www.scta.usta.com Southern California Tennis Association JUNE 2009 Rombeau Steps Down – Kellogg Steps In Mark Winters t the Southern California became an International Tennis Tennis Association’s Hall of Fame member, was AAnnual Meeting, in the President in 1984. Frank W. Straus Clubhouse (Los Angeles Clark followed until 1991. The Tennis Center – UCLA) on legendary Jack Kramer was February 2nd, William (Bill) in charge from 1991 to ’93. J. Kellogg, President of the Franklin (Frank) Johnson, took La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, a page from Kelleher’s book Inc, and the former Co-Chair serving as President from of the United States Tennis 1994 until 1997, before moving Association Davis Cup & Fed to the USTA Board, eventually Cup Committee, was elected becoming its President. President. Kellogg, who has “My proudest moment been an SCTA Board Member was when I worked it out so and the Sectional Delegate for that Henry Talbert could move some time, replaced William from Princeton and working (Bill) E. Rombeau who held for the USTA, back home the position from 1997 to Bill Rombeau and Bill Kellogg to Southern California as the Photos: Cynthia Lum 2008. Executive Director,” Rombeau Rombeau, who comes from a tennis such as the LA84 Foundation/National stated. “I am proud of a number of other playing family, literally grew up at the Los Junior Tennis League, and the College & things too, but at the top of the list is hav- Angeles Tennis Club during the reign of University Scholarship Seminars, (a pro- ing Bob Kramer become the Tournament Perry T. Jones, who led the SCTA (inter- gram that, in the early years, held meet- Director for the annual Los Angeles men’s estingly as Secretary, not President) be- ings at the Racquet Center, the facility in professional event. Together, Henry and ginning in the 1930’s until 1970. Currently, Studio City where he was the Director of Bob, along with their staff, form the best the President of Sports Tutor, a ball ma- Tennis), always had his backing. team in tennis.” chine company, Rombeau played tennis His “outside the box” thinking led Kelleher said, “In the early days he at Oregon State. His late older brother, Sports Tutor to donate equipment to or- (Rombeau) was waiting in the wings Chuck was a member of great USC teams ganizations helping youngsters learn the because those of us on the Board of that included Dennis Ralston and Rafael game, and provided ball machines for a Directors realized how much potential Osuna. Younger brother Jim, a former ju- variety of medical investigations dealing he had. His father had been on the Board nior national star and All-American, spent with the stress of playing tennis. so when the time came, he became the 30 years as the Head Pro at the Houston His name is now included on an il- President. Country Club before becoming the own- lustrious list of former SCTA Presidents. He was well prepared, having been er of the Westheimer Indoor in Houston. When Jones passed away, Joseph (Joe) O. the Association’s Secretary and then Bill Rombeau, honored by the USTA Bixler, (his long-time assistant), succeeded Sectional Delegate. He served on a variety in 2005 with a 25 Year Volunteer Service him and held the position from 1970 until of USTA committees, and was the Chair Award, always looked to bring more 1983. The Honorable Robert J. Kelleher, of the Nominating Committee. When he people to the game in different ways. (who later became USTA President), took over, the Association was small, and He made sure that SCTA programs brought about Open tennis and in time, (Continued on next page) www.scta.usta.com known for producing outstanding tennis players more than anything else. Thanks to Bill, along with Bob Kramer and his work with the tournament, there was And There’s more revenue produced than ever be- fore. The Association became the best More section in the USTA. He also played an Mark Winters important role in Frank Johnson’s be- coming USTA President. He is a very modest and very responsible individual.” ob Shafer, a long-time mem- Kellogg has a tennis pedigree to Bber of the SCTA Board match Rombeau’s. His grandfather, of Directors will assume Bill William S. Kellogg was elected to the Kellogg’s position as the Sectional SCTA Hall of Fame in 1992, and his fa- Delegate. Jim Buck, a retired high ther, William C. Kellogg made the La school mathematics teacher and Jolla Beach & Tennis Club the place Rombeau with wife, Sharon tennis coach who had been the to play in the San Diego area by host- ers for their lifetime. organization’s Secretary, will be- ing events like the Pacifi c Coast Men’s “In short, we have a wonderful Tennis come a Vice President. Carlos Doubles Championships (the fi fth oldest Association that has been doing good things Cruz-Aedo, a Honda Motor tournament in the world), and a variety for tennis for many, many years. If we can Company executive, is the new of USTA national championships. continue