Hilton Head, SC
Inducted December 2016
JUDY LEVERING HAS A LONG HISTORY IN TENNIS AS A VOLUNTEER AND PLAYER. SHE LEARNED TENNIS FROM HER PARENTS AS A CHILD IN KANSAS CITY. SHE ATTENDED NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY WHERE SHE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE WOMEN’S ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. JUDY CURRENTLY LIVES PART OF EACH YEAR IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE OTHER PART IN PENNSYLVANIA. SHE HAS SPENT OVER 35 YEARS GROWING THE SPORT OF TENNIS AT THE COMMUNITY, STATE, SECTION, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS.
JUDY BEGAN VOLUNTEERING FOR TENNIS IN THE EARLY 1980’S AND HAS SERVED THE USTA AND TENNIS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS OVER THE PAST 35 PLUS YEARS.
- FOUNDED THE NATIONAL JUNIOR TENNIS LEAGUE (NJTL) OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.
- CHAIRED THE USTA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION & RECREATION COMMITTEES.
- SERVED ON THE USTA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, JUNIOR COUNCIL, NJTL AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES.
- PRESIDENT OF USTA MIDDLE STATES IN 1989-90 AND DELEGATE IN 1993-94.
- ELECTED TO THE USTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN 1995 AND BECAME THE FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT IN 1997.
- ELECTED AS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE USTA IN 1999 WHERE SHE SERVED A 2-YEAR TERM AND WORKED TO MAKE THE SPORT MORE ACCESSIBLE, HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS AND NAME THE NEW STADIUM AT FLUSHING MEADOWS IN MEMORY OF ARTHUR ASHE. HER BOARD CREATED “THE COURT OF CHAMPIONS” AT THE NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER.
- ELECTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION BOARD IN 1997 AND AS VICE-PRESIDENT IN 1999.
- INSTRUMENTAL IN FORMING USTA SERVES, NOW KNOWN AS THE USTA FOUNDATION.
- SERVED ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA TENNIS PATRONS FOUNDATION BOARD.
SHE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED WITH NUMEROUS AWARDS OVER THE YEARS.
- RECEIVED THE USTA COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD IN 1988 AND THE USTA SERVICE BOWL IN 1995, AWARDED TO THE PERSON WHO MAKES THE MOST NOTABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE SPORTSMANSHIP, FELLOWSHIP AND SERVICE OF TENNIS.
- INDUCTED INTO THE NORTHWESTERN SPORTS HALL OF FAME IN 2000 FOR HER WORK AS A VOLUNTEER (NORTHWESTERN DID NOT HAVE A GIRLS TENNIS TEAM WHEN JUDY ATTENDED).
- INDUCTED INTO THE USTA MIDDLE STATES TENNIS HALL OF FAME IN 2000.
- THE JUDY LEVERING LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE WAS ESTABLISHED TO HONOR HER AND FUND LOCAL GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP TO HELP DEVELOPING NJTL CHAPTERS BECOME ESTABLISHED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
JUDY IS ALSO AN OUTSTANDING PLAYER.
- A 2-TIME FINALIST WITH DAUGHTERS JULIE DODD AND LAURA ATHEY IN THE NATIONAL SENIOR MOTHER-DAUGHTER CHAMPIONSHIPS.
- PLAYED ON NUMEROUS USTA SOUTH CAROLINA SENIOR CUP AND USTA SOUTHERN INTERSECTIONAL TEAMS.
- NAMED THE 2007 SOUTH CAROLINA ADULT FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR.
- PARTICIPATED IN USTA ADULT LEAGUE PLAY AT THE 4.5 LEVEL EVERY YEAR FROM 2002 TO 2014, ADVANCING TO SECTIONAL AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
LEVERING IS THE EPITOME OF SPORTSMANSHIP, STRIVING TO BRING TENNIS TO ALL LEVELS…CLUBS, PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS. SHE IS KNOW FOR HER NEVER-SAY-DIE ATTITUDE ON THE COURT, HER CHEERFUL PERSONALITY AND HER LOVE FOR THE GAME.
