Induction Year: 1982

Clarence Mabry (1925-2013) was trying to win a bicycle when he instead won his first tennis racquet in a magazine subscription contest at the age of ten. Mabry became interested in tennis and in the years that followed he traveled 36 miles each day to take tennis lessons from “Uncle” Tom Holland, one of the few early tennis teachers in the state. By high school, Mabry won the Western Juniors and the 1942 UIL State High School Singles Championship.

As a nationally ranked tennis player Mabry won the Southwest Conference singles and doubles titles while at the University of Texas in 1946, reaching the NCAA doubles semifinals in 1946-1947.

Following his success a player, Mabry established the Trinity University men’s team in 1955 and quickly developed a nationally recognized program that ranked in the top four NCAA teams for 18 of his 19 years as a coach. Mabry led the Tigers to the NCAA championship in 1972 with a 27-0 record and has coached three Wimbledon champions. His overall dual match record stands at 319 wins and 36 losses.

Mabry coached the 1986 San Antonio Racquets to the city’s first professional national team championship and was co-founder and chairman emeritus of the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch.

In addition to being inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame, Mabry was also honored as an inductee into the NCAA Hall of Fame, the UT Longhorn Hall of Honor, the Trinity University Athletic Hall of Fame, the United States Professional Tennis Association Hall of Fame, the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame.