On Saturday, June 11, 2011, the US Tennis Association New England Section will induct four new members into their Hall of Fame at an evening celebration at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

The USTA New England Hall of Fame exists to recognize those tennis players and non-players in New England whose achievements as sportsmen or sportswomen are worthy of the highest commendation and recognition.  They also recognize officials or individuals in a tennis-related activity whose contributions have been so outstanding over a significant period of time as to justify the highest commendation and recognition. 

One of the four awardees is Boston’s own Errol Coard.  Even those of you who don’t know of Errol’s long and storied tennis career have probably had an opportunity to hit with him during the Breakfast Club at Sportsmen’s or at any number of FPTA events, or just to chat with him in the club house area or in the park.

Errol has been a certified USPTA Professional for well over 35 years.  He is a USTA life member and a life member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.  He is a lifetime (retired) USTA Umpire, who officiated at professional and amateur tournaments for decades, including tournaments at Longwood Cricket Club in Brookline, MA and at Forest Hills and Flushing in New York. 

Errol was inducted into the New England Tennis Association (NETA) Hall of Fame in 2003.