Indianapolis, Ind., August 14, 2014 – The late Richard Bradley of Chicago, Illinois, (formerly of Rushville, Indiana) will be inducted into the 2014 USTA/Midwest Section Hall of Fame on December 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 2014 USTA/Midwest Section Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at the Sheraton Keystone at the Crossing Hotel in Indianapolis during the USTA/Midwest Section’s 121th Annual Meeting.
Bradley’s volunteer service began at the grassroots level in his community and extended through different levels at the USTA with an emphasis on promoting and growing junior tennis. Bradley believed that tennis could have a powerful impact in local communities and in the lives of children.
At the USTA level, Bradley volunteered for the USTA/Midwest Section for 11 years, serving as chairperson of the Section’s Junior Competition Committee and Multicultural Participation Committee. He later served on the USTA/Midwest Section Board of Directors for four years, and was eventually elected as a Delegate-at-Large on the Executive Committee.
At the local level, Bradley was very active in the Chicago District Tennis Association, serving in volunteer and leadership roles for approximately 20 years, which included time on the Chicago District Board of Directors. Bradley’s work in Chicago was historic as he played a pivotal role in starting the Chicago Prairie Tennis Club (the oldest African American organization in the country), and was elected the club’s president in 1999 serving for many years.
Bradley was elected President of the American Tennis Association in 1994 and served for approximately six years. He also was President of the Midwestern Tennis Association (MID-TAC), the Midwest Section of the American Tennis Association, for approximately eight years. In 2011, the Midwestern Tennis Association initiated the Richard Bradley Junior Excellence Scholarship in his honor, which awards junior players who serve as role models for others both on and off the court.
Bradley’s list of accolades include the following: USTA/Midwest Section Stanley Malless Award in 2000; American Tennis Association President Award in 1999; Love to Serve Community Service Award in 2000; Chicago District Paul Dean Memorial Award as Volunteer of the Year in 1997; and the renaming of his alma mater, Rushville High School’s six court tennis facility, as the Richard Bradley Tennis Center in 1995 in his hometown of Rushville, Indiana, for his tennis accomplishments.
Through his involvement with the Greater Chicago Community Tennis Association, Bradley became a mentor to former professional tennis player Katrina Adams during her junior career growing up in Chicago. Adams is currently the First Vice President of the USTA.
“Richard Bradley’s contributions to the sport of tennis at all levels of the USTA and in his community over the years make him an excellent addition to the USTA/Midwest Section Hall of Fame,” stated USTA/Midwest Section Hall of Fame Chairman Ronald Brooks.
Richard is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Melba; his sons Anthony (Hellena) and Gregory (Amanda); sisters Louella Goins and Joanne Bradley; brother William (Pearle); grandchildren Steven, Christopher, Ava, and Maya; great-grandchildren Sydney and Erin; and step-grandson William Manning.
About the USTA/Midwest Section Hall of Fame
The USTA/Midwest Section Hall of Fame was established in 1984 at the Markin Racquet Center on the campus of Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was relocated to the USTA/Midwest Section headquarters office in Indianapolis in 2006. With the 2014 inductee class, the Midwest Hall of Fame is comprised of 72 distinguished individuals.
About USTA/Midwest Section
The USTA/Midwest Section exceeds 86,500 individual members and approximately 1,100 member organizations. It is the second largest section of the United States Tennis Association. The USTA/Midwest Section consists of 13 Districts in the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin as well as designated counties in West Virginia and Kentucky. The USTA/Midwest Section offers recreational and competitive tennis for individuals of all ages and abilities. Please visit www.midwest.usta.com for more information.
For more information contact:
Tracy Maymon
Communications Coordinator
Tel: 317-669-0464
tracy@midwest.usta.com