Air Force personnel and their families were treated to an amazing tennis clinic on October 14 by Trinity and international legends of the sport.
Conducted at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, the clinic was led by Dick Stockton ’72, a member of the 1972 Trinity NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship team and four-time All-American. The organization’s name, which has put on a number of clinics for the military, is known as Boots on the Court, organized by Stockton in 2013.
“My wife (Liz) and I started this program as a way to thank our troops and their families for the sacrifices they make each and every day,” says Stockton, who captured the 1972 NCAA Singles Championship and went on to earn a singles ranking as high as No. 8 in the world. “We did some research, and it didn’t appear that anyone was offering such a program. We decided to pursue it.”
The 104 participants at Randolph’s Rambler Tennis Center received a mix of beginning drills and clinics for those with more experience. The day was broken down into a youth clinic (ages 4-8), a junior clinic (ages 9-15), and an adult clinic (age 16 and older).
Stockton had plenty of distinguished help in this edition of Boots on the Court, which has held two events this year.
Four of his 1972 teammates participated and imparted their expertise. Those included were Brian Gottfried ’70-’72, a two-time All-American who was ranked as high as No. 3 internationally in singles; Bob McKinley ’72, a four-time All-American who later coached the men’s team from 1974-1984 (producing a singles champion and doubles championship team); along with Pancho Walthall ’72 and Bill McGowan ’74.
Women’s All-American Lisa Sassano Westergard ’85 was also a key participant in the day’s activities, as were 10 members of the current Trinity Tigers men’s team.
Two of the volunteer teachers were also veterans of the Armed Forces—John Newman ’60 and his brother Butch Newman ’65.
John Newman was a member of Trinity’s first nationally recognized tennis team. He graduated from Trinity’s Army ROTC program and served in the military from 1960-64. Newman was an assistant men’s coach and also led the Tiger women’s squad to a pair of United States Tennis Association Collegiate Championships. Currently, Newman serves as director of Men’s Tennis Operations at the University of the Incarnate Word.
Butch Newman was a two-time All-American at Trinity. After college, Newman became an officer in the Marine Corps from 1966-69, which included a combat stint in Vietnam. He coached Trinity’s men’s team from 1986-2009 and the women’s from 1991-2008. A major achievement occurred when he guided both teams to the NCAA Division III Championships in 2000, which the Tigers won on the same day! Newman has served as Trinity’s director of Tennis since 2009.
“I was especially proud to have members of the Trinity men’s tennis team volunteering their time to members of the Armed Forces of our country,” Newman says. “Dick Stockton is the driving force behind this community service project. He has done an outstanding job for the U.S. military men and women and their families with his efforts to make them feel appreciated.”
The clinic was well-received and appreciated by the folks at Randolph, sometimes referred to as “The Showcase of the Air Force.” The liaison for the Boots on the Court clinic was Michael Nguyen, human resources specialist for the Air Force, who also retired from the service.
“It was absolutely amazing,” Nguyen says. “To see these caring, extraordinary icons of tennis, with so much passion and talent brought together for one great purpose, to support our military members and their families, was truly incredible!”
The next Boots on the Court clinic will be held in early December at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Further information about the organization is available at bootsonthecourt.com.
Stockton may be reached at dickstockton@att.net.
James Hill ’76, more famously known as Trinity’s public address “Voice of the Tigers,” retired in 2020 as Trinity’s assistant sports information director.
Have you ever had an interaction with a kid and left it scratching your head? Wondering how ill-mannered and apathetic “the next generation is?” How many times have I politely asked for a smoothie, thanked the kid making it and taking my money, thrown a few dollars into the tip jar, and got nothing in return? And when I say “nothing,” I’m not asking for a drop-to-your-knees-giant-thank-you, I’m merely asking for an acknowledgment that we’re both on this planet and a cheery “thanks!” would do. Well, if you want your faith restored in the people who will take over for us one day, just go to West Point and spend a little time with the cadets.
Every year approximately 1,300 cadets enter West Point and by the end of the year, only 1,000 remain. That’s rough. There are fifteen men’s and nine women’s 
The cadets were engaging, uber- polite and respectful. My sister Joy, Mary Evelyn and I were impressed with the candor of the cadets. While they were humble, some shared their struggles about adjusting to life as an elite recruit at the Academy. It sent chills down my spine and my heart went out to the girls as I wondered if I could do what they do. Of course, I know that I couldn’t. It seems like a lifetime ago that I competed against USMA when I played for Fordham University. And before my kids yell, “Close the yearbook, Mom!” know that I bring up this memory not to brag and talk about me, but because as I listened to these girls, I realized that I didn’t give my counterparts so many years ago enough credit.
