Sam Daniel
Columbia, SC
Inducted November 3, 1984

STARTED PLAYING TENNIS IN 1934 AT PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE. HE TRANSFERRED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA ONE YEAR LATER WHERE HE PLAYED COLLEGIATE TENNIS. HE WON EVERY SINGLES & DOUBLES MATCH IN THREE YEARS OF VARSITY COMPETITION. HE WON THE STATE INTERCOLLEGIATE TOURNAMENT IN 1936 & 1937.

SELECTED AS NUMBER ONE RANKED PLAYER ON THE CAROLINA’S JUNIOR DAVIS CUP SQUAD IN 1934, 1935, 1936, & 1937.

WON THE CITY OF COLUMBIA TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP EVERY YEAR BETWEEN 1936 & 1955.

WON THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE TITLE 14 OF 15 YEARS (BETWEEN 1939 & 1954) BEFORE HIS JOB REQUIRED A MOVE TO NORTH CAROLINA WHERE HE WON FIVE CONSECUTIVE STATE TITLES THERE. ALSO HAS CAPTURED CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GEORGIA, ALABAMA, & MISSISSIPPI.

UPON HIS RETURN TO COLUMBIA HE WAS ELECTED THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER COLUMBIA TENNIS ASSOCIATION IN MARCH 1963.

HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE SCOUTH CAROLINA TENNIS ASSOCIATION FOR EIGHT YEARS FROM 1965 UNTIL 1972. HE ALSO SERVED FOR MANY YEARS ON THE RANKINGS COMMITTEE FOR THE SCTA.

ALWAYS NOTED FOR HIS FINE SPORTMANSHIP AND WAS KNOWN AS A “TRUE GENTLEMAN” BOTH ON AND OFF THE TENNIS COURT.

HE WAS AWARDED THE SOUTHERN LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION’S “SPORTSMAN AWARD” IN 1952-IN HONOR OF HIS CONTRIBUTION TO TENNIS. IN 1953 HE RECEIVED THE MID-CENTURY FESTIVAL OF AMERICAN SPORTS NATIONAL HONOR AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND ACHIEVEMENT.

WON NUMBEROUS STATE AND SOUTHERN SENIORS TITLE IN BOTH SINGLES AND DOUBLES.

PLAYED TOP COMPETITION DURING HIS CAREER. HIS OPPONENTS INCLUDED PANCH GONZALEZ (THE YEAR BEFORE HE WON THE U.S. OPEN), BOB FALKENBERG (WIMBLEDON CHAMPION), EDDIE MOYLAN (EIGTH RANKED PALYER IN THE WORKD IN 1947) AND TONY TRABERT (U.S. DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN AND TEAM MEMBER),

CONSIDERED ONE OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S GREATEST PLAYERS ALTHOUGH HE WAS A BUSINESSMAN FIRST AND TENNIS PLAYER SECOND.

MEMBER OF SOUTH CAROLINA ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME.

DECEASED: FEBRUARY 9, 1977.