Walter Merrill Hall (December 4, 1887 – July 28, 1980) was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and raised in Manhattan.[1][2] Hall was a longtime player and administrator in American tennis. Career highlights: 1. Nationally ranked number four in 1918. 2. U.S. National Championship quarterfinalists in 1918 and 1919. 3. USTA President 1934–36.
Walter Merrill Hall | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 4, 1887 Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | July 28, 1980 (aged 92) New Rochelle, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | banking, broker, investment adviser, tennis administrator |
Life
editHe was the only child of John Walter Hall (organist, vocal instructor) and Louise Hanford Merrill.[3] He married Mary Story "Vandy" Cape in Manhattan on April 11, 1925.[4] She was also a tennis player. Hall took a middle-ground approach to the proposed rule redefining amateurism in 1924.[5] It was a volatile issue for most of the year. Hall served as president of the West Side Tennis Club, 1929–31. He was an administrator with the United States Tennis Association. Treasure: 1931–33. President: 1934–36.[6] He then served the game in various capacities, including as chairman of the Davis Cup Committee. He worked in New York City as a banker, broker, and investment adviser.[2] Hall died at the Bayberry Nursing Home in New Rochelle, New York, at age 92.[7]
Tennis
editHall was ranked in the U.S. Top Ten in 1911, 1915 and 1918.[8][9] Hall was a singles quarterfinalist and finalist at the Tri-State tournament (Cincinnati Open) in 1910 and 1911.[10] He won a doubles (with Harold Hackett) and two singles runner-ups in the Clay Court Championships between 1910 and 1913.[11] He won three Middle States Championships (1911, 1918, and 1919). He reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. National Championships in 1918 and 1919. The first was a five-set close loss to Bill Tilden, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 5-7, 1-6. Hall was leading in the fourth set, 5-3. Tilden then won four straight games. Hall won the New Hampshire State Championships in singles at age 45 (1933).[12]
References
edit- ^ FamilySearch.org. Draft Registration card, 1917. NYC marriage record.
- ^ a b U.S. Censuses, 1910 (under John W. Hall), 1920, 1930, 1950.
- ^ The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1910 pp. 325–26.
- ^ The New York Times, April 5, 1925 p. 8.
- ^ Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 11, 1924 p. D2. Subheading: "Favor Reconsideration of Rule."
- ^ USTA Tennis Almanac, 2000, pp. 6–7. Positions. Internet Archive.
- ^ The New York Times, August 7, 1980, section M, p. 11.
- ^ USTA Tennis Almanac, 2000, pp. 27–28. (Walter not Wallace for 1918.)
- ^ The Sun, December 22, 1918, sec. 2, p. 3. Top Ten. Chronicling America.
- ^ Spalding's Tennis Annual, 1911 and 1912, pp. 109 and 107. Internet Archive.
- ^ USTA Tennis Almanac, 2000 p. 65. Doubles title, 1912. Internet Archive.
- ^ "Tennis Chief". Time, December 4, 1933 pp. 44–45.