Arlington, VA -- The Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2009 at a gala at Army Navy Country Club following an inspirational afternoon tennis clinic featuring wheelchair tennis players paired with former players Stan Smith, Paul Goldstein, Brenda Schultz-McCarthy, and seventh-ranked ITF junior Mitchell Frank.

 

The Class of 2009 included Kenneth Brody, Elaine Puissegur Freeman and the late Capt. Linus Walter Freeman, Jr. (USN Ret.), and Paul Goldstein.

 

The gala, which benefited the Mid Atlantic Tennis & Education Foundation (MATEF), the charitable arm of USTA/MAS, included a cocktail reception, silent and live auction, dinner, Hall of Fame induction, and ceremony honoring the tennis career of Stan Smith and Robert W. Marstellar Courage Award recipient Ken Guendel.

 

David Wendt, MATEF president, welcomed the capacity crowd of 230 guests, outlining MATEF’s funding priorities which include providing scholarships to at-risk youth to attend regional overnight tennis camps at universities, colleges, and other sites, and explained that in 2009 MATEF first provided support to a wheelchair tennis program operated by the Richmond Tennis Association. He said MATEF brought tennis to Walter Reed Army Medical Center through weekend clinics for military families. He also noted that for the first time MATEF supported programs for special education and troubled youth at The Inova Kellar School and Joe Gibbs Youth for Tomorrow.

 

In concluding his remarks, Wendt quoted Arthur Ashe, “It’s not what you get in life that counts, it’s what you give,” Wendt continued “We salute four individuals who have clearly lived up to Arthurs’s ideals.”

           

Ray Benton, CEO of the Junior Champions Tennis Training Center (JTCC), presented Ken Brody, highlighting Brody’s philanthropic nature. “For the first seven years of the Champions Center’s operations, Ken asked for no contributions other than his own,” said Benton. The Tennis Center at College Park is a USTA Regional Training Center with 27-courts located in College Park, MD.

 

Smith, who was honored as an outstanding role model both on and off the court, commented during his remarks that inductee Ken Brody was a man who actually had delivered on the vision he had painted for Smith when the Junior Tennis Champions Center was still in its formative stages.

 

Smith also referred to the years when he had served as a USTA National coach and said that Goldstein was a player who got the most out of his game by never giving up and figuring out how to win against many talented opponents. Smith also applauded Goldstein’s character, sportsmanship, and cited him as a singular example of an individual who lived up to his commitment to both education and a professional tennis career.

 

The Robert W. Marsteller Courage Award was given to Ken Guendel, who was first instrumental in developing a program at a private tennis club for Desert Storm Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed Medical Center and who most recently was part of the team that brought tennis to military families at Walter Reed. Guendel, who could not attend due to illness, was represented by his family and friends.

           

“Ken epitomizes the spirit of MATEF,” said Wendt. “He has devoted his career as a tennis professional to teaching youth, and he has dedicated his spare time to helping others.”

 

Long-time tennis volunteer Elaine Freeman who was inducted with her late husband Capt. Linus Walter Freeman, USN Ret., was recognized for her lifetime dedication to the USTA.

           

“When we were growing up, our family’s life centered on tennis from 5 am practice to having late dinners because of tennis activities,” said Michelle Alber, in introducing her mother. “We recognize now that both of our parents made enormous contributions to the sport of tennis.”

           

A video tribute to Goldstein by his former Stanford coach Dick Gould brought tears to Goldstein’s father and a look of pride to Goldstein. Gould characterized four-time All-American Goldstein as an individual of the highest ideals both on and off the court.

 

Donald Dell, Goldstein’s longtime agent, pointed out that Goldstein achieved his records during the most competitive era of American players. MATEF Hall of Famer Elise Burgin, who was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, recognized fellow Stanford graduate Goldstein as a player who maximized his potential through his determination and hard work.

           

Coach Wayne Bryan, father of Mike and Bob, was the auctioneer for the evening, setting a record surpassing $20,000.

 

Kenneth D. Brody co-founded Taconic Capital Advisors L.P., a multi-strategy event driven hedge fund, in 1999. Brody served as President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States from 1993 to early 1996. He spent 20 years at Goldman, Sachs & Co. from 1971-1991, when he was a general partner and member of the management committee. Brody received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with high honors from the University of Maryland in 1964 and an M.B.A. with high distinction from Harvard Business School in 1971, where he was a Baker Scholar. He served as an officer in the United States Army, attaining the rank of Captain. Brody started playing tennis on a regular basis as an adult, but quickly developed a passion for the sport, and within 15 years of picking up the game was a ranked senior player in the Mid-Atlantic Section. As his love for the game grew, he shifted his focus from his own performance to sharing the joy of the sport with others—understanding fully that its benefits extend well beyond the court. Brody’s vision to create a non-profit junior tennis training program that provided financial aid and offered personalized mentoring and educational services to its students led to the establishment of the Junior Tennis Champions Center. In the 10 years since its founding, JTCC has become one of the premier training programs in the country for young players. The success of its training model was acknowledged by the USTA when the organization named JTCC its first Regional Training Center, recognizing its formula for developing excellence on and off the court. Ken lives in Washington, DC. His children, Charlie and Carrie, are students at Kenyon College, where Charlie competes on the Men's Tennis team.

