Induction Year: 2024

 

Bobby Hagerman has spent most of his lifetime involved in all aspects of Texas tennis: as a top player, a teaching pro, an administrator/referee/ tournament director, a facility director, and a USTA Texas committee member.

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His exceptional playing career spanned three decades of being highly ranked in Texas. From being #3 in Boys’ 18 Singles and #2 in Boys’ 18 Doubles, he went on to become #1 in Men’s 25 Singles and Doubles. Eventually, he was at the #1 spot in Husband/Wife Doubles. His twenty-two-year Mixed Doubles partnership with his sister Betty Sue was particularly remarkable, featuring a three-and-a-half-year undefeated winning streak and consistently ranked #1, 2 or 3.

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Hagerman’s illustrious career as a teaching pro began in Dallas at the Seay Tennis Center, where his eighteen years as Director of Tennis and Head Pro became a cornerstone of local junior tennis development. His programs attracted an impressive average of 600 junior players annually, totaling over 10,000 students who learned the game under his guidance. These programs catered to all skill levels, from recreational players to state champions, showcasing Hagerman’s ability to nurture talent and foster a love for the game.

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From Dallas, he went west to Wichita Falls, where he became the Director of Tennis and Head Pro at Weeks Park Tennis Center for the next seventeen years.

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There, he created the Texoma Junior Circuit, a series of year-round sanctioned tournaments between Texas and Oklahoma that enhanced competitive opportunities for young players in the region.

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His expertise in tournament management was so valued that the Abilene Tennis Association enlisted him to train a new Tournament Director, and he worked seven tournaments in the process, a testament to his dedication to improving tennis administration.

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For the past seven years, Hagerman has continued his legacy as the Head Tournament Director for the Corpus Christi Tennis Association. He has overseen a variety of significant tournaments, including Super Champ Excellence, Championship Major Zone and Challengers, as well as the new USTA Level System events.

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Notably, Hagerman brought the Corpus Christi ITF tournament to the area, further expanding the competitive landscape for local players.

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In recognition for his many contributions to and achievements within the sport, Hagerman has been bestowed with awards by both the USTA Texas and the USPTA-Texas organizations. He received the 1987 USTA Texas Lloyd Sessions Educational Merit Award and served on their Junior Tennis Council for fourteen years. Hagerman received the 2004 USTA/USPTA Texas Division Charlie McCleary Community Service Award. In 2014 he was selected as the USPTA-Texas Division and the Manager of the Year for Small Facilities (Weeks Park Tennis Center).

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Bobby Hagerman’s remarkable contributions at every level of the sport have left an enduring legacy, inspiring future generations of players and administrators. His lifelong devotion to tennis as a top player, a visionary coach and a dedicated tournament director truly embodies the spirit of the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame.

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