David Kjeldsen – the game’s mover and shaker extrordinaire

In the mid 1980s he was one of the world's most dedicated couch potatoes. Then one Friday evening his sedentary existence miraculously became a thing of the past. David Kjeldsen was invited to play mixed doubles on a small, elevated court surrounded by chicken wire. With the paddle he was given in one hand, a can of beer in the other, and a cigar between his lips, Kjeldsen was a poster child for sports enthusiasm. He got hooked on the game and started playing more and more, but it was getting expensive with a sleeve of balls costing $10. He found out that Hedstrom, out in Ohio, was selling the Vittert balls he was using and arranged to buy case loads directly from them at a discount for distribution to friends and for use in tournaments. Hedstrom was delighted with the increase in business and offered further discounts. Finally, Kjeldsen began thinking: "Why not set up a di[...]

Platform loses an original; “Killy” Kilmarx

Sumner “Killy” Kilmarx, one of the very first national men’s doubles platform tennis champions, died on March 2, 1996, in Scarsdale, NY. He was 96. With his long-time paddle partner, Clifford Couch, he won the first national men's tournament held at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club in 1935. The 1935 final was one of the longer matches in National Men's play, a 4-6 , 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 victory over later champion James Hynson and Charles O'Hearn, who defeated them in the 1937 National finals. But Kilmarx and Couch were victorious again in their return finals in 1939. Kilmarx was recognized by the unusual steadiness of his play and the debonair style of his attire on the court. He was an honorary member of Fox Meadow for many years, having contributed to the development and the popularity of the early game. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1996

Competition breeds conflicts over paddles

The APTA had been wrestling with a conflict between manufactures. The Mid-Winter issue of Platform Tennis News in 1996 carried a note to readers on the situation.

President’s Cup – Region I Men and Region IV Women

Two unexpected regions walked away with the President’s Cup Championships. In the Men’s event, Region I edged Region V by five points, despite a makeshift line-up that changed constantly almost up to the last minute. In the Women’s, the “local” triumph for Region IV, which included Rochester, was feted all weekend with numerous cocktails and toasts to the team members.

National Championships and coverage of Men’s and Women’s

PTN Spring 1996 covered the Men's and Women's Nationals: The old Post Office adage of “neither rain nor sleet, etc.” came into full force at the 1996 men's and women's APTA National Championships, and it turned out to be true. Nothing prevented the hardy paddlers from completing their appointed rounds and matches in Rochester. With over 150 sponsors, Fritz Odenbach and his team were able to run a Nationals the way he thought it should be run: with the emphasis not just on the play, but on the playing afterwards. The lunches, the parties, the President 's Cup events, even the informal get-togethers at the Shadow Lake bar, all added up to an unforgettable event. Michigan's Scott Mansager combined with fellow Wolverine Flip Goodspeed to snatch the men's title with a steamroll run to the championship that included not a single lost set all weekend. Mansager's firepower from the[...]

R.J. Reilly, Inc. to the rescue

Just a couple of weeks before the Men's and Women 's National Championships, and despite altering schedules and expanding play to Friday night for the first time in years, it was realized that one more court would be needed. That's when Jim Reilly of R.J. Reilly stepped into help. His company had put up the extra “stadium” courts at the host Shadow Lake Club, where the main matches were to be played, but it was apparent one more was needed. “Jim really hit a home run for us this time,” said co-chair Fritz Odenbach. “He not only came through with his usual timeliness and quality on the two courts we originally contracted for, but he went out of his way to get us that one additional court that made all the difference in our eventual schedule. To be honest, he and his organization deserve one of those APTA medals for being a winner here at Rochester, because that's exactly wha[...]

APTA Annual Business and Board Meetings

The BOD Minutes reflected the vote to approve designating all present recipients of the APTA Honor Award as Charter members of the newly created APTA Hall of Fame. It was also minuted that: "The current APTA office does not have enough morn to display the memorabilia that has been collected over the years, and which resides in Walt's (Peckinpaugh) garage and various other locations. The idea of a Hall of Fame was considered by the Fox Meadow Terms Club about 25 years ago. The Board passed a motion to designate Chuck (Vasoll) as the point person charged with researching and writing a proposal for a Hall of Fame that will address a site (temporary and long term locations), fundraising requirements and curator arrangements."

Establishment of the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame that now replaces Honor Award

In 1996, the APTA Board, on the recommendation by President Charley Stevens, formally established the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame to replace the Honor Award designation established in 1965 to recognize outstanding achievement in platform tennis. At its meeting at Short Hills, halfway through the season, the Board acted to officially change the designation of the “Honor Award” to recognize recipients as inductees into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. All those who had won the award were automatically members of the new “Hall of Fame.” It was the opinion of the Directors that the new name was more distinctive and indicative of achievement, and more easily recognized and understood by everyone. By decision duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously approved formally inducting all previous Honor Award recipients into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. Apparent [...]

Robert A. Brown elected FMTC President (1996-1998)

No-Let serve started – two year trial period to assess player reaction

After a lengthy discussion and extensive presentation by Bob Brown at the Annual Meeting on May 11, 1996, the APTA Board voted to modify Rule 13, which called for the replaying of a point when the service touched the net cord, center strap or band, and landed in the proper service court. The rule was modified to eliminate the replaying of the point when this happens, thus putting the ball in play. Several other rules where this situation could be described were also reworded to conform to the new decision. Before the change, a portion of Rule 13 stated: "In all cases where a let is called, the point is to be replayed. The service is a let if: (a) It touches the net cord, center strap or band and then lands in the proper service court; (b) After touching the net, band or center strap, it touches either member of the receiving team or anything they are wearin[...]