|
Lou
Einwick Retirement Celebration
December 5, 2007
The Westwood Club
Hosted by the RTA Board of Directors
by
Sara James
|
|
|
Irving
& Anne Driscoll with Lou and Becky
Einwick
|
|
The
RTA Board of Directors hosted a retirement celebration for
Lou Einwick at the Westwood Club on December 5th.
Among the attendees were volunteers who have contributed to
the success of the tennis community over the past several
decades. Former top tennis player, United States Davis Cup
captain and tennis agency legend Donald
Dell, was a 'surprise' guest.
"There
aren't many reasons I would get out in snow and rain to
drive to Richmond from Washington, D.C. - except to honor an
old friend like Lou. He's worth coming to see,"
Dell told the crowd. "He's been so important to
the game of tennis."
Dell
was Arthur Ashe's agent and attorney for 23 years. The
late Arthur Ashe, Sr., who prepared the courts for play at
the Arena and Coliseum during the pro tournament years, was
a close friend of Lou's.
"Arthur admired and cherished his relationship with
Lou. Where Lou is concerned, at the end of the day,
it's all about people. The reason I am here tonight is
to honor Lou, because no one is more deserving."
----
"I am reluctant to say anything about Lou," joked
Waller Horsley in his opening remarks. "He has a
way of retaliating!"
However, that didn't stop him or other presenters from
taking jabs at Lou's tennis game. "Lou's game is
a combination of tenacity and craftsmanship," explained
Horsley. That's right, you'll notice that 'tenacity'
has the same prefix as 'tennis'.
"Tenacity
was needed to deal with a pro tournament for 19
years. Craftsmanship was used when dealing with
the housewives who all wanted John Newcombe staying in their
homes!"
------
The
RTA Board presented Lou with a scrapbook of memories from
the past 50 years of tennis here in Richmond.
"Whatever
I've accomplished has been due to working with others in one
capacity or another - on the pro tournaments, the junior
programs or administratively and all of you should pat
yourselves on the back. I would never have
accomplished anything without all of you."
Lou's
wife Becky, son Charles, daughter and son-in-law Lynne and
Trip Ellis were on hand, as well as Lou's baby
grand-daughter Olivia. "I married a wonderful
woman, and she gave me two wonderful children,"
said Lou. He plans to spend a lot of time babysitting
his new granddaughter, whom he cals the "prize" of
his family.
"We
went up to D.C. to see a play on Christmas Eve," Lou
said in closing his remarks. "The Chorus
Line. There is a famous song from that play - 'What I
Did For Love,' which reminded me of my love affair
with tennis over all these years......
"Kiss
today goodbye,
The sweetness and the sorrow.
Wish me luck, the same to you.
I will not regret
Nor will I forget
What I did for Love."
|
