Back to TopRich Maier, Buffy Briggs, and Steve Baird at the induction ceremony
The setting, the Nationals Championship dinner in the clubhouse at the New York Athletic Club’s summer home on Travers Island in Pelham, New York, was perfect and the recipients elite. Elizabeth "Buffy" Briggs, Steven W. Baird, and Richard K. Maier were added to the illustrious roster that is called the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame.
The first inductee to be introduced by Brook Kindred was Elizabeth "Buffy" Briggs. He extolled her organizational talents for women in paddle, as well as her ability in the play of the game.
Steve Baird was the next to be honored. Kindred again stepped to the podium to make the introduction and record the impact that Baird had on the game. It started with two Junior Championships with his brother and then, teaming with Rich Maier, to win 10 Nationals titles and be a finalist in three others. It was noted he also served on the APTA Board of Director[...]
Ware was elected to the APTA Hall of Fame in 1995 and spent 40 years of his adult life nurturing and promoting the game of platform tennis and was responsible for changing the color of the original white ball to orange so that it had much greater visibility in winter.
Ware served as APTA President from 1961 to 1963 and was instrumental in bringing young people into the game when he inaugurated the first APTA Junior Boys National Championships in 1963. He also designed the crossed paddles and ball insignia that was used on stationery, trophies, ties, scarves, and everything that represented the APTA for years. The logo was modernized in the late 1970's, but Ware's original design remains on the crests presented to Hall of Fame recipients and past Presidents.
Ware, the son-in-law of Fess Blanchard, became the game historian and he and his wife, Molly, put together the first and onl[...]
Platform Tennis News and PTN UPDATE pass into history
Back to TopPlatform Tennis News bids farewell. Platform Tennis Magazine would begin publication in the fall
At the APTA Board meeting in Glenview, IL, in May, Wayne Dollard of Dollard Publishing Co. proposed a professionally-produced four-color magazine format publication that would have content and scope beyond APTA capabilities with their newsletters.
The new publication was seen as a significant enhancement in member value. The summer editions of Platform Tennis News and PTN Update would be the last ones and Platform Tennis Magazine would debut in the fall.
APTA President John Horine explained the decision process:
It is with heavy heart and reserved excitement that we say "good-bye" to the Platform Tennis News and "PTN Update” and say hello to Platform Tennis Magazine. This is an exciting time for platform tennis players everywhere.
Matt Wood of Chicago wrote in the winter issue of the PTN " … I think a small section of the Platform Tennis News should be devoted to some[...]
Back to TopPlatform Tennis Magazine's First Edition
Issue #1 arrived in mailboxes in September.
Wayne Dollard, the editor and publisher of PTM recalled how he decided to pursue the endeavor and his vision for the magazine:
“Ten minutes prior to catching my flight for the'99 Nationals, my father-in-law and I were brainstorming over what he might do with his upcoming retirement. Out of nowhere he said, "Maybe we should create a paddle magazine."Having no publishing experience and a 60-hour-perweekjob I replied, "good luck." Over the next couple of days his idea grew on me. Why don't we have a publication for ourselves? The clincher came in the Westchester airport before my flight home when, out of the corner of my eye, I couldn't believe what I saw on the news stand shelf: Yo-Yo World! How ridiculous! Surely, paddle is more popular than Yo-Yo-ing or whatever you call it, right? At that moment the reality of Platform Tennis Magazine [...]
APTA President, John Horine, explained the benefits of the new magazine in helping grow the game:
“Platform Tennis season is around the corner so now is the time to start getting in shape. Eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and all that, you know.
What are the latest and greatest paddles? Are there new tennis shoes that will hold up better under the stressful conditions we place them under? What’s the scoop on the ball for casual play as well as the tournaments? What are we wearing this year to fend off the chilly winds of winter?
Now, you don’t have to remember all these things to get yourself ready. The source of answers is right here in your hands, the new Platform Tennis Magazine. Take some time to check it out from cover to cover. There's something here for everyone. The APTA sponsorship of PTM is a sign of our growing commitment to promote paddle from the gra[...]
The second issue of PTM carried some positive feedback and some complaints on delivery timeliness.
In the From the APTA ... section APTA President John Horine had this to say:
“Our first issue was a smashing success. A heartfelt thanks to Wayne Dollard and APTA Board members Pete Mathews and Mark Holtschneider. Your summer efforts have resulted in a fantastic magazine. Wayne must have put 10,000 miles on his car this summer crisscrossing the country collecting pictures and articles for this seasons issues.”
Horine’s comments were echoed in the Letters to the Editor section:
“Just read your first issue cover to cover and wanted to congratulate you on a wonderful job! Forty-eight pages of interesting paddle reading...who could ask for anything more? Wishing you continued success in this worthwhile venture!”
Sally Rogers / Scarsdale, New York
“Thank you for t[...]
PTM carried the following story on the new development:
How strong are your powers of observation? Have you noticed a different look on some platform tennis courts recently? If you attended the 1999 Nationals at the New York Athletic Club, you saw it on the showpiece courts, which R.J. Reilly provided for the event. The traditional quartz iodine lights, which have sat perched atop the twenty foot light poles for as long as most players can remember, are slowly being replaced by slightly larger metal halide fixtures.
Why the change? Energy efficiency and advanced optics are the main reasons. The 400 watt metal halide fixtures only use about one third of the energy that the traditional 1500 watt quartz iodine fixtures use. This provides a cost savings to the owner and is easier on our environmental resources (paddle players are conservation minded too). Furthermore, only a 110 amp po[...]
APTA President, John Horine, made the point in the From the APTA section of PTM
“At our teleconference in September, the APTA Board decided to put our foot down on foot faults. This season there will be roaming foot fault judges at each APTA sanctioned tournament. PLEASE read and abide by the rule book. Do not foot fault. You have been duly warned.”
The From the APTA ... section of PTM provided the details:
“The APTA office has a new publication to assist tournament directors. From running a club event to coordinating a national championship, we have compiled some tools and tips to make sure your event runs smoothly. Whether you are running your first tournament or if you are a seasoned director (in need of some help) please call the APTA office so we can assist you.”
Source: From the APTA, Platform Tennis Magazine, Issue #2, November, 1999
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