the work of the Association and Secretary. An All-Ivy League doubles per- expand our reach to tennis communities Additions to the Board of former during his days at Dartmouth that really haven’t participated in offi cial Directors include: Geoff Griffi n, College, Kellogg is a USTA Certifi ed programs over the years, I believe we will President of the San Diego Referee. (Before graduating from District Tennis Association; Don college, he was a linesman and chair Henson of the United States umpire at Wimbledon.) He spent a Professional Teaching Registry summer playing small professional (USPTR), Tom Rohrbacher of tournaments in France, Ireland the United States Professional and Switzerland, and taught tennis Teaching Association (USPTA) with Dick Leach, (the retired USC and Rainer Wulf of the California coach), at Lacy Park in San Marino, Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and was the Co-Head Pro and Southern Section. General Manager of the Westlake Tennis & Swim Club. Locally, he was the President of the San Diego District Tennis Association (and last year became Circle The a member of the District’s Tennis Hall of Fame), and Youth Tennis LA84 Vice-President of Grants Patrick Escobar and Rombeau Dates San Diego. He crafted the success- ful Davis Cup tie in 2006, and the Fed be able to make tennis grow signifi cantly in he LA Open, the annual Cup match in 2008 into La Jolla Beach & numbers and popularity in the years ahead. Tmen’s professional tennis Tennis Club spectaculars. I am looking forward to meeting that chal- event that has been played lo- “I am very honored to be selected to lenge and working to help create the next cally since 1927, will take place at follow in the footsteps of the great lead- tennis ‘boom’.” the Los Angeles Tennis Center- ers who have guided the development of Kelleher said, “Both his grandfather and UCLA, July 27 – August 2. Some tennis in Southern California for the last father played important roles in the game of the best players in the game century,” Kellogg said. in Southern California. He has his work cut will participate. This is a tourna- He continued, “I believe we need to out for him, but with Kellogg’s history in the ment no tennis fan would want focus, as we have in the past, on making game, he will be a success. He brings a lot to miss. tennis accessible in our public parks and to the offi ce (of President), having run the For information about the on maintaining a tennis environment that Beach & Tennis Club so successfully for so tournament check the website will continue to produce some of the long. If he plays his cards right, I wouldn’t at LATennisOpen.com or call world’s best tennis players while at the be surprised to see him become the USTA (310) 824-1010. same time, serving adult and senior play- President.” 2 www.scta.usta.com Annual Honors The following were recognized with awards at the Southern California Tennis Association’s Annual Meeting: William (Bill) Rombeau – Eric Mann – Junior Lifetime Achievement Competition Biola University – Member Doris LaCour – Multicultural Organization Of The Year Participation JT Sundling and Steve Azeka and Thien-Trang Nguyen – Katie Pruitt – Evelyn Houseman Tennis On Campus Junior Sportsmanship Heidi Betts – Condon Family – Curt Condon Tennis Service Representative Spirit Award USC – Long Ellis Intercollegiate Jeff Richards – Community Tennis Executive Director Henry Talbert, Lifetime Achievement honoree Bill Rombeau and new SCTA President Bill Kellogg Photos: Cynthia Lum Dee Henry and players from Biola University JT Sundling Thien-Trang Nguyen Jeff Richards Eric Mann Doris LaCour accepted Member Organization of the Year Award The Condon family Steve Azeka Katie Pruitt Heidi Betts Peter Smith accepted Long Ellis Intercollegiate Award 3 www.scta.usta.com Falkenburg, Lansdorp, Lutz, Michel, Smith And Yeomans Induction Mark Winters n July 24th, Bob Falkenburg, Robert Lansdorp, Bob Lutz, Peggy Michel, Stan Smith and Pat Yeomans will become members of the fourteenth Southern California O Tennis Association Hall of Fame induction class at a gala dinner and ceremony at the Four Seasons, Beverly Hills. On that evening, they will add their names to the list of 56 previous honorees who have distinguished themselves locally, nationally and internationally while calling attention to Southern California, the best section in the country. For information about this fabulous affair contact Martha Katsufrakis at (310) 208-3838, Ext. 238. Photos courtesy of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, Newport, Rhode Island. Bob Falkenburg Bob Lutz Robert Lansdorp Stan Smith Peggy Michel Pat Yeomans 4 www.scta.usta.com BNP Paribas Open: Sets A Standard Cheryl Jones he desert has a know what it takes to win those, to make it there, before losing to Flavia new host for the you know, long, like, two-weeks’ Pennetta, an Italian who is ranked 12 in T “Fifth Grand Slam”, events.” the world.