2026 Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony
The 2026 Alabama Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame will be held on February 7th at the Country Club of Birmingham. Inductees are Mike Claiborne, Lorraine and Scott Novak and Kristijan Mitrovski. The Hubert Kessler Inspiration Cup recipient is Donald Smith. Invitation only please.
2026 Hall of Fame Inductees
Kristijan moved to Alabama in 2003 to join the UAB men’s tennis team, bringing with him an impressive competitive background as the 1999 Macedonian National Champion and a member of the Macedonian Davis Cup Team. His transition from international player to respected coach and leader has made a lasting impact on tennis in Alabama.
Kristijan currently serves as the Director of Tennis at Greystone Country Club, where he is known for his passion, expertise, and commitment to player development. He also serves as the Chair of the USTA Alabama Junior Competition Committee, helping shape the competitive framework and growth of junior tennis across the state.
Since turning 35, Kristijan has been an integral member of the Callen Cup team, contributing to their remarkable streak of championships in the 35 division—wins earned every year since he joined. In addition, he has played a valuable coaching role in the Ozaki Cup, working with some of the best junior players in Alabama.
Widely recognized for his deep love of the game and his ability to develop skilled players with strong character, Kristijan continues to be a powerful force in advancing and inspiring tennis at both the junior and adult levels.
Scott and Lorraine are a dedicated husband-and-wife team who manage and direct the Cox-Copeland Tennis Center in Mobile—one of the premier tennis facilities in the Southeast. Under their leadership, the center has continued its impressive growth, expanding from its original 15 courts in 1969 to an outstanding 60 courts today. They assumed directorship following the passing of Hall of Fame member Newton Cox, continuing his legacy while elevating the facility to new heights.
The Cox-Copeland Tennis Center is a hub for tennis at every level, routinely hosting local, state, regional, and national events. In 2022 alone, the center generated an extraordinary $48 million in tax revenue for the city of Mobile, reflecting the remarkable economic impact of their expertly managed tournaments. Their seamless execution of dozens of events each year has earned them a reputation for reliability, excellence, and a uniquely effective touch in tournament direction.
Beyond major events, Scott and Lorraine remain deeply committed to supporting local tennis. They provide a home site for all local high school matches, operate a strong and successful Junior Team Tennis (JTT) program, and oversee a dedicated team of tennis professionals who actively serve the area’s players.
With their blend of experience, leadership, and community focus, Scott and Lorraine continue to shape the tennis landscape of Mobile while honoring the rich history of the Cox-Copeland Tennis Center.
For more than 32 years, Mike has been a cornerstone of Turtle Point Racket Club, serving as the Director of Tennis and elevating the sport throughout the region. His dedication has played a vital role in developing and strengthening local high school tennis programs, where his leadership and passion have inspired countless young athletes.
A committed ambassador for the USTA, Mike has worked extensively with USTA programs—including Tennis Apprentice—introducing the sport to women with no prior tennis experience and helping grow the game at the grassroots level.
Mike’s generosity extends well beyond coaching. His unwavering support of charity tennis events, including the impactful Raising a Racket for a Cause, has helped raise as much as $180,000 to support local breast cancer patients. His contributions have been widely recognized, and USTA Alabama has honored him twice with the Charitable Tennis Tournament of the Year award.
Respected, dedicated, and community-minded, Mike continues to make an extraordinary difference both on and off the court.
Hubert Kessler Inspiration Cup Award Donald Smith
Dedication and a deep love for tennis best describe Donald’s impact on the players and communities he serves. A passionate advocate for youth and community tennis, Donald has devoted countless hours to expanding opportunities and strengthening programs in the Birmingham area.
For the past three years, he has served as Vice President of the James Lewis Education Foundation, where his leadership and vision have helped advance the foundation’s mission of providing meaningful educational and athletic experiences for young people. His commitment to service extends well beyond tennis, earning him recognition as the Red Cross Volunteer of the Year and the USTA Southern Volunteer of the Year for the state of Alabama.