As I sat at the Registration desk last Saturday, as a mom of kids not that much older than these cadets, the things that impressed me the most, are so different now. While not appropriate, I want to hug each and every one of the chica cadets and tell them that everything will be ok. That sometimes your individual journey is so much different from that of your teammates and classmates. I wanted to tell each one of them to know when to stay in their lane, and know when to think outside the box. Mostly, I wanted them to believe in themselves, because just the mere fact that they made it to West Point, means that they’re something special, and maybe a cut above the rest. As a parent myself, I want to be Holden Caulfield and catch each one of them when they fall off the cliff in the rye, because there are times, no doubt, when they will stumble. But I settled for shelling out unsolicited advice and corny clichés. Eye roll here from my own kids.
As civilians, so much of what goes on in the military is completely lost to us. It’s not until you spend time with the families whose loved ones are deployed, do you get an understanding of what they go through, so we civilians can live the lives we do.
The Boots on the Court crew arrived at MacDill Air Force Base on a chilly Friday night. After our traditional dinner at Qdoba off base, we went to bed looking forward to the next day of fun and clinics.
This event was our 4th trip to MacDill, and while Dickie, JoAnne Russell and I felt like old hands, this event ushered in an entirely new crew. Katie Hamilton, our very own tennis shop receptionist made the trip with us and worked registration with me. Robert Korszeniewski, my co-worker at the Wellington Tennis Center was on the court with Dickie and Jo all day. Robert’s wife, Tommisa was a trooper at the registration table, bring the chill in a puffer coat- thanks Tommisa! Good thing we came prepared for the elements. Jim Tierney and his son, John, also joined us. Once again, Lt. Farrah Smoke brought her parents Jill and Alan along with their adorable Yorkie, Coca. Coca worked the registration table and was able to keep everything moving along smoothly. Thanks, Coca. The new crew was lights out, but we definitely missed all the “old” regulars and look forward to merging the two!
The kids clinics were well attended and so much fun. Twenty-five participated in the little ones (ages 4-8). The clinic ended with a very tightly contested “Spider Race.” I believe Robert’s team took the title, and they look forward to defending it next year.
Thanks as well to Sandra Kobelia, Lt. Smoke and Airman Vashema Bourne for all your hard work. It’s thanks to your professionalism and dedication that we were able to pull off all of our events at MacDill over the last three years. 
Approximately 15,000 people work at the MacDill Air Force in Tampa, Florida. Of those 15,000, a significant percentage of military personnel and their families live on base. For those who choose not to live on base, they make Tampa and surrounding areas their home. The base sits on the Hillsborough Bay, with charming homes lining Bay Shore Boulevard. The homes face the bay, are built up so the view is accessible from the back. It’s not uncommon to see dolphins frolicking in the bay. The area directly in front of the homes is a designated No Boat Zone. There is no fishing and no recreational use of that part of the bay. Twice a year, people can apply for a permit and fish there for one day. You can imagine the size of the fish they catch. I was told that the applications sell out in a few hours.
As always, an event is only as successful as the volunteers that help run it. This time, we were so fortunate to have Mr. and Mrs. Alan Smoke help us throughout the day. It should be noted that the Smokes are the parents of the amazing 2d Lt Farrah Smoke- one of our points of contact and Amazing Organizer. Between 2d Lt Smoke and Sandy Kobelia, Deputy, 6th Force Support Squadron at 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill AF Base, we had everything we needed to just roll in and get ready to go. Vashema Bourne was not only an enormous help, but she also won a pair of New Balance tennis shoes (along with Sandy and Farrah….what are the chances??!!). Thank you all!
I am always amazed at how much the parents support our events. Many parents start the day watching their kids in the junior clinics, then come back and participate in the adult clinics. They bring their dogs, snacks, toys, cameras and enthusiasm that’s unmatched anyway. Thank you to all parents everywhere.
Any tennis event is only as good as it’s pros, and we are so fortunate to have the best pros in the business. Making their third appearance at JBSA, Mario and Steve Contardi took time away from the John Newcombe Ranch and the insanity that pre-fantasy camp must certainly be, to help us. We cannot thank you enough guys.