Kentucky resident brings the joys of tennis to local children

It’s been more than 35 years since Ronald Reagan stated, during his first inaugural address, “Those who say that we’re in a time when there are no heroes, they just don’t know where to look.” We discovered heroes in every state, starting with the determined 69-year-old who won a match at an ITF Pro Circuit event earlier this year in the Alabama town of Pelham, and culminating with the coach who has overcome multiple sclerosis to build a winning program at the University of Wyoming. Their compelling stories of courage, perseverance and achievement demonstrate that the message delivered by our 40th President rings as true today as it did then.

Dee Maynard of Shelbyville, KY, first picked up a racquet at 50 years old, and was instantly drawn to the fact that speed on the court was only part of the tennis equation.

“It combined the mental and the physical, and I liked that a lot,” she says. “It gave me a chance to outfox the competition.”

First taught by one of the teenage students at the school where she volunteered in Shelby County, Maynard knew she had found her passion. But when that enterprising young tennis pro moved on from his side business at the local public courts, she needed a new place to play with her friends.

So began Maynard’s long history of tennis activism.

She wasted no time organizing Shelby County’s summer parks program, and quickly put her administrative skills to work in some of the poorest local neighborhoods. By establishing the Louisville Area 10 and Under Tennis Association, Maynard and a team of volunteers secured a grant from the USTA in 2011, leading to the construction of four permanent 10 and Under courts in her target zone.

Maynard worked with a nearby school, church and community center to set up programming for the underserved youth in the area. It was such a success that other schools wanted tennis courts and programs of their own. Thanks to grants from local businesses, Shelby County and nearby Louisville now see over 4,000 children honing their tennis skills on public courts each summer.

“All my kids know is fight or flight,” Maynard explains. “But when you put them on the tennis court and they have to shake hands, resolve issues, make their own calls and then shake hands again when it’s over, it really does teach life skills.”

Now 68 years old, Maynard steadfastly continues her mission to bring tennis to economically challenged communities, also serving as a key figure in the current renovations to a central facility in Louisville. Awarded the USTA Southern’s Service Award in January, she didn’t miss an opportunity to advocate for her cause, using her speech to promote the need for increased youth participation.

“Here I am out on the court with people in their late 60s, 70s and 80s, enjoying this lifetime sport,” she said. “Then here I am watching these little 6, 7 and 8-year-olds, just learning to play. How much better can it get?”