ABOUT THE RICHMOND TENNIS ASSOCIATION
and Reasons Why You Should Join
The Richmond Tennis Association
("RTA") is one of
the oldest and most successful community tennis organizations in the
United States, having been named tennis organization of the year by the
USTA and USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section during its existence.
The RTA organizes and operates a variety of tennis
programs and events throughout the year for tennis players of all ages and
abilities. Top players in the Richmond area compete each spring
for the Davenport City Championships (including open divisions, family
divisions and age division events for adults and juniors).
During the summer, hundreds of children participate in
an RTA/UTurn/City of Richmond summer program at Byrd Park featuring
tennis, academic and life skills instruction. The McDonald's
summer series of junior tournaments provides opportunities for area
juniors to gain tournament experience and improve their state and
sectional rankings.
In the last weekend in September, area tennis clubs send their best players at
all levels to compete for the Anthem Challenge crown. The three-day team competition has become one of the largest and most anticipated
tennis events in the area since its inception in 1993.
Throughout the year, select Richmond juniors train at
RTA sponsored programs specifically designed for top-ranked juniors
competing at high levels at sectional and national tournaments.
The RTA also provides funds to assist juniors and local USA League
teams who compete at national events.
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Past
RTA Presidents
1955 Cy
Slavin
1956 Henry
Valentine
1957 Bobby
Leitch
1958-59 JA Gunter
1960-61 Harold Jones
1092-63 Massie Valentine
1964 Frank
Maloney
1965-66 Lou Einwick
1967-68 John Kenney
1969 Waller
Horsley
1970-71 Skip Forrest
1972-73 Gayle Marlow
1974 John
Oakey
1975 Reb
McCowen
1976 Jerry
DePew
1977-78 Paddi Valentine
1979-80 Gaile Zfass
1981-82 Anne Miller
1983-84 Bill Walker
1985-86 Sue Cain
1987-88 Lindsay Wortham
1989 Lou
Einwick
1990-91 Irving Driscoll
1992-93 Debbie Pomeroy
1994-95 Tom Vozenilek
1996 Sharon
Jensen
1997-98 Michael Pratt
1999-2000 Matt Schon
2001-03 Fred Bruner
2004-06 Eric Perkins
2007 Stuart
Horsley
[ Click Here to Join the RTA ]
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2008
Board of Directors |
| Fred
Bruner |
| Tom
Hopkins |
| Julie
Ogborne |
| Mark
Bernstine |
| Eric
Perkins |
| Patty
Smith |
| Kirsten
Elim |
| Kerri
Rhodes |
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| Cris
Robinson |
| Jay
Nelson |
| Martha
Condyles |
| Sheri
Crowell |
| Damian
Sancilio |
| Paul
Manning |
| Kim
Brewer |
| Mark
Seidenberg |
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History
of the RTA |
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The RTA, originally
known as The Richmond Tennis Patrons Association, was formed
on November 3, 1954, for the purpose of encouraging the
development of junior tennis in the Richmond area.
Over the years, the RTA's mission has expanded to include
the growth and development of both junior and adult tennis
in the Richmond area.
In 1966, the RTA was instrumental in starting a successful
event on the men's professional tour; first under the
sponsorship of Fidelity Bankers Life and then United
Virginia Bank. The list of tournament champions
includes some of the greatest players in tennis history
including Arthur Ashe, Rod Laver, Ilie Nastase, John McEnroe,
Bjorn Borg, Vitas Gerulaitis and Guillermo Vilas.
In 1968, the RTA led an effort for Richmond to host a Davis
Cup tie between the US and the British Caribbean. The
US team, led by Arthur Ashe, Clark Graebner, Stan Smith and
Bob Lutz, won a convincing 5-0 victory at Byrd park and went
on to win the Davis cup that year.
In 1994, the RTA organized a successful exhibition match
between Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. The event
raised over $100,000 for the Richmond Cerebral Palsy Center.
Since the 1950's, the RTA has organized and promoted a
variety of junior tennis programs, including an elite
program for top competitive juniors in the area. Over
200 area juniors have gone from RTA junior programs to play
collegiate tennis, and several have achieved success on the
men's and women's professional tours.
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