Margaret Osborne duPont, Larry Hampton, Nancy Keiper, Ray Walker, and Edgar & Peggy Woolard.

September 15, 2003 – Join the USTA/Middle States Section as it celebrates its 10th anniversary year on Friday night, October 3, at the Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, with an extraordinary class of inductees - Margaret Osborne duPont, Larry Hampton, Nancy Keiper, Ray Walker, and Edgar & Peggy Woolard.

The 2003 USTA/Middle States Hall of Fame Dinner is presented by TD Waterhouse and is a joint effort between USTA/MS, the Middle States Tennis Patrons' Foundation, and the USTA/ MS/Delaware District. A portion of the proceeds will benefit youth programs and support tennis programming activities in Delaware. The cost to attend is $100 per person. Checks may be made payable to Middle States Tennis Patrons' Foundation and mailed to 201 Old State Road, Berwyn, PA 19312. Dinner reservations are due by September 19.

Judy Levering, a former USA/MS president and the first woman president of the United States Tennis Association, will be the master of ceremonies. A featured part of the Hall of Fame event is the Silent Auction, and over 60 items will be on display for bidding during the event. In addition, three items will be auctioned off live. They are: two tickets to the 2004 US Open President's Box, Billie Jean King's suite at the US Open, and a vacation beach home. Please visit www.middlestates.usta.com for a list of silent auction items.

The Hall of Fame event has been held at different venues annually since its beginnings in 1994, and this is the first to showcase Delaware. USTA/Middle States is proud to honor these special inductees, who have contributed so much to tennis. (see attached page for brief bios on each of the inductees).

USTA/Middle States, one of 17 USTA sections throughout the nation, encompasses Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey (exclusive of a 35-mile radius around New York City) and northwestern West Virginia.

For more information contact: Ann LoPrinzi, Director of Communications/Marketing for USTA/MS, 215-322-6789; loprinzi@ms.usta.com

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Margaret Osborne duPont
As one of the most cerebral players in the country, duPont accumulated 31 major doubles and 6 singles championships from 1943-1962. DuPont teamed with Louise Brough in the most successful team prior to the Martina Navratilova/Pam Shriver tandem. Together, they won 12 US championships, 5 Wimbledons, and 3 French Opens. In singles, she won 3 US championships, 1 Wimbledon, and 2 French. DuPont was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1967 for her extraordinary accomplishments.

Larry Hampton
Larry Hampton's contributions to growing tennis are broad and cover many facets of the game. From junior player, to teaching pro, to volunteer, to president of the Delaware District, he has worked long and hard in his tennis endeavors and has been recognized with many honors, including a national USTA service award for reinstating an inner-city tennis program. Hampton is now in his 18th season as Director of Tennis at the DuPont Country Club and continues his community service.

Nancy Keiper
Since Nancy Keiper first picked up a racket at age 8, tennis has been a driving force in her life, and she, in turn, has been a driving force in tennis. Her accomplishments have resulted in many awards, including induction into two other Halls of Fame - Delaware Tennis Hall of Fame and Drexel University Hall of Fame. Keiper had quite a successful playing career that extended beyond college and included national competition, and she taught tennis and coached high school teams. Keiper has worked tirelessly since 1985 to promote grass roots tennis, particularly the inner-city tennis and education programs for youth at risk, for which she has raised thousands of dollars.

Ray Walker (deceased)
Raymond Walker distinguished himself as a lifetime tennis player and volunteer for Delaware tennis. As a volunteer, he served as captain or director of numerous teams and events. A tennis player from age 7, Walker won 96 of 167 tournaments and was the finalist or winner in 73 Delaware State singles and doubles contests in various age categories. He was ranked no. 1 in Delaware 24 times, represented Delaware on interdistrict teams for over 20 years, and ranked as high as no. 13 in singles nationally. Walker, who is also a Delaware Tennis Hall of Fame member, was actively involved in tennis until his death in 2001 at the age of 70.

Peggy & Edgar Woolard
Peggy and Ed Woolard, a husband/wife team, are being inducted for their tremendous influence in the tennis world. Peggy joined the board of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989 and has been involved in the renovations of the museum from its inception in 1991. Along with Billie Jean King, Ed helped bring World TeamTennis to Delaware and was instrumental in DuPont sponsoring WTT, as well as the All-America Tennis classic in Florida.

For further information about the USTA/MS Hall of Fame, call the USTA/Middle States office at 215-322-6789 or co-chair Ed McQuillin at 302-655-6513.

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