Induction Year: 1985

 

Margaret Varner Bloss (born 1927) was a three-sport champion and led a remarkable career as a player, educator and international goodwill ambassador. She attended the University of Southern California and received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from Texas Women’s University in 1950. Her tennis accomplishments include winning the National Girls’ 18 Doubles Championship in 1944 and 1945 and the Texas State Women’s Championship five times from 1947-1951. In 1958 Bloss reached the finals of Wimbledon with doubles partner Margaret Osborne DuPont losing to Althea Gibson and Maria Bueno.

 

Bloss could win with any racquet and represented the United States at the highest level of international competition in three racquet sports. She was a member of the Wightman Cup Tennis Team in 1961 and 1962 and with partner, Margaret DuPont, won doubles matches for the team that defeated Great Britain. She captained the team in 1966. In badminton she was a two-time World Champion and member of the U.S. Uber Cup Team. She was also a four-time National Squash Champion and member of the U.S. Wolfe-Noel Team.

 

At the same time she pursued a 20-year college teaching career, teaching physical education in El Paso, Texas. She retired to join her former doubles partner, Margaret DuPont, in raising thoroughbred racehorses including aptly named winners “Super Set” and “Tie-Breaker”.