Induction Year: 2011

 

Jim Chaffin was born in Bryan, Texas, on May 27, 1943, and graduated from Harlingen High School. He received a degree in economics from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from UCLA.

 

Chaffin played tennis in the senior and super-senior divisions for many years in Texas. He ranked No. 1 in 50 and over singles in 1993. He captained and played on the USTA Texas 45 and over intersectional team that won the title in 1999.

 

Chaffin began his tennis volunteer activities in the 1980s as a Texas Tennis Association ranking committee member.  He served as president of the Texas Tennis Association in 1991 and 1992 and was a USTA delegate in 1995-1996. In the mid-1990s, Chaffin began serving on USTA committees, including the USTA Strategic Planning and Budget and Finance committees. He was elected to the USTA board of directors in 2000 and served for six years, the final two years as national secretary-treasurer.

 

At the request of then USTA Texas President Ben Eshleman, Chaffin formed the USTA Texas Strategic Planning Committee and served as its Chair from 2007 to 2014. Chaffin was elected to the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame board of directors in 2012. As secretary-treasurer of the TTMHOF board, Chaffin spearheaded the fundraising and design of the Museum’s 2015 renovation.