The Sixties

1965

Madeline Beck

  • Ten times Women's National Champion from 1938 to 1954, winning ten of eleven years the event was played (no championship was played from 1943-48), and a finalist in 1950 and 1956.
  • In 1959 and 1960, Madge won the Women's National twice with her daughter (Susan Wasch).
  • Won four Mixed Doubles Championships in 1939, 1953, 1954, and 1956, and was a finalist in 1940, 1941, 1952, and 1955.
  • The leading female player of her time, and the mother of two national champions (Susan Wasch and John Beck).

Fessenden S. Blanchard and James K. Cogswell, Jr.

Fessenden S. Blanchard (pictured left)

  • Co-founder of platform tennis in 1928.
  • Built a 48' by 20' wooden platform for outdoor recreation at the Cogswell home.
  • The idea "was to build a platform and get up out of the mud and have some fun".
  • Surrounded the platform with chicken wire so that balls wouldn't get lost in the snow and decided that it would be fun to continue play even after a ball had hit the wires.
  • Co-founder of the American Platform Tennis Association in 1934 and APTA President from 1935 - 41.
  • Runner-up in the second Men's Nationals in 1936.

James K Cogswell, Jr. (pictured right)

  • Co-founder of platform tennis in 1928.
  • Built the first court, by hand, on his land in 1928 (on Old Army Road, Scarsdale, NY).
  • Brought home from New York City a box with two square, wooden paddles and some balls used in the early game.
  • He and his wife Francesca were hosts for teas after the original "Old Army Athletes" battled it out on court.

Clifford "Kip" Couch 

  • Contender in national tournaments from 1935-1949.
  • Kip was considered the "stylist" of platform tennis.

Kitty Fuller 

  • Four times a national champion including the last female singles championship.
  • One of the pioneers of women's platform tennis.

Earle Gatchell

(pictured in center)

  • Along with Fes Blanchard and Jim Cogswell was one of the first platform tennis players.
  • Runner-up, with Fes Blanchard, in 1936 men's national final.
  • Frequent umpire at national tournaments.

 Richard K. Hebard

  • Won 16 national championships and five senior nationals; runner-up in five championships.
  • A model of consistency and a determined competitor; and a true sportsman.
  • APTA Secretary-Treasurer 1950-52.
  • APTA President 1953-55.

James N. Hynson  

  • Prime mover to get the game going in the Fox Meadow Tennis Club where the first club court was built in 1931.
  • Runner-up in the first men's nationals in 1935 and again in 1939.
  • Men's national champion 1937 and 1938.
  • A leading promoter of the game as a member of the Apawamis Club in Rye, NY.

Charles O'Hearn 

  • National mixed doubles champion 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1940 - partnered with his wife, Ginnie for four titles.
  • Men's singles champion 1937.
  • Men's national champion 1937, 1938, 1943 and 1948; finalist 1935, 1939, 1945, 1946 and 1949 .

 Kenneth Ward

  • APTA President, 1939-42.
  • Father of the Scrambles tournament.
  • An active promoter of the game as a member of the Apawamis Club in Rye, NY.

1966

James Carlisle 

  • Men's national champion 1955 and 1958; finalist 1954 and 1959.
  • National mixed doubles finalist 1957.
  • He won the first and second annual senior men's doubles in 1957 and 1958, a senior tournament he is generally considered to have founded.
  • APTA Secretary 1955-57.
  • APTA President 1957-59 .

Don K. Evans

  • Invented the free-standing, taut wiring used universally on platform tennis courts.
  • The wiring became known as the Evans Backstop.

No Photograph Available Harold Holmes

  • Second President of the APTA from 1938- 39.
  • Tireless worker on behalf of the game, and an outstanding player.
  • Men's national champion 1936.
  • Known as "Mr. Paddle of New Jersey".

Barbara Koegel

  • Finalist 1954, 1959 and 1963.
  • 1964 mixed doubles champion (in the longest and perhaps hardest fought finals on mixed doubles record); finalist 1962.
  • A dedicated teacher and promoter of platform tennis.

Charlotte Lee

  • Women's national champion 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1966; finalist 1965.
  • Master tactician of the game and endowed with an unusual power of concentration.
  • Highly respected for her grace and sportsmanship.

No Photograph Available Marie (Mrs. C. H.) Walker

  • Winner of 5 consecutive women's national championships - 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1942.
  • Mixed nationals finalist 1947.
  • Marie was a lively, energetic competitor who handled the game with complete authority.

Fred Walker

  • National men's champion 1949, 1951 and 1952.
  • Renowned for his enthusiasm for the game and his deft drop shot.
  • APTA Secretary/Treasurer 1948-50.
  • APTA President 1950-52.

1967

Walter Close

  • National senior champion 1960 and 1961.
  • APTA President 1960-61.

No Photograph Available John A. Stephenson

  • Actively promoted paddle at Manursing and organized some of the first night play under lights.
  • No one in the early history of the game was more popular and contributed more time, energy, enthusiasm and especially good fun to our great game.
  • APTA President 1948-49.

Clifford Sutter

Clifford S. Sutter

  • Men's National Champion 1941, 1945, 1946 and 1950.
  • National Mixed Doubles Champion 1942 and National Senior Champion 1959.
  • Introduced deeper lobs to the game.

1968

Oscar Moore

  • Dedicated enthusiast who devoted his efforts to continuing to grow platform tennis.
  • Developed the mixed-doubles scramble - also known as the jamboree - a very popular format for many years.
  • APTA President 1946-1948.

1969

George Harrison

  • Men's national champion 1956 and 1960; finalist 1951 and 1958.
  • Senior men's national champion 1963; finalist 1968.
  • APTA Director.

William Pardoe

  • Men's national champion 1956 and 1960; runner-up 1958.
  • National mixed doubles champion 1965; runner-up 1959 and 1966.
  • Senior men's champion 1966-68; finalist 1961 and 1962.
  • Known for his American twist serve.