Texas Tennis Hall of Fame 2014 Banquet and Inductees Announced

TEXAS TENNIS HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES THE CLASS OF 2014
President George H. W. Bush and the Honorable James A. Baker, III to be inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame along with Texas tennis luminaries Chris Bovett and Susan Shelby Torrance

The Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame is proud to announce its Class of 2014. This year’s inductees are President George H. W. Bush and the Honorable James A. Baker, III (to be inducted jointly), Chris Bovett and Susan Shelby Torrance.
The 34th Annual Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held in Waco on Saturday, October 18, 2014, at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, located at 1108 S. University Parks Drive, Waco, TX 76706. Induction banquet tickets are $75 each. A table of eight can be reserved for $550. Tickets for the event may be ordered securely online at www.tshof.org or by calling Paige Davis at (254) 756-1633. The official host hotel for this year’s banquet is the Fairfield Inn & Suites located at 4257 North IH-35, Waco, TX 76705, (254) 412-2535. The special Texas Sports Hall of Fame room rate of $99 is available until September 15, 2014.

​Class of 2014:

President George H. W. Bush and the Honorable James A. Baker, III
President George H. W. Bush and 61st Secretary of State James A. Baker have teamed together in service to their country and on the tennis court for many decades. Long-time doubles partners, Bush and Baker will be inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame as a team. In many of their public appearances, President Bush and the Honorable James Baker showcased the game of tennis. Whether it was a pro-charity event, a fundraiser for a worthy cause or by supporting the game by providing a special presence, the Bush-Baker duo did it selflessly because they loved the game of tennis. While both gentlemen and particularly Baker were accomplished players, they are being inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame for their service to the game. Both men encouraged youngsters to play tennis, vigorously supported charitable tennis tournaments and generously gave of their time to promote tennis for decades. Their ability on the court and their service to Texas tennis makes them exemplary ambassadors of the game.

Chris Bovett
Chris Bovett excelled in high school tennis as a top ten junior in the 18 and under divisions in both England and Australia. Bovett compiled an impressive 93-27 singles record during college before graduating from the University of Houston in 1970. As a pro, Bovett competed in three USPTA Nationals and nine Grand Slams. He was ranked #1 in Men’s 40s Singles in Texas, 1984-1985. In 1971, Bovett began coaching at the Houston Racquet Club. He has received numerous awards for excellence in coaching, including USPTA Coach of the Year and the Texas Tennis Association’s Lloyd Session Educational Merit Award. Bovett’s students embody the excellence and dedication he models. His students have competed in 37 USTA National Junior Championship Finals, winning 25. Over 120 of his students have played college tennis while 25 have gained world professional rankings.

Susan Shelby Torrance
Susan Shelby Torrance was a UIL State Singles Champion in 1968 representing King High School in Corpus Christi. She played #1 on the University of Texas varsity team and finished third in the State Collegiate Tennis Championships. Torrance competed on the professional tour and reached the top 100 while playing in qualifying events at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and French Open during the 1970s and 1980s. She began playing in USTA national senior events in the mid-eighties and was ranked #1 in USTA Women's 35 and over singles in 1986. Ms. Torrance became heavily involved in the national senior Women's Tennis Association and served on that organization's Board of Directors in 2003-2004. Currently the Director of Tennis and Contract Manager of Al Kruse Municipal Tennis Center in Corpus Christi, Torrance teaches players of all skill levels. She has won numerous awards from the USPTA Texas Section, the City of Corpus Christi and the National Women's Tennis Association. She was nominated for the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame by 27 Corpus Christi tennis players.

The Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame is located in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco, Texas. Preserving the legacies of 126 hall of fame inductees and holding thousands of tennis-related artifacts, the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame is a non-profit 501(c)(3) institution dedicated to the collection and preservation of Texas tennis history. The Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame provides role models for Texans through the examples illustrated in the athletic prowess, sportsmanship, impact on the game and dedication embodied in its inductees.