January 1, 2020

 

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and Hall of Fame member, John Zimmerman who passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

 

John Zimmerman was involved in tennis and other athletics in Texas throughout his life. While attending Cuero High School, he played football, basketball, baseball and tennis. He graduated valedictorian and entered Rice University on a football scholarship. At Rice, he played both football and tennis during his freshman and sophomore years.  He focused on tennis his junior and senior years.  In his senior year, he upset the number two seeded player in the Southwest Conference tennis championships. Zimmerman was the 26th winner of the Rice University Bob Quinn Award - the most prestigious athletic award at Rice. After college, Zimmerman spent time in the Marine Corp before moving back to Houston then to Corpus Christi.

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Zimmerman and his wife Joyce spent many years competing in local and sectional tournaments and volunteering for community and sectional committees and organizations. After moving to Corpus Christi, Zimmerman became actively involved in the Corpus Christi Tennis Association and the USTA Texas Tennis Association, serving as president of both organizations. Zimmerman was honored with the W.T. Caswell Service Award in 1977, the highest award given by the USTA Texas Section. He later became actively involved in the United States Tennis Association and served for many years as Chairman of its Budget and Finance Committee and Circuits Committee, and vice chairman of the Awards Committee. The Zimmerman family was recognized as the USTA Texas Section Family of the Year.  Zimmerman and Joyce were ranked #1 in Husband and Wife Doubles in Texas and were inducted into the Cuero Gobbler Hall of Fame in 2008.