Peachy Kellmeyer
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Fern 'Peachy' Kellmeyer was born February 19, 1944 in West Virginia, USA. As a tennis player she captured numerous titles, and as an administrator she helped change the face of women's tennis.
A junior champion in the 1950's, Kellmeyer went on to play No.1 on the University of Miami women's tennis team and became the first woman to compete on a Division 1 men's squad. Hired as physical education director and coach at Florida's Marymount College in 1966, Kellmeyer sued successfully to overturn an NCAA rule barring women's athletic scholarships - blazing a trail for Title IX legislation.
In 1973 Kellmeyer was tapped by founder Gladys Heldman as the first tour director of the fledgling Virginia Slims circuit. She pushed continuously to secure additional venues and increased prize money for her players. In 1977 she brought the first woman's tennis tournament to Madison Square Garden.
Currently she is senior vice president of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
Career highlights
- Ranked in the USTA Top 10, 1966
- Cincinnati Singles Champion, 1961; Singles Finalist, 1966
- West Virginia State Singles Champion, 1957 & 1958
- Orange Bowl Champion (13-and-under nationals), 1957
- Penn State Tournament Champion in all three junior divisions, 1957
- Girls' 15 Singles Finalist, 1959
- Youngest player (age 15) invited to compete at U.S. nationals at Forest Hills, 1959
- U.S. Junior Wightman Cup Team Member, 1963
- B.A.'66 Miami; M.A.'74 Florida Atlantic University
- No.1 player on the University of Miami women's tennis team, 1964-1966
- First woman to play on the men's tennis team at the University of Miami, 1964-1966
- Coach, Marymount College women's tennis team, 1966-1971; Florida state champions, 1970
- Coach, U.S. Bonne Bell Cup Team, 1974
- Referee, 1st Virginia Slims Championships, 1972
- Tour Director, Virginia Slims Tennis, 1973-1976
- Executive Director, Virginia Slims Tennis, 1977-1981
- Organized first women's tennis event (Virginia Slims Championship) at Madison Square Garden, 1977
- Director, WTA, 1981-1993
- Vice-President of Operations and Player Relations, WTA, 1993-1998; Senior Vice-President, 1998 - present
- Member, WTA Tour Board of Directors, 1973 - present
- Davis Gray Special Service Award, 1987
- Distinguished West Virginian Award, 1988
- Shaping the Future of Women's Tennis/Virginia Slims Award, 1990
- Peachy Kellmeyer Stadium Court named at the Charleston, W.Va. Tennis Club Club, 1992
- Virginia Slims Tournament Directors Award, 1992
- USTA Girls' Sportsmanship Trophy, 1962
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