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ITHF Honors Heinz Grimm

NEWPORT, R.I., U.S.A. -- The International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation have announced that Heinz Grimm of Switzerland is the 2010 recipient of the prestigious Golden Achievement Award. The Golden Achievement Award is given jointly by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation. It is presented annually on a worldwide basis to individuals who have made important contributions internationally to tennis in the fields of administration, promotion or education, and have devoted long and outstanding service to the sport.

Grimm has been active as an administrator in the sport for more than five decades. He has shown outstanding dedication toward growing tennis in Europe by serving in executive positions within several leading industry organizations.

Presentation of the 2010 Golden Achievement Award will be made on March 10 at the Swiss Tennis Gala Night in Zurich. The presentation will be made by Sir James Harvie-Watt, a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

In 1968, Grimm took on his first role in tennis administration as president of the Swiss Tennis Competition Committee, a position he held for twenty years. He went onto serve as vice president of Swiss Tennis from 1980 - 1994, and in 1995 he was named honorary vice president of the organization.

In 1975, Grimm co-founded the European Tennis Association, now known as Tennis Europe. He was president of the organization from 1978 - 1993, and was named an honorary life president in 1993.

From 1983 - 2001, Grimm held many roles within the International Tennis Federation, including chairman of the Fed Cup Committee, co-chairman of the ATP/ITF Satellite and Challenger Committee, and member of the Board of Directors. In 2001, he was named an honorary life vice president.

Preceding his administrative contributions to the sport, Grimm was an active competitor, playing on the Davis Cup teams in 1960, and serving as a playing captain in 1961 and a non-playing captain from 1962 -1974. Additionally, he served as honorary treasurer for the Swiss Olympic Committee from 1994 - 1997 and was a member of the Board of Directors from 1984 - 1998.

Grimm, 75, resides in Basel, Switzerland with his wife Marianne. He is a former owner of a clock importing business.

Past recipients of the Golden Achievement Award are Fern Lee “Peachy” Kellmeyer of the United States (2009); Juan Maria Tintore of Spain (2008); Nancy P. Jeffett of the United States (2007); James R. Cochrane of Great Britain (2006); Eiichi Kawatei of Japan (2005); John Curry of Great Britain (2004); J. Howard “Bumpy” Frazer of the United States (2003); Enrique Morea of Argentina (2002); Pablo Llorens Renaga of Spain (2001); Gil de Kermadec of France (2000) and Brian Tobin of Australia (1999).

Nominations for the Golden Achievement Award are submitted by tennis federations and individuals from the around the world, and then voted on by the Golden Achievement Award Selection Committee. For more information, please email newport@tennisfame.com or learn more online at tennisfame.com.

Posted on March 9, 2010
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