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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.

GOLDEN RACQUETS PRESIDENTS

Jack Kennedy

1981, 1982

Bill Sperry

1983

Frank Burdell

1984

George Muir, Bill Gress

1985

Al Catullo

1986, 1987

Ginny Erichsen

1988

Lou de Wilde

1989

Ray Kaminski

1990, 1991

Bob Cromwell 1992, 1993
Ted Mitchell 1994, 1995
Sheldon Wolfe 1996
Darden Chambliss 1997, 1998
Carole Richard 1999, 2000
Bruce Doe 2001, 2002
Lance Herold 2003, 2004
Pitamber (Dev) Devgon 2005, 2006
Fred Hart 2007, 2008
 
 

Outstanding Member Awards

 

 

1990 Jack Kennedy

1999 Dennis Sheffield

1991 Bill Sperry

2000 Darden Chambliss

1992 Virg Holtgrave

2001 Joe Will

1993 Olin Houston

2002 C. Carole Richard

1994 Ginny Erichsen 2003 Jim Glassco

1995 Lou DeWilde

2004 Ed Byrne

1996 Ted Mitchell

2005 Lance Herold

1997 Frank Burdell 2006 Sonia Devgon
1998 Polly Buechell & Marguerite Church 2007 Pitamber Devgon
  2008 Lore Schmidgall