December 1, 2018

 

The Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame mourns the loss of 2014 inductee President George H.W. Bush, who passed away peacefully on Friday, November 30, 2018 at the age of 94.

 

George H.W.  Bush, the 41st President of the United States, first gained appreciation for tennis during the summers spent with his family in Maine and Connecticut as a youth. Tennis was a family endeavor. Although Bush played baseball for Yale, his interest in the game of tennis never waned.

 

President Bush was involved with many tennis associations and events from the level of honorary member all the way to chairman, including USPTA, Tennis Across America, the Bluebonnet Bowl Invitational Tennis Tournament in Houston and Zina Garrison's All-Court Tennis Tournament. He fervently supported tennis in Texas and across the United States for decades.

 

President Bush and 61st Secretary of State James A. Baker teamed together in service to their country and on the tennis court. Long-time doubles partners, Bush and Baker showcased the game of tennis in many of their public appearances. Both men encouraged youngsters to play tennis, vigorously supported charitable tennis tournaments and generously gave of their time to promote tennis.

 

Their service to Texas tennis made them exemplary ambassadors of the game and gained them entry in 2014 into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame. James A. Baker attended the ceremony with Bush's nephew, Pierce Bush, who read an acceptance letter from his uncle. 

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