The Washington times., 1936-08-12
TENNIS IDEAS go OVER BIG
Early Spring
Talk Brings
Surprises
By GNO SINH

Bill Shreve, soft-spoken boss Of
the popular Tennis Shop, has seen
too much and has done too much
to advance local tennis to get un-
duly excited over anything other
than something he considers genu-
inc and of major Importance.
But the proposed District Of
Columbia Tennis Association has
Bill forgetting himself no end. 1t
has struck a chord in Bills heart
which has long been anxious to
respond to something of this sort.
A lover of tennis without qualifi-
cation, Bill played an advisory role
in the creation of the organization.
Early this spring, Tom Markey.
former Notre Dame star, Sashayed
into Bills shop and the two genial
and level-headed young men fell to
discussing the question which has
been worrying local tennis follow
erS for years What is wrong with
D. C. Tennis?"
No Academic Discussion
Abandoning a purely academic
discussion of the matter these two
chaps strove to find remedy and
the means of putting it in practice.
Shreve'S rep as an organizer was
we'll established. Thanks to his
efforts many local tournament
was successfully staged year after
year. Imagine his pleasure and sur
prise when he found in Markey a
kindred soul, a man who wanted
to make things go.
The first fruit Of that chance
meeting is history now as score
Of the city'S best racqueterS Slip
ped out of their Public Parks hal
ter to become affiliated with the
Edgemoor Country Club.
WaShington's crying need was
a tennis club, presto, Markey
found an eager ear, that of portly
Jack Gray, Edgemoor prexy.
Second Red Apple
Now comes the second big red
apple culled in that half hour of
pertinent banter of words in the
early spring. A city.wide organi-
cation, a rallying point for all To-
cal tennis activities and organiZa-
tionS in which can be failed out
all conflicting dates, plan the sea-
son so that it not only will give
every local star chance to strut
his stuff under the best conditions
but also encourage the young
sters and the diffidents.
The enthusiasm and the back
ing swept both Markey and
Shreve off their feet. They had
struck a "gusher" and everybody
was willing to lend a hand.
It was a sight for sore eyes that
splendid gathering of tennis flesh
at the Edgemoor Tennis Club last
Friday to go over preliminary
plans for the organization. All
were willing and agreeable, for
getting whatever differences they
might have had if any.
Shreve, recalling some Of the
past attempts to formulate such
an association in past years, was
almost moved to tears. The Wash.
ington Tennis Association, which
held a weak control on local tennis
for seven or eight years, was never
like this. Nobody seemed to care
then. Now every man took deep
personal pride in seeing that the
organization would be so launched
that its power and prestige would
never he undermined
Meeting Friday Night
Friday night, probably at Major
Christenberry's office, meeting
of the constitution committee will
be held with Stan McCaskey, Mrs.
Dorette Miller, Bill Dismer, along
with the major, Markey and
Shreve, drawing up a set of rules
and bylaws for the final organiza-
ton meeting scheduled at Ward
man Park a week, from Friday.
Which proves that two heads
are better than one, if one is on a
chap who has been through the
mill and the other is on young
fellow who is really anxious to
solve vital problem.
Hats off to Tom and Bill, and
let's have more of these spring
time talkfests, for it seems that
some young mems fancieS turn to
other things than love.
VOTE AMERICAN