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WCTA member Chuck Sheetz still loves the game of tennis after "over fifty years" of court time!
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Born in 1925 during the depression, Chuck Sheetz was raised on a small farm in Indiana. He attended a small country school in rural Indiana, consisting of six rooms and less than 100 students in all 12 grades! The school had no gymnasium, no football stadium, no band, no science lab, and no sports teams - other than "some" baseball and "some" basketball. The school had one teacher, who also served as the coach.
Since Chuck's father died while Chuck was in high school, he missed a lot of school due to helping on the farm, and due to illness. He did manage to graduate in 1943, during World War II. Chuck's mother was forced to sell the farm, leaving him free to volunteer for the draft. Chuck was drafted in the Navy right after graduation and served three years in the south Pacific. Being raised on a farm and using farm equipment, he was sent to motor machinist schools and was trained on diesel engines.
After the war, Chuck took a job with a diesel engine company where he worked in oil fields around Wichita Falls and the panhandle. He later transferred to Venezuela, where he worked for 17 years. After returning to Texas, Chuck started an athletic footwear retail business in Houston, which grew to five stores in major malls. After selling the business when he was 60 years old, he started a dry cleaning plant and sold it five years later.
Meanwhile, Chuck met and married his current wife, Betty and they retired to Wimberley.
Chuck began playing tennis over fifty years ago, while living in Venezuela with his then wife and four children, who also played tennis. He belonged to several tennis clubs in Venezuela, Dallas and Houston playing in tournaments and leagues. He began playing USTA Super Senior tournaments after moving to Wimberley and being influenced by Coach John Wolf.
Chuck reached the prestigous rating of No. 4 in Men's Singles in Texas for two of those years. He continued to be rated in the top 10 in Texas until he stopped playing in 2004. According to Chuck, "that's not saying much, since all my opponents were 75 and over, but it was enjoyable!" (Everyone who knows Chuck appreciates his modesty)!
During a tennis class he volunteered to teach for a charity event, Chuck was asked to coach a high school boy (past WCTA junior member, Vince Falco, who graduated from WHS last May). They worked together for four years. Vince reached No. 1 on the Wimberley High School Texan Tennis Team during his sophomore year. He was also part of the boy's double's team who went to the state championships last May. Vince is now playing on the Coast Guard Academy's tennis team.
Chuck also taught other WCTA junior members, including one member of the girl's doubles team that made it to 3A State Finals last spring, and won second place. He coached other young players as they were beginning their tennis careers, including many of the WHS Texan Tennis team. The entire team went to state in 2006.
Chuck is now teaching junior high and high school students. WCTA recently sponsored him in his quest to become a PTR Certified Associate Instructor. At 80, he is the oldest person to ever receive this certification in Texas. This will enable Chuck to better teach current and future WCTA junior members (including elementary school kids). He is using the two tennis courts WCTA was allowed to restore at Woodcreek's abandoned Cypress Creek Lodge. He continues to be an inspiration to both "new" and "old" tennis players. Chuck is helping WCTA "Grow The Game" of tennis in the Wimberley Valley! | |
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Photo #1 - Chuck and his wife, Betty
Photo #2 - Chuck and his PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) Certifier, Kerlin Butchee of USTA Texas Section, at Texas State University courts
Photo #3 - Chuck "warming up" St. Stephen's students at a TWC clinic in San Marcos
Photo # 4 - Chuck instructing the St. Stephen's group on "gripping the racquet"
Photo # 5 - Chuck with WCTA Board Member, Warren Gilbert |
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WCTA Committees |
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The WCTA Board of Directors has set up various committees to assist them in reaching their goals.
Committee Chairpersons are:
Social Committee:
Jackie Erskine
Special Events:
Ron Mazzarella
Men's Clay Clourt League:
Hank Melnar
David Schumacher
Saturday Morning Doubles:
Bob Kerrigan
Adopt-A-Court Project:
Bob Kerrigan/Lisa Crane
Tennis In The Park/Blue Hole:
Bob Kerrigan
Grant Writing:
Diane Kerrigan/Linda Munoz
Donations:
Diane Kerrigan/Warren Gilbert
Ladies Benefit League:
Susan Russell/Diane Kerrigan
Junior's Summer League:
Bob Kerrigan
Thank you to all of you who are working to help with these committees! | |
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Chuck Sheetz and Laura Egenolf at our local tennis courts on Texan Blvd. It took Laura and other volunteers to "get the ball rolling" for Wimberley Valley tennis players to have public courts. Now, WCTA is improving upon what she started, by lighting courts 4, 5 & 6, developing new facilities, organizing various tennis programs/leagues/clinics and growing the game of tennis! |
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| Charter Members & Honorary Member |
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| At the December 15, 2003 WCTA Annual Meeting and Christmas social, Bob Kerrigan, President, presented Joy & Boyd Collins, Pat & Neil Hector and Billie Clyburn with lifetime charter membership certificates. Special recognition was given to them for their tireless efforts and time given to the game of tennis on behalf of all players in the Wimberley Valley during the early 1990's. We sincerely thank them for all their hard work! And, local USPTA tennis coach John Wolf was awarded a lifetime honorary membership for his dedication to our local youth and donated time to WCTA events. | |
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Left-Right: Coach John Wolf,
Joy Collins, Neil Hector, Billie Clyburn, Boyd Collins and
Pat Hector |
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| WCTA Board of Directors |
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Your Board of Directors consists of seven volunteers who donate their time and energy toward the goals of our Association.
They are:
Bob Kerrigan, President
Retired Associate Engineer
Ron Mazzarella, Vice-President
Manager, Austin Hardwoods
Lisa Crane, Secretary
Attorney
Carlton Carpenter, Treasurer
Independent Insurance Agent
Ronnie Hartfield
Retired from Texaco
Craig Payne
Real Estate Broker
John Schick
Retired Chemical Engineer
These individuals can be contacted at the email addresses on our Links Page. | |
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Clockwise:
Craig Payne, Ronnie Hartfield, Carlton Carpenter, Bob Kerrigan, Lisa Crane, Ron Mazzarella and John Schick at their August 2007 board meeting. |
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