From the Editor…:

“Why did we make the change now rather than at the beginning of next season? After seeing the preliminary designs, we simply couldn’t wait! My chief designer wanted to end the season on a high note and get everyone excited for next season. We agreed. We have also offered a new masthead and cover theme to kick off the new style. I hope you like it.”

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 5, April, 2004

APTA President John Horine (1997-2004) bids adieu after 7 years at the helm

The following is an excerpt from John’s letter that appeared in Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 5

Dear Platform Tennis Fans,

Well, I guess this is it. My last letter “From the President” and the last of Wayne’s many calls saying “John, have you done your letter yet?”As I think back on my tenure on the Board and my sevenyear term as President, I remember all the people with whom I served and all the accomplishments we achieved. The website and the Platform Tennis Magazine are among the biggest legacies I am leaving behind. Thanks to Bill Cunningham for sharing the vision and helping design and host the early stages of the website. Thanks to David Kjeldsen and Viking for funding the site when the Board said it wasn’t worth the money. Once posted online, the Board saw the value of the web, our site and its possible benefits to our membership. We now have a sophisticated website, thanks to Pittsburgh’s Terri Gollinger, with access to almost anything one would want to know about platform tennis. [enlarge image to read complete letter]

Growing the game: Tom Dow makes the pitch for Municipal Paddle

PTM carried an article by Tom Dow on how to sell the idea of building more public courts and facilities. The article was written to provide the basis of a presentation that could be made by those wanting to expand the game in their area to potential supporters such as their local municipality, YMCA, foundation, and/or local “paddle angel.” The article was supported by various case studies of successful programs.

[please enlarge images to read the full report]

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 3, January, 2004

PPTA adds 24 Pros in Chicago and Philadelphia

The PPTA had a very busy fall certifying teaching professionals from all around the “paddle” world. Hank Irvine and Bob Callaway had the opportunity to go to Rich Maier’s world on the north side of Chicago and join him in a two-day certification marathon. Fifteen pros were tested thanks to Scott Bondurant, who recruited many prominent pros from the north shore area. Among the pros who went through the certification process were former national champion Scott Mansager and the current women’s national champions, Mary Doten and Susie Keane.

While Hank and Bob were in Chicago, Gerri Viant, Patty Hogan and Paul Quinn went to Philadelphia and conducted certification exams for nine pros from the Middle States area.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 3, January 2004

Junior Profiles: Scotty Safford and Ryan Hissey

The names Safford and Hissey may ring a bell for some of you because they are second and third generation paddle players out of the Philadelphia area. Scott’s parents, Tom and Leila, are accomplished players, as is Ryan’s mom, Laurie. Ryan’s uncle and grandmother are former national champs. Scotty and Ryan are following in their family’s footsteps by trying to make a name for themselves in the paddle world!

Between football, baseball and golf, it’s little wonder Scott and Ryan have any time to play paddle, but finding time and competing at a high level is something these two boys have been able to do quite well. They were the runners-up in the Junior National Championships in the 10- and-under age group last January. They also had success winning the Philadelphia Open 12s in 2001 and 2002, and in the Viking Cup lOs and 12s regional play.

Both boys follow the Phillies, Eagles and Sixers. They both say math is their favorite subject. Maybe that’s why they are so good at working out the angles and the geometry on the paddle court!

Chicago Charities marks its 31st year

John Noble filed the report on the event with PTM:

The 31st year of the Chicago Charities seemed to be an event enjoyed by all. With a slightly smaller draw, due to the Halloween holiday, the pressure on the volunteer staff to run the four tournaments within the event was not as much of a drain as it has been in previous years. The Northwestern Cancer Research program was the beneficiary.

The Women’s Open was witness to a pleasant number of upsets. Only one of the top four seeds made it to the semifinals. In the finals, Cindy Prendergast and Lauren Zink won a hard-fought three-setter against Hilary Debbs and Patty Hogan, the second seed (6-1, 2-6, 6-2). The Men’s Open was marred by rain in the last set and a half. Last year’s Champions David Ohlmuller and Chris Gambino had to work a little harder on their way to this year’s final, as they were taken to three sets in the quarters by Bill Fiedler and David Keevins, and by Mike Cochrane and Mike Marino in the semis. They were met by the always-tough Flip Goodspeed and Scott Mansager duo, which bested Greg Stipa and George Zink in the quarterfinals, and Anthony Cosimano and John Milbank in three sets in the semi-final. Gambino-Ohlmuller won the final 6-2, 6-4 in an entertaining climax to the Charities tournaments. The play was both educational and enjoyable to watch.

The 90’s+ and 115’s+ were both well-participated events run by the always present Howard Sipe (who also umpired the men’s final in the rain). The Men’s 90’s was won by Ray Murphy and Mike Sullivan over a worn out Jean Kempner and Peter McNitt team who had to beat Alan Graham and John Noble in three sets in the semi’s.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 3, January, 2004

2003 Viking Cup Child/Adult Tournament to be the last; the goal had been to get more kids playing and it had succeded

David Kjeldsen, CEO, of Viking Athletics, announced that the recently completed 2003 Viking Cup will be the last for the Child/Adult Tournament. Asked why such a well respected tournament is being stopped, Kjeldsen responded:

“The Viking Cup was started eight years ago in an attempt to get more young people on the courts. At the time, there were few outlets for kids to play platform tennis. We felt that if we could get the adults involved, we could get the kids on the courts. We’ve more than accomplished that goal. More kids are playing than ever before. We’d like to put our emphasis now on kids playing with kids. The Viking Junior Tour is gaining momentum and we’d like to increase our support in that area. In addition, we are exploring with a number of platform tennis communities around the country starting a Viking Junior Platform Tennis League, with much the same format as the adult leagues have. For our wonderful sport to survive, we all must support the juniors. Juniors are the future of the game and Viking is as committed as ever to support them.”

