Four Texas tennis legends will be inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday night, October 30, 2010, in Waco. The USTA Texas Section Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame will host the 30th annual induction event at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Museum located at 1108 South University Parks Drive in Waco.
The inductees into the Hall of Fame for 2010 include renowned tennis stars Adrian Bey, Sammy Giammalva, Jr., Alex O’Brien, and Marti Rodriguez.
John Kniffen, President of the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame, and the entire Texas tennis nation are thrilled at the selection of the four inductees for 2010. “Since our founding in 1981, each year the Hall of Fame has enshrined remarkable Texas tennis greats into a very selective circle of members,” Kniffen said. “This year is no exception as every member of the class of 2010 is truly a legend in the sport of tennis not only throughout the state of Texas, but their many accomplishments are well-known nationally and internationally as well.”
Ken McAllister, Executive Director/Executive Director of Texas Tennis and Education Foundation of the USTA Texas Section, asked, "Can you imagine going to a tennis tournament or League playoff by train or horse and buggy? Well, that is what they did in 1895 when the Texas Lawn Tennis Association was formed in Dallas during a tournament.” McAllister continued to add, “They continued as part of the Border States Tennis Association (Arizona and New Mexico) for another 20 years or so. How do we know this? The answers were provided through research by the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame, the vision become reality of Charlie and Emadele McCleary. With your financial help, we can learn more of our tennis history plus share it and honor it, through the activity of TTMHF."
A pre-dinner opportunity to meet and greet the inductees will begin at 5 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame with the induction dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Dress is appropriate evening attire.
“Seating for the Hall of Fame induction gala is limited,” said Elizabeth Reynolds, spokesperson for the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame (TTMHF). “Therefore, I certainly encourage everyone planning to attend this prestigious event to purchase your tickets by October 25, 2010.”
Tickets are available for TTMHF members at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame for $45 and for TTMHF non-members for $60. In addition, tables that seat eight people may be purchased for $500 per table. The purchase of a table includes a 1/4 page ad in the official program for the induction gala.
For more information regarding the induction gala including purchase of tickets and tables, contact either Gary Self (254) 776-7793 or (254) 644-6022, or Elizabeth Reynolds (936) 355-7703, or Email to txtennismuseum@earthlink.net.
About the 2010 Inductees
 Adrian Bey
Born: May 16, 1938 in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe)
Schools: Prince Edward School in Rhodesia
Family: Bonnie Bey (wife)
Children: Ryan Bey, Lynn Bey-Roode, Julie Duvenage, Shay Williams
Grandchild: Alessandra Bey
Coaches: Brian Rooke, C.V. Irvine
Career: Began playing on family court; age 16 years started playing tournaments in South Africa. Began teaching after quitting professional play and opened a sports shop.
Greatest tennis accomplishments: Reached Round of 16 at Wimbledon twice; reached Semi-finals of French Open in doubles.
Memories: Qualifying and playing at Wimbledon the first time. Playing, captaining, and managing the Davis Cup team for Rhodesia.
Other activities: Stamp collecting, and reading.
 Samuel (Sammy) Antone Giammalva, Jr.
Born: March 24, 1963
Place of Birth: Houston, Texas
Schools: FROSTWOOD Elementary; Memorial Middle School; Memorial High School; Alexander Smith Academy
Colleges: Rice
Degree: Economics
Names of Family members: Toni Lynn Giammalva (wife), Sammi Gimmalva III (son); Ana Giammalva (daughter); Catherine Gimmalva (daughter)
How did you begin playing or teaching tennis: Father – Sammi Giammalva, Sr.
Greatest tennis accomplishments: National Boy’s 18 Singles Champion – Kalamazoo, MI; Ranked in world’s top 30 tennis players; Owner of tennis club in Spring, TX (since 2000)
Most meaningful tennis memories: Winning the National Boys 18 Singles Championship; Playing in first professional tennis tournament (River Oaks) in hometown of Houston, TX.
Activities and interests: Most outdoor activities
 Alex O’Brien
Born: March 7, 1970
Place of Birth: Amarillo, Texas
Schools: Taslosa High School
Colleges: Stanford University
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Names of Family members: Bill, Alice, Blake, Katherine
Coaches: Dennis Crowell, Jon Soegard, Dick Gould, Keith Diepram, Jonathan Canter
How did you begin playing or teaching tennis: Older brother Blake O’Brien played and Alex looked up to him.
Greatest tennis accomplishments: World’s # 1 Ranking in Men’s Doubles; US Open Men’s Doubles Champion; Member US Davis Cup Team; Participant in US Olympics in Sydney, Australia; New Haven Men’s Singles Champion
Most meaningful tennis memories: World Champions in Men’s Doubles; Texas Tennis – Ben Ball; Stanford University Men’s Collegiate Tennis – Dick Gould; Winning US Open Men’s Doubles; Boy’s 18 Singles Clay Courts
Activities and interests: Banking, reading, golf, squash, basketball
 Martha “Marti” Eileen Rodriguez
Born: May 13, 1948
Place of Birth: Austin, Texas
Schools: New Braunfels High School
Colleges: UT Austin, UT Arlington, University of North Texas
Degree: BA History, Texas Teaching Certificate.
Names of Family members: Husband, COL Frank Rodriguez, Jr., US Army, Retired,
Sons Frank Justin Rodriguez and Jameson Carl Rodriguez.
How Marti began playing or teaching tennis: She only played recreational tennis. Marti got her start when she joined the staff at the Texas Tennis Association in October, 1983.
Greatest tennis accomplishments: Marti would be very proud of the tennis tournament held in her name (The Annual Marti Rodriguez Memorial-Austin ZAT) and the perpetual scholarship fund administered by the Texas Tennis and Education Foundation.
Most meaningful tennis memories: Marti treasured the days when she helped with tournaments and got the chance to watch young people take up the game she loved so much.
Activities and interests: Reading, playing the piano and pilates.
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