2025 Hall of Fame Recipients
Tommy Magruder with presenter Michelle Grimes
Paul Rosner with presenter Art Freeman
Derek Tarr
2024 Hall of Fame Recipients
Lizzie Jeffcoat with presenter Richard Harris
Paul Winn with presenter John Ed Mathison
Hubert Kessler Inspiration Cup Award Perry Thomas
2023 Hall of Fame Recipients
Presenter Hugh Thomson with inductee Leslie Hewett Bashinsky
Inductee Dudley Reynolds with presenter Hammond Reynolds
Hubert Kessler Inspiration Cup Award Boo Mason and Barbara Ernest
ALABAMA TENNIS FOUNDATION HALL OF FAME
Past Hall of Fame Members Attending
Nomination Procedures and Selection Criteria
Nomination
All nominations must be filled out using the jotform in the link below. The deadline for nomination is August 1st. Any person who is a resident of the state of Alabama may nominate a Candidate.
Nominator
The nominator must fill out all the basic information on the forms, as well as assembling additional information, such as letters of recommendation from people who can attest to the worthiness of the candidate.
Eligibility
All Nominees must be at least 40 years old at the time of induction, and must have currently resided within the boundaries of the state of Alabama continuously for five years (not including a Military Base) The Selection Committee only considers nominated candidates. Once Nominated, a candidate remains active for five years. After five years he, or she must be nominated again to be considered by the Selection Committee.
Criteria for Selection
The Nominator must provide complete information based upon the following:
- Accomplishments in tennis, as a player, coach, tournament official, teaching professional, or administrator.
- Impact on tennis in the state of Alabama as a volunteer
- Sportsmanship & Character, on and off the court.
Hall of fame nominations are due by August 1st.
Direct any questions to jerriec@alabamata.com.
Click here for nomination form.PAST INDUCTEES
1986
Paul Anderson
Jean Clark Johnson
Francis O’Rourke
Eugene Osment
Randolph Reynolds
Milton Richmond
Harvey “Red” Terrell
Frank Willitt
1987
Roberta A. Baumgardner
Ann B. Callen
Jack Evans
1988
Jack Bushman
Lucy Masterson
Pat Upton
1989
Wade Herren
Gordon “Brick” Warden
1990
Newton Cox
Richard Dillard
Tallie Dillard
1991
Les Longshore
John McWilliams
1992
Marvin Buchanan
Arnold Lefkovits
Frank Wagner
1993
Calvin Karrh
Fred Weckwarth
1994
Margaret Livingston
Paul Jones
Ronald Weathers
1995
Ballard Moore
Charlie Owens
Jerry Gardner
1996
Patrick DuPre’
James Lewis
Hugh Thomson
1997
Ann Etheredge
Ann Dielen
George Noel
1998
Jeff Gray
Joe Tommie
1999
Hunter Abercrombie
Mickey Harper
Clyde Jones
2000
John Callen
Dwight Giles
Marcia Weinacker
2001
Curt Keeney
Dana Loconto
2002
Linda Howard
Don McDougal
Jean Mills
2003
Steve Bloomberg
Dick Briggs
Corky Clark
2004
Vicky Marty
Mark Wilder
Red Wilder
2005
Bea Clark
Hubert Kessler
George Wurtele
2006
Livingstone “Rudy” Lewis
William Lubel
Marilyn Lubel
Ed Selfe
2007
Susan Briggs
Jason Morton
Mike Voyles
2008
Richard Lawson
Dan Lucas
Gayle Palmer
2009
Claire Magruder
Bryan Shelton
Ed Terrell
2010
Jimmy Weinacker
Jerry Nixon
James Lazenby
2011
Terry Bailey
Tommy Wade
John Pittman
2012
Donnie Ellis
Emily Baker
Milburn Price
2013
Scott Shepherd
Keith Swindoll
2014
Calvert Bibb
Becky Richardson
John Ed Mathison
2015
Jenny Mainz
Eleanora Mauritson
Charlie Lane
2016
John Ard
Terry Treadwell
2017
Elaine Francis
Sam Hooper
2018
Eddie Jacques
Grant Rolly
Boo Mason
2019
Richard Harris
John Pickens
Joc Simmons
2020
Greg Henderson
Charles “Flip” Phillips
Eric Shore
2021
Joel Mulkin
Drayton Nabers
Sarah Stewart
2022
Louis Hill
Dani Leal
J.C. Sanford
2023
Leslie Hewett Bashinsky
Dudley Reynolds
2024
Lizzie Jeffcoat
Paul Winn
2025
Tommy Magruder
Paul Rosner
Derek Tarr