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.
