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Brown-Grimes to be Honored by ITHF

NEWPORT, RI — The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum will pay tribute to United States Tennis Association (USTA) President Jane Brown-Grimes on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at Doubles (located at 783 5th Avenue) in New York. Cocktails begin at 6:30 pm while dinner starts at 7:30 pm.

Network-TV tennis announcer Mary Carillo will serve as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and 1970 Hall of Famer Tony Trabert is the Honorary Chairman of this special tribute. Joining Carillo and Trabert will be U.S. Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe as a featured speaker. Proceeds from the event will benefit the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Annual Fund.

“The International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to host this recognition dinner and tribute in honor of Jane Brown-Grimes as she completes her outstanding term as Chair of the USTA,” said Chris Clouser, Chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Board of Directors. “Jane is a tireless champion of the game and she has made tennis more accessible for many through her efforts and innovative programs. We owe her a debt of gratitude and thanks not just for what she has already accomplished for the USTA and for the Hall of Fame, but also for all she will continue to do for tennis in the future.”

Jane Brown-Grimes became Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA in January 2007. She has been a member of the USTA Board of Directors for the past seven years. Previously, she served a two-year term as the First Vice President following terms as Director at Large and Secretary-Treasurer. Under her current term, Brown-Grimes chairs several key committees and represents the United States on the International Tennis Federation Fed Cup and Grand Slam Committees. Prior to this, Brown-Grimes served on numerous committees and was a member of the national Tennis in the Public Parks Task Force. She was also the liaison to World TeamTennis (WTT) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

After an early career as a reporter/researcher for Life Magazine, Brown-Grimes has spent the past 29 years involved with the sport of tennis. She opened the New York office of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1977 and became the Hall of Fame’s Executive Director in 1981, serving as the Tournament Director for both ATP and WTA Tour events during that time. Brown-Grimes served with the International Tennis Hall of Fame until 1986, when she became the Managing Director of the Women’s Tennis Council and presided over an unprecedented period of growth in women’s professional tennis. Brown-Grimes returned to the Hall of Fame as the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer in 1991 and served until 2000, during which time she oversaw a major reconstruction of the historic buildings and grounds of the Hall of Fame’s headquarters in Newport, Rhode Island. She currently serves the Hall of Fame as President Emerita.

The WTA Tour presented Brown-Grimes with the David Gray Special Service Award in 1991 for outstanding contributions to the Tour. Previous recipients of the award include Billie Jean King and Chris Evert. Brown-Grimes is a member of the Board of Directors of the USTA Tennis and Education Foundation and the Rodney Street Tennis & Tutoring Association, an inner-city grassroots program located in Wilmington, Delaware.

A graduate of Wellesley College, Brown-Grimes has three grown children. She resides in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania where she is a member of the Board of Directors of the Brandywine Conservancy.

For more information, or to obtain tickets for the “Tribute to Jane Brown-Grimes” event, please contact Mickey Riendeau at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, 401-849-3990.

Posted on October 29, 2008
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