Induction Year: 1998

Emadele McCleary (1915-1998) was born in Waco, Texas in 1915 and played No. 1 on the Waco High Tennis team. She met her husband, Charlie, while at Waco High School. Emadele graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in home economics and taught home economics for 19 years in Clifton and Jasper. She married Charlie after he returned from service in World War II. Emadele shared in many of her husband’s tennis endeavors, including helping him publish tennis magazines, hosting and housing tennis players from across the state, and founding the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame. Emedale and Charlie McCleary received the Schroeder Award from the International Sports Heritage Association in 1995 for their outstanding contributions to tennis.