"As early as 1890, the TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE campus boasted of a tennis court which was located in front of the Academic Building.*"
Booker T. Washington had the foresight to introduce the international Sport of Tennis to this community because it promoted a Healthy Recreational Social Activity. In 1958, there were 4 tennis clubs recorded in the community (Greenwood, Faculty, Varsity and Veterans Hospital**). I left a united community in 1960 (Institute, Business and Veteran's Hospital) only to return in 2014 to discover a divided city, no tennis clubs, only 5 or 6 barely playable cou8rts on Tuskegee University's campus, minimal interest in the game outside of a physical education class given at Tuskegee University and the Tuskegee University tennis team. I was told that sometime in the 1980's there was a tournament held on Campus that drew a large number of players from all around the country. (The host or organizer currently is unknown)
Arthur A. Carrington, Jr. is a Professional Coach who in his youth was introduced to the game of tennis in a program like the A.T.A. (The American Tennis Association) neighborhood development program. He experienced the benefit of the A.T.A. on a HBCU campus (Hampton). As a result, Art and his entire family (brother, wife, son) have been in the business of coaching, teaching and mentoring amateur and professional players past and current in the A.T.A. and USTA for 55 years.
I discovered the A.T.A. at the 1978 National Championships held in Detroit featuring 2 up and coming teens, Zina Garrison and Lori McNeal from Houston. The experience of that event brought back memories of my child hood here in Tuskegee. I was hooked for life and I became a Lifetime Member of the ATA. The A.T.A. continues to celebrate over 100 years of existence (1916) and held their 100th Annual Nationals in Baltimore, MD in 2017.
The book written by Art on the history of Black Tennis is a must read book that just scratches the surface of the rich history of the Black Excellence in the international game of Tennis. This book inspired me to establish "The Tuskegee Institute Community Tennis Club".
Art has agreed to assist me by allowing the Club (TICTC) to market the book as a fundraiser to defray the cost of Club expenses.
To place orders locally, call Larry King, Sr. (914-329-9292) or
email: [email protected].
CLICK HERE to Order Now.
Otherwise, Mail requests to: TICTC, P.O. Box 670, Tuskegee Institute, AL 36087.
Make checks out to: Tuskegee Macon County Community Foundation (Memo: TICTC BT Book)
For copies: $50.00 (includes shipping and handling).
*Corrine Ferguson Adams, Tuskegee Institute, AL August, 1931
**Notes from the Tuskegee University Archives
Booker T. Washington had the foresight to introduce the international Sport of Tennis to this community because it promoted a Healthy Recreational Social Activity. In 1958, there were 4 tennis clubs recorded in the community (Greenwood, Faculty, Varsity and Veterans Hospital**). I left a united community in 1960 (Institute, Business and Veteran's Hospital) only to return in 2014 to discover a divided city, no tennis clubs, only 5 or 6 barely playable cou8rts on Tuskegee University's campus, minimal interest in the game outside of a physical education class given at Tuskegee University and the Tuskegee University tennis team. I was told that sometime in the 1980's there was a tournament held on Campus that drew a large number of players from all around the country. (The host or organizer currently is unknown)
Arthur A. Carrington, Jr. is a Professional Coach who in his youth was introduced to the game of tennis in a program like the A.T.A. (The American Tennis Association) neighborhood development program. He experienced the benefit of the A.T.A. on a HBCU campus (Hampton). As a result, Art and his entire family (brother, wife, son) have been in the business of coaching, teaching and mentoring amateur and professional players past and current in the A.T.A. and USTA for 55 years.
I discovered the A.T.A. at the 1978 National Championships held in Detroit featuring 2 up and coming teens, Zina Garrison and Lori McNeal from Houston. The experience of that event brought back memories of my child hood here in Tuskegee. I was hooked for life and I became a Lifetime Member of the ATA. The A.T.A. continues to celebrate over 100 years of existence (1916) and held their 100th Annual Nationals in Baltimore, MD in 2017.
The book written by Art on the history of Black Tennis is a must read book that just scratches the surface of the rich history of the Black Excellence in the international game of Tennis. This book inspired me to establish "The Tuskegee Institute Community Tennis Club".
Art has agreed to assist me by allowing the Club (TICTC) to market the book as a fundraiser to defray the cost of Club expenses.
To place orders locally, call Larry King, Sr. (914-329-9292) or
email: [email protected].
CLICK HERE to Order Now.
Otherwise, Mail requests to: TICTC, P.O. Box 670, Tuskegee Institute, AL 36087.
Make checks out to: Tuskegee Macon County Community Foundation (Memo: TICTC BT Book)
For copies: $50.00 (includes shipping and handling).
*Corrine Ferguson Adams, Tuskegee Institute, AL August, 1931
**Notes from the Tuskegee University Archives