The Beginning Of A Dream

The 16 founding members first met at the home of Harris Weston in 1963. Wally Abbott, Bill Allen, Bob Belliveau, Dave Bidwell, Harold Comey, Jim Edwards, Bob Evans, Ben Felson, Dick Forberg, George Lott, Arron Mathieu, Jack Mellinger, Joe Stern, Mal Simms, and Chuck Yeiser gathered to discuss their dream for an indoor facility in Cincinnati.

Estimated cost for the facility was $75,000. Each of the 16 contributed $1,000 and First National Bank gave a loan of $68,000. The bank said the indoor tennis facility would never happen in Cincinnati. The bank’s “plan B” was to turn the building into a warehouse if the tennis club failed.

Pharon Bailey owned the property, which was a picnic grove. The original plan was to have two hard courts, but the cost did not fit into the budget. Bob Evans took it upon himself to find out how to install soft courts. The rest was history.

Courts 1 and 2 were built in 1964, and courts 3 and 4 in 1970.

A Cincinnati Enquirer staff writer described the building as looking like a cross between a distillery, and a B-26 bomber base in World War II.

The first year of operation was 1965-1966. There were 60 original members. Sam Nutty was the first Pro Club Manager.
Harold Comey was the first Club President.

Past Club Managers have been Pharon Bailey, Ken Bertsche and Dan Bailey.

Current Club Manager and Board

Club Manager: David Russell, who also serves as the Club’s Director of Tennis.
Board Members: Jeff Jacobs, Ken Fields, Celeste Rooney, Mike Schumacher, Wendy Wilson.