HWTA is working toward a record 300 members for 2008, and there is one long-time member who deserves very special recognition. Born Betty Jean Dupuy, Betty Choate, a founding member of HWTA, celebrated her 80th birthday on June 20, 2008. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Earl, a NASA engineer, who moved the family to Huntsville in 1960. They have a daughter, Cathey, and a son, Mark, whose life was taken in 1977 in a rappelling accident at Three Caves. Cathey blessed Betty and Earl with three grandchildren who live in Madison.

Many of us began playing tennis in the Roselyn Donnelly/Brahan Spring era. Prior to Brahan Spring, tennis was played in downtown Huntsville on six Rubico courts in Big Spring Park. In 1966 Betty saw an announcement in the paper for tennis lessons being taught in Big Spring Park. Rose Roberts was the teacher and was also responsible for organizing HWTA in 1967. Dressed in ALL WHITE, the dress code of the era, and carrying her WOODEN tennis racket, Betty began her long love affair with tennis. Betty began playing league tennis in 1983-84 when Michelob was the sponsor, and has continued league play through today. In October, she and her current team participated in the State Super Senior Tournament here in Huntsville. When asked what motivates her to continue playing tennis, Betty said, “I continue to play because I love the game and the people I have met playing tennis. I have met so many people through tennis that I would never have met if I hadn’t played tennis.” Then when asked if she had a secret to good health, she said, “No, I just try to stay active playing tennis and riding my bike”.

In 42 years of playing tennis, Betty has played hundreds of matches, but the most memorable was around 1974, before the introduction of the tie-break. Betty Choate lost a grueling 3-set, 4-hour match to Betty Dooley 5-7, 11-9, 8-6!

Betty’s active life continues beyond the tennis courts. She and Earl have built a grass tennis court behind their lovely home in Madison, and they have also built a cabin and a windmill on the farm they own in Giles County, TN. Betty’s diverse and creative abilities are evident in the projects she and Earl undertake and complete. With the same regularity that Betty plays tennis with her friends and completes projects with Earl, she also enjoys playing bridge with her group of T&B Girls, a group of tennis players who have been together at the bridge table for many years.

So, the next time you see Betty Choate, wish her a belated happy Birthday, and ask her about the many other projects she has been involved in with family and friends. Congratulations, Betty, on 80 successful, active years.

Lots of things change over 40 years, but many remain the same. I can’t help but draw a parallel with our move to the new tennis center and that of the big move from Big Springs to Brahan Springs in the 60’s. The move from Big Spring was strongly resisted with protests at City Council meetings and letters to our Congressman, Senators, etc. HWTA was too late in that case since the city had already sold the land for development of an international park. It makes the recent development in Big Springs sound like déjà vu all over again. In the more recent move, HWTA took the lead in challenging the city to build a new tennis center with lobbying efforts from Deanna Klusendorf, Pam Deerman, Sandy Maser and others.

Some traditions get established so smoothly that we think they have always existed. HWTA has always been a charitable organization. Records indicate we bought library books and swing sets for Brahan Springs in our first year. But HWTA became charitable in a big way in the late 90’s. Sue Chatham was our President, and she organized a workday for members with Habitat for Humanity, then suggested we dedicate our Fall tournament to that worthy organization. That effort blossomed into a tradition that continues today, with numerous organizations benefiting from our generosity. We have continued to make one-of-a-kind donations as well: defibrillators, chairs, cabinets for the new HTC building, etc. Hopefully this will continue to be a characteristic of this great organization.

We have also continued the great tradition started by Roselyn Donnelly in encouraging juniors to learn the game. Spring Break for juniors has become a new tradition thanks to Chris McCauley who worked with Charlie Thornton to start the program about 1992, then Dottie Robinson for the past 6 years. Many members of HWTA have supported these ladies. Both Dottie Robinson and Gretchen Sienicki have received awards for their work with juniors.

Today we are establishing new traditions. Huntsville is now hosting award-winning tournaments at our new tennis center. This could not be done without the tireless support of HWTA and ladies like Connie Keltner. Our members are always eager to provide refreshments and hospitality, and it reflects well on the city and HWTA. Thanks to all of you who make HWTA what it is today.

The structure of women’s tennis in Huntsville made a big change in the mid-eighties when Mary Jean Warden talked us into forming “Volvo” teams and playing league tennis. I was never quite sure about the connection between Volvo and USTA, but whatever it was, it didn’t last long. Initially we had regular teams with competition for 2 months in the Spring and Fall. Later Jeff Burns became the coordinator and added mixed doubles, seniors and combo teams, and league play is now almost year around.

League play is not a part of HWTA, but it did cause us to phase out ladder play. HWTA continued to be an integral part of women’s tennis in Huntsville, working alongside USTA play, as well as promoting it. Weekly round robins continued, but by the eighties all levels were participating in round robin play together. Semiannual tournaments were routine events, with mixed doubles added to the Fall tournament. The Membership Coffee and Holiday Luncheon continued to be annual events, and a Mixed Doubles Summer Social was added as an annual event.

The HWTA membership booklet was first published in 1970. We have a copy in our files at HTC if you would like to take a look at it. It is a much smaller booklet than we publish today. Thanks to Mary Ann DeMaioribus our booklet covers have carried beautiful artwork for years. For most of us, the booklet is a great reason for belonging to HWTA because it provides us with those precious phone numbers for getting up a match.