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 3, January 2004

APTA Executive Director Carolyn Tierney retires

After eight years of great service to the APTA as Executive Director, Carolyn Tierney announced her retirement. During her tenure, Carolyn kept the organization running and was the number one goodwill ambassador. Carolyn’s retirement was effective December 31, 2003.

Marjorie Hodson, a member of the APTA Board of Directors, was to serve as the interim Executive Director until a permanent replacement was found.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 3, January 2004

Walt Peckinpaugh on the history of the game in Cleveland, OH

Hall of Fame member Walt Peckinpaugh, Jr. filed the story with PTM:

Platform tennis made its debut in Cleveland shortly after World War II when the Chagrin Valley Hunt Club built the first courts. Even the arrival of Witherbee Black, the 1940 National Champion from Rye, New York, could not stir the interest in “paddle.” The facility faltered from neglect until 1968 when two new courts were built and the “modern era’ of platform tennis began. Members of the Hunt Club then arranged a paddle exhibition and clinic featuring four top ranked players from the East: Roger Lankenau, Don Miller, Oliver Kimberly, and Dick Squires. Members of all east side clubs attended the, exhibition and from cooperative relationships, paddle began to gain momentum in Cleveland.

A most important contribution to the growth of Cleveland paddle was the decision by John Bernet, Carrington Clark, David Dickenson, and Will McFarlane to create a major platform tennis event in Cleveland. Along with Dick Taylor, Bob Bartholomew, and Jack Turben, these men served as the directors of Cleveland Tournaments, Inc., the non-profit organization created to support major paddle events in Northeast Ohio. Oliver “Kim” Kimberly and Jesse Sammis, each National Champions with other partners, defeated Cleveland’s first Nationally-ranked (6th) team of David Dickenson and Carrington Clark in 1970 at the Cleveland Invitational. The Men’s event continued to be held annually and 1972 saw the birth of the Women’s Invitational with Peggy Stanton and Charlotte Lee establishing themselves as perennial National Champions.

The spring of 1973 brought the Men’s National Championship to Cleveland and away from the metropolitan New York area for the first time in 40 years of paddle. John Mangan and Bob Kingsbury were the champions and Cleveland Tournaments, Inc., had accomplished its goal – the very best platform tennis was being played in Cleveland.

Wooden courts were replaced by aluminum and the Cleveland Invitational evolved into the prestigious ‘Masters’ tournament. National Champions Jennings/Steele, Fitzgibbon/Irvine, and Baird/Baird dominated the early Masters Championships, and in the eighties, Steve Baird and Rich Maier won the Masters, continuing the tradition of bringing the best players in the world to Cleveland. The Women’s Masters was also making a name for itself through the wins of National Championship teams like Hilary Hilton/Louise Gengler and Wendy Chase/Linda Wolf.

In 1975, a Senior Masters, including teams from other cities, was inaugurated and conquered by Jim Kline and Bill Gunton. The next year saw the arrival of the first professional event, which was sponsored by Tribuno Beverage. Passport Scotch sponsored another professional tournament in 1976, but professional paddle quickly ceased its association with the Masters. The Masters continues to attract the very best paddle teams to Cleveland for its annual National Ranking event.

Paddle tennis in Cleveland was certainly growing, but still lacked a city championship until Bill Nook and Walter Dimling founded the Cleveland Cup in 1977. The Men’s Championship was unique in the respect that five different teams won in the first five years of play. In the eighties, the Cleveland Cup was dominated by the team of Dick Haverland and Dud Humphrey, the number one-ranked team in the Midwest region and 8th nationally in 1983. The joint effort of the Cleveland Skating Club and Higbee’s Department Stores produced the Higbee Cup Women’s Championship that same year, with the support of Bonne Bell, Inc.

In 1984, Cleveland Tournaments, Inc., under the direction of Dick Haverland, brought the APTA Open Nationals back to Cleveland for its second appearance here. Dick and his committee changed the look of the National Championships forever with the hosting of a week-long party involving several social events for both men and women and a serious party on Saturday night. Just three years later, in 1987, Cleveland again hosted the Nationals under the direction of Walt & Marilyn Peckinpaugh as part of the Cleveland Skating Club’s 50th Anniversary. Walt brought the Nationals to Cleveland again in 1993 after an eastern committee decided they weren’t up for the task. He also brought three senior men’s National events here in 1990, 1996, and 2000.

In 1988, Walt reorganized and renamed Cleveland Tournaments, Inc. into what is now The Greater Cleveland Platform Tennis Association and served as its President for 12 years. The purpose of this organizational move was to bring together the tournament committees and interclub organizers into one functioning entity. Today, Brian McCreary and his wife, Beth, keep this group together.

The history of Cleveland Paddle could not be complete without acknowledging the contributions of the nationally ranked teams of John Brownlow and Scott Rogers, Anne Kline and Ruth Sadler, and Dick Haverland and Dud Humphrey. Chet Kermode heads the list of men including David Dickenson, Dick Haverland, and John Brownlow, who have won National titles in the 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65 age divisions, winning seven titles and being inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998

All of the wooden courts are now gone, but Cleveland still has thirty-eight heated aluminum courts in the eastern suburbs. The new millennium brings a new era to Cleveland paddle. We are anxious to see what new stars and organizational leaders will emerge.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 2, November, 2003