The Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame is a non-profit institution dedicated to collecting and preserving the rich history of tennis in Texas. Our mission is to celebrate and preserve the evolving story of tennis while providing role models through the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame. We offer a place where every player—from recreational enthusiasts to professionals—can connect with the game’s past and discover its impact on Texas and the nation’s social and cultural life.

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The Museum was founded in 1981 by Charlie and Emadele McCleary, who began inducting members into the Hall of Fame and collecting early tennis artifacts. In the early 1990s, they partnered with other statewide sports leaders to establish the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Complex near Baylor University. Since the complex’s opening in 1993, the Tennis Museum has occupied approximately 2,000 square feet of space.

Charlie McCleary secured several significant donations, including a major collection from Dallas resident Lamar Hunt. The Hunt collection, featuring photographs, documents, and artifacts from the World Championship Tennis tournaments held in Dallas between 1972 and 1989, remains a cornerstone of our displays today.

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Over the years, the Museum has expanded its reach through educational programs, essay contests, reading initiatives, and traveling exhibits. A move in 2004 to a climate-controlled facility ensured the long-term preservation of our collections. In 2013, a new maintenance agreement with the Texas Sports Hall of Fame brought additional professional staff and, in 2015, a complete renovation of the gallery space supported by a $500,000 Capital Campaign.

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In 2016, the Museum’s board adopted a new mission and vision, reinforced by six strategic initiatives designed to guide our future. Since then, we have continued to expand programming and modernize our space to better engage today’s audiences.

Most recently, in 2025, the Museum completed a series of enhancements to improve the visitor experience. We installed new flooring and soft furnishings to create a warm and welcoming environment that encourages guests to linger and explore. Our redesigned theater now features short films about key events in Texas tennis history, offering a cinematic perspective on the sport’s cultural significance. Additionally, we introduced an interactive kiosk in the Hall of Fame, which showcases never-before-seen photographs and videos of inductees—bringing their stories to life in ways previously unimaginable.

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Together, these improvements ensure that the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame remains not only a repository of history but also a dynamic destination that inspires visitors of all ages to step into the story of Texas tennis.