Nehemiah Atkinson
Nehemiah Atkinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 8, 1918 Biloxi, Mississippi USA |
| Died | February 9, 2003 (aged 84) Kenner, Louisiana, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Tennis coach Professional tennis player |
| Known for | Community leader Teaching tennis to the underprivileged |
Nehemiah Atkinson (1918–2003) was a
Early life and education
Atkinson was born in 1918 in
During World War II, Atkinson served in the
Atkinson subsequently returned to New Orleans, where he obtained employment with the Dryades Street branch of the
Tennis career
In 1947, as part of his experience with the Dryades Street YMCA, Atkinson co-founded the New Orleans Hard Court Tennis Club, which provided opportunities for African-Americans to play competitive tennis in the segregated society of the time. This included organizing tennis tournaments, often taking place at
In his early years of teaching tennis, due to limited resources, Atkinson sometimes used parking lots with a modified volleyball net instead of a tennis net as makeshift tennis courts. He taught youngsters the sport of tennis regardless of their ethnic background.[4]
Atkinson participated in many tournaments sponsored by the American Tennis Association, and he also supported them by doing volunteer work on behalf of the association. This was before the time that the United States Tennis Association accepted African-American players, while the American Tennis Association promoted African-American participation in the sport.[4] As a player, Atkinson won various regional tennis tournaments throughout the southern United States,[1] winning approximately 15 tournament titles.[4]
Following the 1974 relocation of the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club, the former location became the Stern Tennis Center, a part of the New Orleans Recreation Department. This facility, on South Saratoga Street in New Orleans, welcomed African-Americans to play tennis. Atkinson became the manager of the facility, a position he held until his retirement in 1995.[2] At the time of his retirement, Lloyd Dillon became manager of the facility, whom Atkinson has mentored for the position.[4]
Atkinson's notable tennis students included
Atkinson wrote a column for the
Experience with segregation
Much of Atkinson's career coincided with the era of the
After segregation in the Deep South subsided, Atkinson became a member of the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club, from which he had previously been excluded for racial reasons.[2] This was the most prestigious tennis facility in New Orleans at the time. As of 2019, the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club was also the oldest tennis club in the United States (founded in 1876), and it had become racially integrated only in 1986.[6]
In the 1960s, local tennis player Harry Anisgard sponsored Atkinson for membership in the formerly all-white New Orleans City Park Tennis Club. In reprisal, Anisgard was dismissed from the club. The club had regrets soon afterward, and re-admitted Anisgard to the club, ironically with Atkinson's sponsorship.[6]
Senior tennis
As a senior tennis player, Atkinson won the Men’s 65 Singles Championships in both 1989 and 1990 sponsored by the United States Professional Tennis Registry. He subsequently won the Men’s 70+ Singles in 1994 through 1997 and then again in 2000 and 2001. In 1993, Atkinson was named Player of the Year for the United States Professional Tennis Registry.[4]
In 1999, Atkinson won the 80s National Hard Court Championship in
With regard to his success in senior competitive tennis, Atkinson stated:[4]
"I’ve got better wheels than most people I play. Also, I play a lot of young folks and I’m simply out on the court a lot. Tennis keeps you young. It stimulates your heart, keeps your body in shape and your eyes sharp."
Later life
Atkinson died of cancer at the
Honors and recognition
The Atkinson-Stern Tennis Center of the New Orleans Recreation Department, located in uptown New Orleans, is named in honor of Atkinson and philanthropist Edgar B. Stern.[8]
Atkinson served as a pallbearer at the funeral of tennis star Arthur Ashe.[4]
In 1977, Atkinson received the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Ripple of Hope Award. He was the first African-American to be inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame.[2]
In 2000, Atkinson was inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame.[9]
The Louisiana Tennis Association awards the Nehemiah Atkinson Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award in Atkinson's honor.[10] The Professional Tennis Registry Foundation awards the Nehemiah Atkinson Humanitarian Grant, given to an individual distinguished by actions aimed at improving the lives of others. As a senior tennis player, he received the T.N. Touchstone, Jr. Memorial Trophy, awarded for his sportsmanship and support of southern tennis.[4]
External links
- A photograph of Nehemiah Atkinson is available on-line.
- Southern Tennis Hall of Fame Inductees
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Lyman, Tim (December 9, 2002). "Jumping the Net". The Gambit. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ ISBN 9781496803764.
- ^ "Atkinson, Nehemiah SSGT". 93regimentalcan.com. Christine and Dennis McClure. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Crawford, Billy. "Coach Nehemiah Atkinson". cityparktennisclub.com. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ Kolb, Caroline. "For the Love of Tennis". myneworleans.com. Renaissance Publishing LLC. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-1682261002.
- ^ "Nehemiah Atkinson obituary". usgwarchives.net. USGenWeb Project. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- ^ "Atkinson-Stern Tennis Center". nordc.org. New Orleans Recreation Department. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame". allstatesugarbowl.org. Allstate Sugar Bowl. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- ^ "2019 Award Nominations". louisianatennis.com. Louisiana Tennis Association. Retrieved 6 January 2020.