TEXAS OFFICIALS NEWSLETTER
Summer 2008
Congratulations!!! 2008 US Open Texas Officials. Special congratulations are in order for these Texans who were selected to work the 2008 US Open:
Lee Ann Bain
Susan Burns
Eliza Cotner
Ray Delcastillo
Karen Fountain
Carrie Hinuber
Alain Hutson
Deanna Kondratowitch-Pierce
Kevin Labor
Billie Lipp
Ken McCain
Kathleen O’Conner
Sammie Paulsen
Rodger Pennington
Gail Pennington
Sue Pranke
Dessie Samuels
Margaret Smith
Richard Soukup
Jim Robinson
Roz Tuerk
Susan Wertenberger
Special congratulations to Alain Hutson our "first timer".
Also, congratulations to the following for their many years of service at the Open:
Sammie Poulsen (19 years)
Dessie Samuels (23 years)
Roz Tuerk (23 years)
Ray Delcastillo (25 years)
Billie Lipp (34 years)
Roz Tuerk serves on the Official’s Staff, Dessie Samuels and Billie Lipp worked on the Referee Staff and Sue Pranke served on the National Trainer/Evaluator (T/E) Staff.
Two regulars at the Open who have moved from Texas are Gail Gregory now living in New York, NY and Frank Thomas now residing in North Carolina.
We are happy to welcome Karen Fountain who recently moved from Florida to Houston, Texas. Karen is a White Badge Chair official.
This year’s activities……..
January through April:
In 2007 we certified approximately 290 officials. This year we certified approximately 500 officials, an increase of over 200. Since the National Goal was to increase our numbers by 200 officials nation wide, we the Texas Section achieved the goal all by ourselves. Thanks to Randy McDonald our schools chairman for his tireless work in organizing the coordinators and instructors for the schools.
May:
We conducted our sixth annual collegiate chair academy in Plano at the Collin County Community College. Thanks again to Randy McDonald for making the arrangements and Bruce Avery for the school’s instruction.
September:
Congratulations to all our Texas Officials who were at the Open, the Waco Challenger (Seande Pulley, Ken McCain, Susan Wertenberger, Alain Hutson, Carol Linden, and Glen Whitake) and Lubbock Challenger (Brookie Green, Ray DelCastillo, Susan Wertenberger, Ken McCain, Carrie Hinuber, Mickey Hobbs, Carol Linden and Sue Pranke). Also, congratulations are in order to those who recently attended the ITA Chair School in Waco at Baylor University and to those who organized the school (Chuck Scott, Randy McDonald, Sara Lammerts and Myron Krueger).
For those of you who are ITA certified and interested in working college matches, send an email requesting an availability form from one or more of the following college assigners:
Baylor University: Chuck Scott (
haymuncher@yahoo.com)
Big 12 Coordinator: Cheryl Jones (swiftref@aol.com)
Rice University: Ginny James (ginny_james@hotmail.com)
SMU: Randy McDonald (rmtennis@yahoo.com)
Texas A&M University: Sara Lammerts (lammerts@verizon.net)
Texas Christian University: Myron Krueger (myronkrueger@charter.net)
Texas Tech University: Cliff Hopping (choptenump@aol.com)
University of Houston: Ginny James (ginny_james@hotmail.com)
University of North Texas: Randy McDonald (rmtennis@yahoo.com)
University of Texas at Arlington: Randy McDonald (rmtennis@yahoo.com)
University of Texas (Men): Vickie Wright (vickietennisnut@austin.rr.com)
University of Texas (Women): Susan Trautmann (spelses2268@sbcglobal.net)
For those of you who work the US Circuit Pro Events (Futures and Challengers), we expect the 2009 tournament information will be posted on the USTA web site very soon.
The 2009 ATP Line Umpire Program Availability form has been mailed to everyone who has an ATP grade. If you have not yet worked for the ATP and have no grades, you will need a wildcard from the USTA. If you apply for a tournament and are not selected, they will send your name and email address to the USTA, telling them of your interest. Also, you will need a recommendation from Bruce Sampley to receive a Wildcard.