Heyward Belser
Columbia, SC
Inducted November 26, 1988

HAS BEEN AN AVID TENNIS PLAYER OF MOST OF HIS LIFE AND HAS RECEIVED A STATE RANKING SINCE HE WAS 16 YEARS OLD.

BEGAN MAKING HIS MARK ON THE S.C. TENNIS SCENE BETWEEN 1934 & 1936 WHEN HE WON 3 STATE JUNIOR SINGLES TITLES, 2 STATE JUNIOR DOUBLES TITLES, 1 STATE MEN’S TITLE, AND 2 STATEHIGH SCHOOL TITLES IN BOTH SINGLES & DOUBLES.

FOLLOWING HIS HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR CAREER HE ATTENDED USC WHERE HE PLAYED 4 YEARS. HE WAS TEAM CAPTAIN AND PLAYED #1 IN 1939 & 1940.

AFTER WORLD WAR II, HE CONTIMUED HIS TENNIS, WINNING CITY, STATE, & REGIONAL TITLES OVER THE PAST FOUR DECADES. HE PLAYED ON SEVERAL COLUMBIA MCINVER CUP TEAMS IN THE 40’S & 50’S, AND WAS A CONSISTENT WINNER IN HIS AGE DIVISION IN THE 1960’S & 1970’S.

HIS MORE RECENT TENNIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:
-WON 7 STRAIGHT CITY OF COLUMBIA MEN’S 55’S SINGLES TITLES BETWEEN 1981 & 1987
-WAS A FINALIST IN THE MES’S 65’S SINGLES AT BOTH THE USTA CLAY COURT CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE SOUTHERN HARDCOURT CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1965.
-WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE MEN’S 65’S SINGLES AND WAS RANKED #1 IN SC IN 1983,1984, & 1986.
-WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN MEN’S 65’S DOUBLES AND WAS RANKED #1 IN SC IN 1986.
-WON NUMEROUS TITLES AT LARGE TOURNAMENTS IN THE SOUTH, INCLUDING COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, AND NEW ORLEANS, LOUSIANA (NEHEMIA ATKINSON)
-HAS CONSISTENTY EARNED A SOUTHERN RANKIN, HIS HIGHTEST BEING #7 IN THE MEN’S 65’S IN 1984
RANKED #1 IN SC IN THE MEN’S 70’S SINGLES AND DOUBLES IN 1988

HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN TENNIS GO FAR BEYOND HIS SKILL ON THE COURT. WHILE SERVING IN THE SC GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 1961, HE TOOK THE LEAD IN SEEING THAT TENNIS RECEIVED FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION FROM THE RECREATION COMMISSION. HIS INITIAL INVOLVEMENT AND CONTINUED SUPPORT HAVE HELPED COLUMBIA & RICHLAND COUNTY GO FROM 5 COURTS IN 1961 TO OVER 100 TODAY (INCLUDING 3 MAJOR TENNIS CENTERS).

BEGAN WORK AS A VOLUNTEER COUSEL FOR THE SC TENNIS ACCOCIATION IN 1982 AND CONTINUES WORKING IN THE CAPACITY. HIS LEGAL ADVISE AND EXPERTISE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FAST GROWTH AND CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE SCTA AND ITS PROGRAMS.