At the annual meeting in May there was some spirited discussion on the following motions:
• Allow a let to be taken if a lob, once landing in the court, were to bounce out, over the screening.
• Allow a carry or double hit to be considered legal in paddle (currently illegal).
• Have the first server in a tiebreaker start from the deuce court ,rather than the ad court, which is now the case.
All were denied.
Source: Platform Tennis News, September 1984
Manhold had served a five year term and was a major force behind the development of the Senior Paddle Scene.
A former National Champion, he worked tirelessly as a Board Member to improve the plight of the Senior paddler.
“The Legend,” aptly dubbed by Howard Sipe, had striven to broaden the scope of competition throughout the U.S., and had introduced and chaired The Manhold Senior Challenge Cup competition.He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Source: Platform Tennis News, September 1984
Don was the APTA President from 1942-1944.
He began playing paddle in the early 1930s, and became a National Champion in 1943 with Charles O’Hearn as his partner.
He was friendly with Blanchard and Cogswell and often contributed to the direction in which the game has evolved.
Don was a member of Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich, CT, and an enthusiastic promoter of the game to the membership.
The Innis Arden Mixed Invitational Tournament trophy is dedicated to him.
Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1987
The Cleveland Skating Club, which was celebrating it 50th anniversary, was the host club for the event. The women’s had a field of 56 teams and saw Pat Butterfield and Diane Tucker, the defending champions, just edged by Meri Lobel and Yvonne Hackenburg, in their semi-final match. In the final, they needed three sets to overcome the first-seeded team of Connie Jones and Gerri Viant.
The men’s draw had a 72-team field and the finals were played in 70 degree weather. With very few errors by their opponents, Baird and Maier lost for the second year in a row to Moore and Irvine in straight sets.
In the mixed, Jim Kaufman and Connie Jones won an exciting three set final over Tully and Meri Lobel. The pair were down 1-4 in the final set before winning the next five games.
Behind The Screens 1987 National Championships – the stories and photographs.
Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1987 & September 1987
Sallie Van Norden McClure moved to Chicago in the 1960’s, bringing with her a platform tennis heritage. She was the daughter of Fox Meadow President John Van Norden (1937-1938) during the Depression years when paddle was critical to the survival of the Club. The Nordens were neighbors of the Cogswells who built the first two courts.
Norden McClure had been paddle tennis’ greatest Midwest sponsor, right up to her death. While many of her paddle tennis accomplishments are engraved on the trophies on display, it was the unrecorded teaching and organizing efforts that helped Chicago build a program of 57 women’s teams (over 600 players) and 63 men’s teams (800) players.
Source: Platform Tennis News, Nationals 1988
The APTA moved to shared office space in a renovated building that provided common secretarial services. The move helped contain costs as the organization grew and was still located in the Upper Montclair, NJ, business district.
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