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USTA Florida Announces Tennis Volunteer 2009 Award Winners

*DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — *USTA Florida celebrated “60 Years of Love and 30 Years of Dedication” on Dec. 4-6, 2009, during the USTA Florida 60th Annual Meeting and Anniversary Celebration Weekend at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort, recognizing the 30 years of service by retiring junior tennis icon Bobby Curtis.

“As you may know, Florida was once part of the United States Lawn Tennis Association’s Southern Section — that is until our four founding fathers — Eddie Herr, Gardnar Mulloy, Clarence Varner and Ed Turville — got their way,” said USTA Florida President Donn Davis, reflecting on the history of the USTA Florida section. “After some maneuvering in 1949, Florida broke away from the Southern Lawn Tennis Association, as it was then known, and Florida became its own section — the Florida Lawn Tennis Association, predecessor to what is now known as USTA Florida.”

Approximately 400 USTA Florida volunteers and guests attended the weekend celebration, where Executive Committee, USTA Florida Board of Directors and various committee and league organizational meetings were held on Friday, while Saturday and Sunday was blocked for a celebration of 60 years of USTA Florida and honoring Bobby Curtis.

The following is the list of individuals and organizations receiving year-end awards for 2009: Member Organization of the Year — Seminole County Leisure Services Committee Volunteer of the Year — Phil Girardi of St. Petersburg Tennis Family of the Year — Ross Dubins Family of North Miami Merit Award (Female) — Cindy Harkins of Longwood Merit Award (Male) — Arthur Russo of Sun City Center Hall of Fame Inductee — Jim Vuille of Sun City Center Official of the Year — Terry Logan of St. Petersburg Media Excellence Award — Laura Toth of Vero Beach USTA Area League Tennis Coordinator of the Year — Laura Toth of Vero Beach Al Mills Memorial Adult Tournament of the Year — USTA Florida State NTRP Championships, Jeff Cohen accepting Wheelchair Player of the Year — Johnny Johnston of Gainesville Female Player of the Year — Vesna McKenna of Hollywood Male Player of the Year — Rudy Hernando of Fort Lauderdale Bobby Curtis Junior Tournament of the Year — Harry Gilbert’s Super Series, Harry Gilbert accepting Junior Competitive Coach of the Year — Brian Gottfried of Ponte Vedra Beach Albert Carrington Balink Award (Jr. Player of the Year) — Gonzales Austin of Miami CTA (Community Tennis Asssociation) Volunteer of the Year — Anne Koterba of Newberry Outstanding Diversity Achievement Award — Adam Leavitt of Longwood NJTL (National Junior Tennis & Learning) Chapter Leader of the Year — Elizabeth Bewley of Royal Palm Beach USTA School Tennis Volunteer of the Year — Mary Lane of Sanford ‘Tennis on Campus’ Coordinator of the Year — Luis Duco of Orlando USTA Jr. Team Tennis League Coordinator of the Year — Cyndi Johnston of Miami

For biographies of the winners and video of the Bobby Curtis ceremony and more, go to: http://www.usatennisflorida.usta.com/Global/News/News/200912/Awards2009.aspx

Posted on December 9, 2009
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