Induction Year: 1995

 

Dick Stockton was born February 18, 1951 in New York City. He attended Trinity University in San Antonio where he received his B.A. in sociology in 1972. During his college tennis career, he achieved All-America honors four times. Clarence Mabry, the Trinity tennis coach, not only helped Stockton launch into a successful professional tennis career, but also inspired him to become a collegiate coach.

 

As a pro, Stockton was ranked as high as No. 8 in the world. He reached the singles semifinals of Wimbledon in 1974 and the French Open in 1978. His best year was 1977 when he defeated Connors for the U.S. Pro Indoor title, was runnerup to Connors at the WCT Dallas Finals and achieved world top 10 ranking. Stockton was a member of the U.S. Davis Cup Team five times – including the championship team in 1979. Stockton won the 1984 French Open Mixed Doubles title with fellow inductee Anne Smith. In 1999 Stockton advanced to the 45-and-Over Wimbledon doubles semifinals with Jaime Fillol and later that year teamed with Tom Gullikson to win the U.S. Open Men’s Masters 45s doubles title.

 

After his retirement from professional tennis, Stockton worked at T Bar M Racquet Club in Dallas. In 1998 he joined the University of Virginia as the head men’s tennis coach. In 2001 he moved to Florida to the Delray Beach Tennis Center. In 2008 Stockton and his wife formed their own foundation which provides free tennis clinics at military installations across the United States.