Skymar Paddle

Rich Maier, co-inventor of the Skymar paddle – paddle innovation takes another step

Maier was not content with just playing and teaching the game. He was an innovator, with a US patent (US4379554) as proof.

Along with co-inventor Andreas D. Schuyler, they developed a new concept for the platform tennis paddle.

The patent, filed on August 24 1981 and issued on April 12, 1983, described an improved platform tennis paddle constructed “with two outer laminated ply structures and inner laminated ply structure there between. The inner laminated ply structure has a central aperture there through which, in the preferred embodiment, is filled with a resilient plug. The edge of the paddle is protected by a T-shaped molding fitted in to the perimeter of the paddle, and to safeguard against de-lamination, the handle is of pegged construction.”

The patent was assigned to Skymar Corporation, and Rich and Andreas built the racquet, Skymar Proflight, in a garage in Allendale, NJ. The racquet was a commercial success, but the garage manufacturing operation faced constraints and ultimately closed.

The concept though endured and was picked up by another manufacturer, Marcraft, with their Force model which was introduced in 1992.

Source: Private communication with Rich Maier

NOTE: For the history of the paddle from the early days through early 1990s: Jim Tate’s article The Paddle Itself has a History Too!

As part of its centennial celebration, the Club honored thirty-seven members who were winners of APTA titles, as well as the founders of paddle. From front, L to R, are winners or their representatives: Forest Carver, Louise Raymond, Babs Price Naylor, Ted and Madge Beck, Killy Kilmarx, Sally Auxford, Do Deland, Susie Wasch, Molly Ware, George Harrison, John Ware, Ruthie Chalmers, Laurie Nelson Ackermann, Zan Carver, Jr., Lois and Dick Hebard, Walter Close, Berkeley Johnson, Jr., Ed Raymond, Bob Brown, Ann Brown, Laura Parker, Jim Carlisle, Bob and Ollie Kingsbury, Bill Koegel, George Schmid, Marie Walker Plant, and Peter Moore.

Fox Meadow’s Centennial Celebration

FMTC President Charlie Evans honored thirty-seven Club members who had won APTA National Championships; Nex to him are all-time winners Madge Beck and Dick Hebard. Molly Ware and Do Deland received awards for their fathers, Blanchard and Cogswell FMTC President Charlie Evans honored thirty-seven Club members who had won APTA National Championships; Next to him are all-time winners Madge Beck and Dick Hebard. Molly Ware and Do Deland received awards for their fathers, Blanchard and Cogswell.

In the fall of 1981, Charlie Evans, president of Fox Meadow Tennis Club, proposed to the Board of Governors that the Club celebrate its 100th anniversary in 1983. He recommended that the Club publish a book about its history, and that it should try to host the 1983 APTA national Men’s Doubles championship, at which time it would honor members who had won national titles. Lastly, Evans suggested holding a party for past and present members sometime in 1983. The board approved the recommendations, and appointed Walter Close as centennial chairman, and John Ware as the editor of the centennial book.

In January 1982, a planning committee met at the Evans’ house to further plan the centennial activities. The ideas and enthusiasm expressed at this meeting heavily influenced the direction that the celebration took.

Walter Close subsequently named a formal Centennial Committee that included Janet Fuller, George Harrison, Bob Adams, Bob Lee, John Ware, Dick Balzac, and Charlie Evans.

At Ware’s request, Diana Reische, author of Of Colonists and Commuters, a History of Scarsdale, agreed to write a book about the first 100 years of Fox Meadow.

Walter Close’s committee decided to have a cocktail-buffet party at the Club on the evening of June 18, followed by a luncheon, ice cream social, tennis matches, and skits the next day.

The APTA declined to hold the Men’s Doubles championship at Fox Meadow, but decided to hold the Senior Men’s Doubles at the Club on March 5-6, 1983. On March 6, the Club’s Awards Committee, made up of Walter Close, Anne Evans, Janet Fuller, and Charlie Evans, honored the game’s co-founders, Fessenden Blanchard and James Cogswell, as well as 37 Fox Meadow members who had won national platform tennis championships.

One of the gratifying things about preparing for the centennial, according to President Evans, was the involvement of most of the Club’s members, whether through contributing to the centennial history or working on the awards ceremony or party. Evans was impressed by the way the Club worked together on the project, ”showing the integrity and respect for others which is the hallmark of Fox Meadow, on or off the court.”

Symbolic of the Club’s centennial year, as well as the self-help principle upon which most of its activities rest, a flag made by member Betty Rule was raised beneath the American flag in front of the clubhouse.

Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983

Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years 1883-1983. Diana Reische

FMTC celebrates its 100th Anniversary and hosts National Senior Men’s 45+

The club hosted the Men’s 45+ Nationals, chaired by Bob Brown, and awards were presented to 38 FMTC members who had won National Championships.

The fact that entries had to be 45 years old or over seemed to give the gallery more empathy for the players, especially in the tense finals, won by Dick Squires and Bill Mimnaugh after tiebreakers in each of the three sets. Although it was disappointing not to have Fox Meadow finalists, many spectators felt the match was one of the most exciting ones they’d ever watched.

