Tennis enthusiasts gathered Saturday in Waco at the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame 2023 Annual Banquet.
The day kicked off at the Hotel Indigo as current Hall of Famers welcomed out-of-town guests, providing snacks and giveaways. From there, guests headed down the street to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame complex, which houses the Texas Tennis Museum. They enjoyed a cocktail reception sponsored by Tito's Handmade Vodka, which included self-guided museum tours, hors d'oeuvres, and live music.
Jim Chaffin, secretary/treasurer of TTMHOF, opened the program at 7:00 p.m. Board president Ken McAllister served as emcee. After dinner, guests heard from Mike Carter with USTA Texas. Carter spoke to the theme of the night, “Community Tennis,” its positive impact on the community, and its ability to transcend boundaries and bring people together.
This year, the Hall of Fame—which began inducting people 42 years ago in 1981—welcomed the Class of 2023 to its extensive roster. The 2023 inductees included Cindy Benzon, Ken Crawford, Laura Gilbert, and Fernando Velasco. A special video of each inductee was shown during the Hall of Fame induction. The new members of the Hall of Fame, or their family representative, were given the chance to say a few words and awarded a medallion and blue blazer, signifying enshrinement into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame.
If you'd like to see a live stream of the event provided by TexMex Productions, visit our Facebook page. Photos from the event are available in the gallery below.