Elaine Puissegur Freeman and the late Capt. Linus Walter Freeman, Jr. (USN Ret.) of Arlington, VA, are one of only two couples in the country who served their USTA Section as both President and Delegate. They both also served as USTA/Virginia District President. Capt. Freeman, a Nashville, TN native, served in the Merchant Marines for nine years, the U.S. Navy for 30 years, followed by 14 years in the Pentagon’s Senior Executive Service. He retired in 1998. Capt. Freeman's passion for tennis began after he joined the Navy. He found tennis to be a universal social introduction and played as often as duty permitted. He became a life member of the USTA, played USTA tournaments, leagues and became a USTA volunteer. Capt. Freeman served as President of the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Foundation. Nationally, Capt. Freeman served on various USTA committees through the years and received the USTA 20-Year Service Award and the USTA/MAS Outstanding Service Award. Elaine Puissegur Freeman, born in New Orleans, LA, began her USTA Volunteer service in 1973. Through the years, Ms. Freeman served on more than 25 national and sectional committees. She also served as Interim Executive Director of MAS for 18 months. In 1984, USTA President J. Howard Frazer appointed Ms. Freeman the first chair of the USTA Member Appreciation Day at the U.S. Open. She served in that capacity for the next 14 years. Ms. Freeman currently serves as a member of the USTA Evaluation Committee, as Chair of the MAS Military Tennis Committee and recently became a member of the National Military Family Association. Through the years, Ms. Freeman received recognition for her service, including the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Lifetime Achievement Award, USTA/Mid-Atlantic Tennis Foundation President’s Award for Service, USTA/Mid-Atlantic Volunteer of the Year, USTA National Service and Robert E. Lee High School Tennis - Volunteer Service Award. The Freemans have two children; Michelle E. Alber, Centreville, VA, and Linus W. Freeman, III, Alexandria, VA; and three grandchildren; Christopher and Kathleen Alber, and Morgan Freeman. 

 

Paul Goldstein enjoyed an outstanding junior, intercollegiate, and professional tennis career. In 1994, he became the first player in 45 years to repeat as singles champion at the USTA National Boys’ 18s Championships in Kalamazoo, MI. Goldstein played at Stanford University from 1994-1998 and became the first player in intercollegiate history to lead his school to four straight NCAA team titles and earn All-American honors all four years. In 2005, he finished as the highest-ranked player on the ATP circuit with a college degree. In the 2005 US Open, Goldstein and Jim Thomas upset defending champions and #1 seeds Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor in the first round, as well as Simon Aspelin and Todd Perry in the quarterfinals, before losing to eventual champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in the semifinals. In the 2006 US Open, Goldstein and Thomas again defeated Knowles and Nestor (this time in the 3rd round). In 1997, Goldstein received the Rafael Osuna Award from the NCAA, which recognizes competitive excellence and contributions to the sport. In 1997 and 1998 he received the Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship and Leadership Award. In June, 2006, he was elected to the ATP Player Council for a two-year term. Goldstein officially retired in February, 2008. He currently lives in the San Francisco area with his wife, Abbie, and two daughters.

 

Stan Smith won 90 career tennis titles, including 54 doubles titles while pairing with Bob Lutz as one of the most successful doubles team in tennis history. In his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer ranked Smith as one of the 21 best players of all time. In 2005, TENNIS Magazine placed Smith in 35th place in its list of the 40 Greatest Players of the TENNIS era. Smith played intercollegiate tennis at the University of Southern California, where he was a three-time All-American and won the 1968 NCAA singles championship and the 1967 and 1968 doubles titles. Smith captured both the US Open (1971) and Wimbledon titles (1972). In 1972, he was the year-end World No. 1 singles player. Smith also won five Grand Slam doubles titles with partner Lutz including four US Open titles and the Australian Open title. He currently runs the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy in Hilton Head Island, SC where he resides with his wife, Margie. Smith has four children and one grandchild.

 

On Tuesday, May 25, 2010 Ken Guendel passed away after a lengthy illness. His family was present in February to receive his Courage Award. Ken Guendel taught tennis in various capacities at the Aspen Hill Club in Silver Spring, MD, for 20 years. He was the Director of Junior Tennis and has been the Director for the Maryland State Boys’ Indoors and the Bob Wolf tournaments for seven years. His contributions to Mid-Atlantic tennis included producing the Tidewater Tennis Guide (1978 and 1979); Nations’ Capitol Wheelchair Tennis Association Board Member and Tournament Director; Coach of Ryan Martin, the No. 1 World “A” Division Wheelchair player; Montgomery County Tennis Association (MCTA) Board Member and MCTA Wheelchair Program Director for the Montgomery County Middle Schools. He developed MCTA’s first wounded veterans tennis program, bringing veterans from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to Aspen Hill for tennis lessons. Guendel, a USTA Player Development Program Head Coach, wrote and published numerous articles for the PTR magazine, Tennispro, and Mid-Atlantic Match Point. He was a featured speaker at the PTR International Tennis Symposium and the USTA National Tennis Teachers Conference, as well as at several regional and local workshops on the East Coast. He was ranked No. 1 in singles and doubles in the Mid-Atlantic 40's. The 2003 USTA/Maryland Tennis Teaching Pro of the Year was twice a Bronze Ball winner at the USTA 45 National Grass Court Doubles Championships with Claude England. He was the recipient of the 2008 USTA/MAS Lifetime Service Award.

 

As the charitable arm of the USTA, MATEF is a non-profit corporation which supports tennis and education programs for financially disadvantaged youth living in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. MATEF has expanded its reach by providing tennis lessons and QuickStart to wounded veterans and their children at Walter Reed Army Medical and special needs children at The Inova Kellar Center Kellar School. The Foundation strives to encourage education, health, good citizenship, sportsmanship, and high performance among the youth within the Mid-Atlantic region. 

The USTA/Mid-Atlantic section, one of 17 sections of the United States Tennis Association, is a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the game of tennis by offering quality recreational and competitive programs for people of all ages and abilities.