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Tennis Loses Former USTA President Bumpy Frazer

February 15, 2021

USTA President Michael McNulty sent out the following email on Feb. 12 about the loss of former USTA President Bumpy Frazer:

It is with great sadness that I share the news that former USTA President J. Howard “Bumpy” Frazer has died. He was 96.

A longtime USTA volunteer, Bumpy served as USTA President from 1993-94, helping to steer this association through an important time of evolution and change for both the USTA and the sport of tennis. During his administration, the USTA reached the milestone of half a million members for the first time.

Bumpy helped steer the development of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which became home to the US Open when it relocated from Forest Hills in 1978. What’s more, Bumpy spent a great deal of time as both President and Vice-President working in the area of Player Development. He served with Arthur Ashe as co-chairman of the Player Development committee, and continued to make that a focus of his work when he became President. As President, he guided the opening and staffing of the USTA Player Development headquarters, then housed in Key Biscayne, Florida.

After serving as USTA president, Bumpy served as a vice-president of the ITF, and as chair of the ITF Senior Committee. He likewise served on the Board of the International Tennis Hall of Fame for more than two decades. A member of the Midwest Section Hall of Fame, Bumpy’s awards and accolades are many. In 2003, Bumpy received the International Tennis Hall of Fame Golden Achievement Award for long and outstanding service to the sport of tennis. He was the first US citizen to do so.

Bumpy’s passion for tennis was matched only by his dedication to serving the sport and to helping it grow. He will be sorely missed by the sport that he so loved, and by all of us who had the pleasure and privilege to call him a friend.

A memorial service and celebration of his life will be scheduled in Cincinnati, OH later this year when his dear tennis friends can gather safely.