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Fern Peachy Kellmeyer
Western Virginia native Fern ‘Peachy’ Kellmeyer (b.1944) stands among the pioneers who changed the face of women’s tennis. A junior champion in the 1950’s, Kellmeyer went on to play No. 1 on the University of Miami Women’s Tennis team and became the first woman to compete on a Division I men’s squad. Hired as physical education director and coach at Florida’s Marymount College in 1966, Kellmeyer sued successfully to overturn an NCAA rule barring women’s athletic scholarships – blazing a trail for Title IX legislation.
In 1973 Kellmeyer was tapped by founder Gladys Heldman as the first tour director of the fledgling Virginia Slims circuit. She pushed continuously to secure additional venues and increased prize money for her players; and in 1977, she brought the first woman’s tennis tournament to Madison Square Garden.
Currently senior vice-president of the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Tour, Kellmeyer says, “I’m proud to see what has happened with women’s athletics. Women will just keep fighting into the next century.”
In 1973 Kellmeyer was tapped by founder Gladys Heldman as the first tour director of the fledgling Virginia Slims circuit. She pushed continuously to secure additional venues and increased prize money for her players; and in 1977, she brought the first woman’s tennis tournament to Madison Square Garden.
Currently senior vice-president of the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Tour, Kellmeyer says, “I’m proud to see what has happened with women’s athletics. Women will just keep fighting into the next century.”
Janet Hopps Adkisson
A superb athlete who played baseball and football as a girl, Janet Hopps Adkisson (b.1934) picked up a tennis racket at age 12 and three years later, claimed the California state singles and doubles titles.
When her family moved to Seattle in 1953, Adkisson became a top student at Seattle University while playing No. 1 on the men’s tennis team. She also pioneered national intercollegiate play for women, sweeping the All-College Girls’ Championships three years in a row.Dominating Northwest tennis, Adkisson broke into the national Top 10 in 1956 and enjoyed great success on the international circuit.
In 1962 she married university administrator William Adkisson, with whom she raised seven children. Described as ‘unselfishly devoted to the sport 100 percent,’ Adkisson has worked tirelessly as a professional, including a 10-year term as coach of the Seattle University tennis teams. In 1998, marking a half-century of service to tennis, she was inducted into the Washington State Sports Hall of Fame.
When her family moved to Seattle in 1953, Adkisson became a top student at Seattle University while playing No. 1 on the men’s tennis team. She also pioneered national intercollegiate play for women, sweeping the All-College Girls’ Championships three years in a row.Dominating Northwest tennis, Adkisson broke into the national Top 10 in 1956 and enjoyed great success on the international circuit.
In 1962 she married university administrator William Adkisson, with whom she raised seven children. Described as ‘unselfishly devoted to the sport 100 percent,’ Adkisson has worked tirelessly as a professional, including a 10-year term as coach of the Seattle University tennis teams. In 1998, marking a half-century of service to tennis, she was inducted into the Washington State Sports Hall of Fame.
Nancy Pearce Jeffett
Co-founder of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation and longtime chair of the U.S. Wightman and Federation Cups, Nancy Pearce Jeffett (b.1928) is considered one of the most influential women in tennis. Raised in St. Louis, Jeffett rose to No. 10 in the junior ranks before entering Washington University. Her marriage to businessman Frank Jeffett in 1956 brought her to Dallas, where she assumed a leadership role in the tennis community while raising her two children.
In 1968, Jeffett teamed with Grand Slam champion ‘Little Mo’ Connolly to establish a tennis foundation, for which Jeffett took full responsibility following her friend’s untimely death from cancer. Over the next 30 years Jeffett created an organization that today sponsors a dozen major tournaments and has contributed more than $4 million for player development – from public parks to the professional level. Honored worldwide, Jeffett is celebrated in her hometown with the annual presentation of the Dallas Tennis Association’s Nancy Jeffett Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 1968, Jeffett teamed with Grand Slam champion ‘Little Mo’ Connolly to establish a tennis foundation, for which Jeffett took full responsibility following her friend’s untimely death from cancer. Over the next 30 years Jeffett created an organization that today sponsors a dozen major tournaments and has contributed more than $4 million for player development – from public parks to the professional level. Honored worldwide, Jeffett is celebrated in her hometown with the annual presentation of the Dallas Tennis Association’s Nancy Jeffett Lifetime Achievement Award.
1999 Hall of Fame Inductions
People Who Changed The Game
In 1999, we inducted 3 incredible women into the Hall of Fame. Each of their legacies has created a lasting impact on the sport of tennis and will for the rest of time.
Inductees
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