Stolle receives commemorative ring from ITHF
February 25, 2011
NEWPORT, R.I. — Australian tennis star “Fiery” Fred Stolle, whose successful tennis career featured Grand Slam titles and Davis Cup victories, was presented a commemorative ring from the International Tennis Hall of Fame in a center court ceremony at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships on Friday. The newly developed, one-of-a-kind rings will be presented to Hall of Famers at tennis events around the world over the next several years to mark their achievement of Hall of Fame induction. Stolle was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1985.
Christopher E. Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, presented the ring to Stolle. Also participating in the ring ceremony was Peggy Woolard, a member of the Hall of Fame Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and Delray Beach ITC Tournament Director Mark Baron, who co-founded the tournament with Stolle in 1993.
“As a Hall of Famer, Fred is among an elite group of athletes. His contributions to tennis have a permanent place in the history and heritage of tennis and we are pleased to be able to recognize this achievement with this special ring, which only the best tennis players and contributors in the world will have the honor of wearing,” said Christopher E. Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum.
Stolle is just the second Hall of Famer to receive a ring, the first having been presented to 1970 Hall of Famer Tony Trabert, who also serves as Hall of Fame president, in a ceremony at the Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. last July. The personalized rings bear a green stone set in gold, to complement the Hall of Fame’s brand colors. In addition, the rings are etched with each honoree’s name and the Hall of Fame logo crest.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame rings have been generously underwritten by The Bruce T. Halle Family of Scottsdale, Arizona. Bruce, founder of Discount Tire, and his wife Diane, a philanthropist, are tennis enthusiasts and they have generously supported communities in the areas where Discount Tire is located, and beyond, over many years.
Known as “Fiery” for his competitive nature on court, Stolle’s successful tennis career spanned amateur and open eras, and he was a top-10 player in the world for four years in the 1960s. He won the French singles title in 1965 and the U.S. title in 1966, in addition to 10 Grand Slam doubles titles, and six Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Stolle was a member of three winning Australian Davis Cup teams.
Stolle has been an instrumental player in the tennis industry off court as well, having served as a teaching pro, World Team Tennis player and coach and long-time television commentator. In 1993, he partnered with Mark Baron to create a professional tournament in South Florida, the event which evolved to the present-day Delray Beach ITC, the only professional event that features both an ATP World Tour tournament and ATP Challenger Tour tournament.
Additional International Tennis Hall of Fame rings will be presented at tennis events around the world in the coming years. Presently, there are 84 Hall of Famers living in 16 different countries, a testament to the global reach of the game. Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the International Tennis Hall of Fame is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis and honoring the game’s greatest heroes. The International Tennis Hall of Fame has inducted 219 individuals from 18 different countries since 1955. In addition, the Hall of Fame provides a landmark for tennis enthusiasts, offering an extensive museum that chronicles the history of the sport and its stars, historic grass tennis courts that date back to 1880 and are open to the public, an ATP World Tour tournament and the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in July, and numerous public events year-round.
To learn more, visit tennisfame.com.