USTA/Middle States Hall Of Fame Inductee – Charles Oliver By Joshua M. Anderson When Charles Oliver was 8 years old, he played in a match. Whether he won or lost it, he must he liked it, because he played tennis for another 65 years. For most of those years, he played it very well. While he was still in high school, it became clear that Oliver was a top-notch player. In 1942, while a 17-year-old junior, he made history by becoming the first junior to defeat the reigning national singles champion. Throughout the 1940s, Oliver was a feared opponent, leading West Point to wins at the 1948 Eastern Intercollegiates and defeating former Wimbledom champions such as , or soon-to-be champions and . After Oliver’s time at West Point, he was sent to fight in the Korean War. While serving, he earned a Bronze Star and at the same time won Far East singles and doubles championships. His strong play continued wherever the military sent him, and he won tournaments in USTA/Middle States and later, the German and European Air Force tennis championships. In the 1970s, while in his late 40s, he was still winning open championships. For Oliver though, it was not just about results on the court. He had a long history of meeting many famous people such as Secretary of Defense (Dr. Harold Brown) and two Chiefs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. For over 50 years, Oliver has been interested in the results of juniors and making juniors into better players. In the 1950s he coached the Air Force tennis team and again had a stint as the coach and assistant athletic director in the 1960s and 1970s. While in the area in the 1980, he coached Tom Shimada and . Both of these players went on to become professionals and play against the world’s elite. Oliver feels it is a very special honor to be inducted with this group of individuals. The fact that he was only able to spend about 15 years in this region speaks a lot to the productivity of those years and the people who surrounded him and whom he was fortunate enough to work with. All the other inductees are honored that Oliver’s achievements can be celebrated during this special evening on October 22. This Hall of Fame event is sponsored by TD Waterhouse. The event will be held at the historic , located at 411 Manheim Street, Philadelphia, and celebrating its 150th anniversary. The master of ceremonies will be noted sportscaster Michael Barkann. The ticket price is $100 and includes a cocktail hour, dinner, and a silent and live auction. Oliver's fellow inductees are Newton Meade, Christine Beck, Albert Molloy, Jr. (deceased), and Jerry Laroque (deceased). All five of these individuals have used impressive and varied skills to not only achieve success in playing tennis, but also promoting the game in numerous ways. They will join such hall of famers as William Clothier, , Judy Levering and Bill Tilden. To attend the dinner or to donate a silent auction item, call the Middle States office at (610) 935-5000. The proceeds of the dinner and the auction assist junior players and programs throughout the Middle States Section.