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BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY GOLDEN RACQUETS
 
In April 1980, Jack Kennedy, Woody Crockett and Marvin
Bingham, who lived in Fairfax County, but who had been playing
tennis with a group of seniors in Arlington County for a couple
of years, decided that a similar program was needed in their
county. After discussions with Eileen Cooper, Supervisor
of the Senior Services Division of the Fairfax County Department
of Recreation and Community Services, they agreed to assist in
organizing such a group. In early May, publicity was given
to a proposed meeting on June 9 in the George Mason Public
Library which resulted in 32 charter members enthusiastically
signing up. Meanwhile, the Fairfax County Park Authority was
asked to provide five reserved courts at the Jefferson District
Park on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and to
waive reservation fees with the proviso that no play could occur on holidays, week ends, and evenings leaving
courts available for those who work every day.
By the time play actually started on June 24, word of the
program had spread, and ten more players showed up. Each
player was asked to rate himself or herself (one-fourth of the
charter members were women) on the National Tennis Rating
Program (NTRP) format which permitted the Team Captain to match
players of comparable playing levels. At the court a
player's name card was placed on the assignment board which was
changed every half-hour during the two-hour period to provide
interesting and challenging competition.
By the end of August, as the summer session was drawing to a
close, the group had increased to 96 and all eight available
courts were being used. It was apparent that the group
would continue to grow and that one location for outdoor play
would not meet the group's needs for the next season; therefore
a request was initiated to the Park Authority for other sites.
For the coming winter season, members were canvassed regarding
their wishes to play indoors with the result that several indoor
tennis clubs were contacted regarding use of their courts in
off-hours at reduced rates. Contracts were signed with two
clubs after fifty members elected for this part of the program
which ran from September 15 to May 1 during the hours of 2:30 to
4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
On November 18th a meeting was held at the George Mason
Public Library to elect club officers, regular Team Captains and their
alternates, and to appoint an ad hoc committee to draft a club
constitution, rules and by-laws
in accordance with county
requirements. Members were also asked to think about a
name for the group, and when Fairfax County Golden Racquets was
suggested, it was unanimously adopted. One of the group, an
accomplished artist, Boyd Lewis, painted an attractive logo
depicting a little old man and lady brandishing tennis racquets.
Before the 1981 summer season commenced, the membership had
increased to 145, confirming the need for additional outdoor
courts. Agreement was reached with the Park Authority to
provide reserved courts at three additional parks at Mason
district Park, Wakefield Recreation Center, and Nottoway Park on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 to
11:00 a.m.

Continued growth of the club has been experienced due to many
who have been willing to contribute their time and energy in
accepting responsibility for the numerous tasks to be performed.
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GOLDEN RACQUETS PRESIDENTS |
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Jack Kennedy |
1981, 1982 |
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Bill Sperry |
1983 |
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Frank Burdell |
1984 |
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George Muir, Bill Gress |
1985 |
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Al Catullo
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1986, 1987 |
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Ginny Erichsen |
1988 |
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Lou de Wilde |
1989 |
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Ray Kaminski
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1990, 1991 |
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Bob Cromwell |
1992, 1993 |
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Ted Mitchell |
1994, 1995 |
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Sheldon Wolfe |
1996 |
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Darden Chambliss |
1997, 1998 |
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Carole Richard |
1999, 2000 |
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Bruce Doe |
2001, 2002 |
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Lance Herold |
2003, 2004 |
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Pitamber (Dev) Devgon |
2005, 2006 |
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Fred Hart |
2007, 2008 |
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