Women’s Soft Court 60s-80s
The 2008 USTA Women’s Soft Court (60,70, & 80) Tennis Championship is in the history books. Joc did the draws and all of the necessary ‘stuff’ for the tournament. The theme, “Doin’ It Southern Style” is exactly what the HWTA women did! You showed Southern hospitality in housing the tournament players, greeting and cheering the participants, giving them choices of entertainment, serving food, as well as baking or cooking it! The tournament was given a number 10 by the participants!!!
The week long tournament, was ‘kicked off’ with a welcoming dinner on Friday night with Lee H.S. choral students providing high entertainment under adverse windy conditions. The fresh flowers that adorned the tables were by Sandy Newby. Tommy Battle manned the grill providing the ladies with grilled chicken and pork; Margo Williams made cole slaw; Bebe Brown and Penny Sumners cooked cheese grits; Karen Mitchell provided the dinner rolls; catfish and hush puppies were purchased; it was enjoyed by all. Many had to be told what a hush puppy was! Oh, was it mentioned that all of the committee ladies made 2 pies each for dessert. You can only guess how many were left?!
Apple Lane Farms catered lunch on Saturday. The food was great, but to have Mayor Spencer come to visit over an hour, made Saturday’s lunch one the ladies will not forget! Tuesday Clementine’s brought in lunch. Leftovers were served during the week; Bebe Brown can create a fabulous lunch from the refrigerator leftovers! There were groups of HWTA women that gave up their tennis time to serve the Friday night dinner and the two lunches. Not only them, but the committee members, were constantly in the kitchen. Your HWTA president can organize and clean a kitchen in a flash, not to mention scooping ice cream like a pro!
Did we provide any entertainment? You bet! Saturday night, Gary Hitt organized 5 tables of poker: poker chips were given to each participant to ‘bet’ their hands, hoping for one of the many prizes given at the end of the evening. Dealers were Steve Sumners, Gary Hitt, Jim Daniels, Ray Sansom and Charlie Ross, with Brenda Reinhart and Sue Chatham serving popcorn and drinks. Sunday afternoon the ladies enjoyed ice cream and home made cookies served by Caitlyn Marion (one of Joc’s tennis students) and Brandi Dykes (Carmen’s daughter). Barbara Hitt took pictures using the cut out of Annabelle Grace Hunt, created by Mary Ann DeMaioribus. (Mary Ann did this in between her drawing all of the posters and a map depicting where everyone came from!) Not enough happening? How about spiritual singers at the same time?! A wonderful Sunday afternoon in Huntsville. Monday evening, HAC invited the players for an ‘oldies but goodies’ songfest using Kim Coots’ karaoke machine. The most sought after, with no disappointments, was the Tuesday trolley night going to downtown Huntsville with historical guides of Margaret Bell Crowe and Penny Sumners. There was a stop over at Mason’s Pub with hors d’oeuvres provided by Scott Harriman, our new BOC member. The ladies would have gone a second night if it would have been offered! This was originally set for one trolley, and a second was thankfully provided. In the last news letter two names were omitted from the eight house hostesses: Marianne Case and Libet Kuehn. Thanks to all of you for providing housing.
One of the tennis players told me that she usually loses a few pounds at the tournament, however in Huntsville she gains! There are requests for recipes for many of the breakfast/afternoon snacks that you all provided. You made it happen again, ladies; thank you!
Special thanks (in no special order) to the following, as they provided gift items for the tournament players, as well as needs to present a tournament: HU Tennis Community Volunteers; HWTA Committee; Housing Hosts; HTC Staff; HWTA; HAC; Mayor Loretta Spencer; Sports Commissioner – Greg Patterson; Convention Visitors Bureau – Don Dukemineer; Drs. Fowler and Marlowe; Dr. Troy Layton – Sports Med; Bob Topp, Lee H.S. Choral Department; Singers: Tommy Lockhart, Harry Richardson, Barry Petty; Historical Tour Guide: Margaret Belle Crowe and Penny Sumners; HU Botanical Garden; Space and Rocket Center; Tommy Battle – Great Spirits; Mason’s Pub; S&V Sports; Catbird Seat Garden Center; The Orthopedic Center; Lamb Commercial Realty; First Pharmacy; Brace 4 It; Dunagan, Yates & Alison; Thomas Amsden – Pain Therapist; Face Logic, and Elegant Nails. If someone was omitted, it was not intentional!
In closing, I share, a note written to ‘The Angels of the Huntsville Tennis Center’, by a husband of one of the tennis participants, “How could you possibly out do your hospitality of last year? But you have – each day of the tournament has brought delightful surprises in food and entertainment. Thank each one of you for your share in these complete successes. With appreciation of your efforts and kindness”.
