William P. Jacobs
Clinton, SC
Inducted November 1, 1986

A CLINTON BUSINESSMAN AND PRESIDENT OF PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE, HE IS KNOWS AS THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THE SOUTH OUT OF THE DARK AGES OF TENNIS DURING THE LATE 1930’S.

HE BECAME KNOWN AS THE “FOUNDER OF TENNIS CLINIC” WITH THE FORMATION OF HIS OUTSTANDING PROGRAMS AT P.C. HE ORGANIZED THE FIRST REGIONAL TENNIS CLINIC FOR YOUTH IN 1936 AND THE NEXT YEAR THE UNITED STATES LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION DECLARED THIS CLINIC AS ITS MODEL FOR THE ORGAINIZATEION.

HE WAS NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE FIRST NATIONAL TENNIS CLINIC COMMITTEE IN 1937. THE SUCCESS OF HIS CLINICS AND PROGRAMS SOON BECAME KNOWS WORDWIDE.

HE HIRED BILL LUFLER AS HIS CLINIC DEIRECTOR AND PC’S FIRST FULL TIME TENNIC COACH. PRESBYTERIAN’S TEAMS OF HIS ERA WERE CONSISTENTLY RANKED IN THE TOP 10 IN THE NATION AND THE SCHOOL GAINED THE NICKMAND OF “TENNIS TECH”.

HE ORGANIZED THE STATE’S FIRST BIGTIME TENNIS EXHIBITION IN 1940 WHEN SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE ATTENDED A MIXED DOUBLES MATCH FEATURING THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS PLAYERS OF THAT TIME, DON BUDGE AND MARY HARDWICK AGAINST BILL TILDEN AND ALICE MARBLE.

HE APPOINTED BOBBY RIGGS AS A TRAVELING PUBLIC RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE PLAYING EXHIBITION MATCHES OUT OF PC TO HELP STIMULATE TENNIS INTEREST IN THECAROLINAS AND GEORGIA.

HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION.

HE PURCHASED AND PUBLISHED THE AMERICAN LAW TENNIS MAGAZINE AND AUTHORIZED SEVERAL BOOKS INCLUDING TENNIS, BUILDER OF CITIZENSHIP IN WHICH HE EMPHASIZED COURT DEMEANOR AS WELL AS PROPER STROKE TECHNIQUES.

HE LEFT PC IN 1945, HAVING ESTABLISED THE SCHOOL AS ONE OF THE LEADING TENNIS CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY, TO BECOME HEAD IF THE AMERICAN COTTON MANUFACTURERS. AFTER LEAVING PC, HE CONTINUED TO PLAY TENNIS RECREATIONALLY UNTIL HIS DEATH.

DEACEASED: JULY 25, 1948

FIRST SOUTH CAROLINIAN INDUCTED INTO THE SOUTHERN TENNIS HALL OF FAME JANUARY 27, 1989.