A VISIT WITH HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE IN 2004, GERALD W. MANHOLD Venice, Florida – Many newspaper articles commence with the indication of where the story originated. That is what I am doing, especially because an article about platform tennis is so unlikely to originate from this locality. Venice is on the west coast of the Sunshine State just south of Sarasota, which is just south of Tampa.
Probably many of you may not be acquainted with Jerry. He is 92 years “young” and, although retired from our sport, I can attest to the fact that he is still in great physical condition and keeps that way by swimming and working out on a daily basis. We conversed for over an hour, sharing life experiences and reminisces about our days on the courts. Jerry was active in platform tennis in New Jersey so, as a Long Islander, I did not get to know him very well personally. We first met at the 1987 APTA Annual Meeting at the Orange Lawn Tennis Club. He was retiring from being an APTA Director after five years of service and I was coming aboard being newly elected. As I recall we simply wished each other well and both of us went our own way. Jerry was a force in several aspects of platform tennis. While on the APTA Board of Directors he served as the Tournament Chairman for seniors. In that capacity he added National Championships for ages 60+ and 65+ to those already in place for 45+, 50+ and 55+. He also donated a championship trophy for the competition, which became known as the Manhold Cup. Patterned after the President’s Cup, which was played before the National Championships with teams from the six regions of the APTA, this event was played before each senior age National Championship with age appropriate teams from each region testing one another in a round robin format. The wins by each region were added together over the season and the region with the best record was declared the Manhold Cup Champion. During our get-together, Jerry expressed, several times, how much he missed playing platform tennis. He really, really loved the game. He took me on a short tour of the “Life-Care” style of community in which he and his wife, Isabella, reside. It has the same features as the future residence that my wife and I will be moving into later this year in Port Washington, Long Island. He completed our visit by sitting down at the piano in the lobby and playing a lively tune, after informing me that he could not read music, but played by ear. We had a delightful reunion. (Editor Note: For more about Jerry, with photographs, visit the archives of “Platform Tennis News.com” and read Volume 1, Issue 8 published in April 2004) what do you think? let me know! info@platformtennisnews.com |
I had mentioned at a Hall of Fame Museum Foundation meeting that I was headed to Venice for two weeks to visit friends and escape from some New York winter weather. (Little did I know that it was going to be colder in Venice for a couple of the days than it was in New York). Trustee David Childs heard my remark and called me before I left to advise me that Hall of Fame inductee, Gerald Manhold, lives in Venice. I responded that I was aware of that and hoped to be able to visit with him. I am pleased to report that I did do that.© 2003-2010 Platform Tennis News.