Induction Year: 1982

 

Bernard “Tut” Bartzen (1927-2019) was born in Austin on November 24, 1927. He is known for his accomplishments as a player and a coach. Bartzen won the 1943 and 1944 state high school singles titles and the 1942 doubles title while playing for San Angelo High School. He played college tennis at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, where he had a 50-0 singles record and won the NCAA doubles title his senior year. As team captain, he led the team to two NCAA titles.

Bartzen was ranked in the top ten nationally nine straight years (1953-1961). His wins included the Men’s National Clay Court Championship four times. Bartzen reached the semifinals of the U.S. National Championships in 1959 and the quarterfinals in 1955. He also won the Canadian National title in 1954. Representing the USA in Davis Cup competition, Bartzen went undefeated in 15 straight matches. He acted as the co-captain of the 1959 and 1960 Davis Cup Teams.

 

After his playing career, Bartzen served 12 years as head tennis pro at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, where he hosted the Colonial National Invitational Tournament. In 1974 he became coach of the TCU men’s team. His tennis teams were ranked nationally every year but one in a 20year stretch. In 1976 he also became director of tennis at the Mary Potishman Lard Tennis Center, later renamed Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. He retired in 1998.