As former APTA President Cecil J. (Mike) North, Jr. of Bedford Golf and Tennis Club wrote in the program for an earlier Nationals:

“As platform tennis attracts greater numbers of players, expands geographically, and becomes increasingly money-oriented, I think it is important to remember why people played it in the first place: because it is informal, because it is fun. Fox Meadow is a reminder of these qualities.”

Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983

APTA welcomes Region VI

During the summer, the APTA approved the addition of a new region to be called Region VI that consisted of Canada (lower Ontario) and western New York (Syracuse, Rochester).

Fritz Odenbach was named president for the region and had already announced the 11-event schedule for the 1983-’84 season.

Source: Platform Tennis News, November 1983

Moscow withstands Polish paddle invasion

In May, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow hosted the 9th annual Eastern Hemisphere Platform Tennis Championships between U.S. Embassies Warsaw and Moscow. The competition began in 1975 and had become a fixture in the spring plans of both Embassies. The results of the previous eight meetings showed Moscow with seven wins against a lone victory by Embassy Warsaw in 1981.

1983 Nationals Brochure

National Championships have indoor finals

1983-2

The Nationals came back to CT for the first time since 1935-36, when the Field Club in Greenwich had hosted some of the first Nationals.

Merrill Lynch was the sponsor and The New Canaan Sports Council, the host. Elimination matches were held throughout lower Fairfield County at area clubs, with final rounds of the men’s and women’s Nationals and President’s Cup playoffs held indoors at New Canaan High School on a court specially constructed by R.J. Reilly for the occasion.

Steve Baird and Rich Maier now had won four in a row, as had Doug Russell in the Singles. Not to be outdone Chuck Baird won his fifth straight 55+.

Source: Platform Tennis News, March 1983

Note 1: There is some controversy as to how many National Women’s Singles were played after the APTA had sanctioned a Men’s event beginning in 1980. Women were participating in men’s singles events because they had difficulty getting enough teams to play. Both Men’s and Women’s National Singles Championship had been played from 1935-1937 when both were discontinued. The APTA Tournament Schedules for 1980-1981 as well as 1981-1982 indicate that both Men’s and Women’s Singles were scheduled for New York City. The 1982-1983 Tournament Schedule also suggests that both events were to be held. After that only Men’s Singles were scheduled.

Platform Tennis News, January 1983

Women’s President’s Cup inaugurated

To recognize the top amateurs in the country in a time when professional events eclipsed the tournament landscape, the APTA (with original support from Hertz) had created the President’s Cup, a round robin that pitted the top five teams in each of six designated regions of the country. The top sixteen nationally ranked teams were exempt.

While the Men’s President’s Cup was founded in 1978, the Women’s President’s Cup began in 1983. The New Canaan Field Club was the venue, with final playoffs at New Canaan High School on an indoor court.

This event initially ran on a date separate from the National Championships, but as the professional era came to a close, the President’s Cup took its place the day before the APTA Nationals and remains an honored tradition to this day. Many President’s Cup teams have fond memories of playing hotly contested matches late into the evening before a boisterous crowd that would decide the regional “home” of the Cup (and bragging rights) for the next year.

Source: Christina Kelly, Passing Shots: A Pictorial History of Platform Tennis, 2010, and Platform Tennis News, January 1983

History of game in Region V – present day Region VI (1989 – )

Al Seidel, co-director of Region V, provided Platform Tennis News with the following history of platform tennis in California, and, specifically in the town of Ross. His account also gives credit to those people who were instrumental in introducing the sport to the northern California area, and supporting its growth:

“The first court was built by Web and Dottie Otis in 1971 at their home, and they introduced the game to a small but enthusiastic group of friends. Within the next year, both Marilyn and Laurie Carr, and Tom and Marie Terry built courts on the same picturesque Skyland hill setting.

The Lagunitas Club followed suit in 1977 when two courts were erected.

In 1979, the town of Ross installed the first all-aluminum court, and Marcia and Paul Ginsburg built  a court on what most people thought had been an impossible downgrade slope.

At present, there are seven traditional platform tennis courts in the town. Indeed, Ross is the “capital” of paddle in California.

Along with the Otises, the early and continuing supporters over the years have been Margery and Rea Smith, Ann and Al Seidel, Pam and John Larson, Bobbi and Dirk Van Meurs, Peggy and Bill Spencer, Marilyn and Laurie Carr, Mary and Tom Terry, and Debbie and Chad Lynch. All of these “paddle movers” have devoted their time, use of their courts and hot tubs, their homes for parties and housing guests and, in general, have provided a warm atmosphere for players and friends.

Without the support of the town, the Lagunitas Club, and the use of all the private courts, our tournament would have been impossible to conduct. A special vote of thanks must go to all the women who have not been able to play in these all-male events, but who have prepared lunches and casseroles, and served drinks and rubbed tired backs for the weary losers and jubilant victors.

Hail to paddle in Ross, California!”

Source: Platform Tennis News, January 1983