Ken McAllister

Induction Year: 2013

Ken McAllister (born 1943) was a two-year letterman on the Southwestern University tennis team and competed in No.1 singles and doubles from 1962-1964. After graduation the San Angelo native coached his Snyder High School (1965-1970) tennis players to three UIL state titles. McAllister later coached at Deer Park High School (1970-1974) where he was an early advocate in the formation of UIL team tennis. A consummate teacher, he taught over 30 state and nationally ranked players and coached the U.S. Junior Davis Cup team in 1975.

An accomplished player, he has held 35 Texas rankings since 1971, five USTA rankings since 1983 and won the 1988 PTR National 45 Singles Championship. Among his many honors, he was named Texas Pro of the Year twice (1976 and 1980) and has been a USPTA Master Professional since 1987.

McAllister served as director of tennis at Walden on Lake Conroe, Lakeside Country Club and Lakeway World of Tennis. He was the president of the Texas Tennis Coaches Association and the USPTA Texas Division. He was inducted into the Texas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000, the Snyder High School Athletic Hall of Honor in 2011 and the Southwestern Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.

In 1991 McAllister became executive director of the USTA Texas Section. Under McAllister’s leadership, the USTA Texas staff and membership grew.