Columbia, SC
Inducted December 8, 1990
JACK MILLS, OWENER & PRESIDENT OF MILLS COMMUNICATIONS IN COLUMBIA, FIRST BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA TENNIA ASSOCIATION IN 1973 WHEN HIS SON, TONY, CAME HOME FROM A TOURNAMENT DISTURBED WITH THE WAY THE DRAW WAS PREPARED. JACK WENT TO SEE ABOUT IT, AND WHEN HE MENTIONED IT TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, HE SAID, “HERE, SHOW ME WHAT YOU MEAN! “ HE DID, AND HAS ALWAYS FOUND SOMETHING TO DO IN TENNIS SINCE.
HIS FIRST OFFICIAL JOB WAS STATE SELECTOR IN 1976 & 1977. DURING THIS TIME HE BACAME MORE INVOLVED IN STATE TENNIS AND WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF SCTA IN 1977. HE SERVED IN THIS POSITION FOR FOUR YEARS. DURING HIS PRESIDENCY, THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA NEWLETTER WAS PUBLISHED. HE ESTABLISHED PLAY AT THE 25’S LEVEL AS WELL AS 35 & 45 MIXED DOUBLES. THE INTRA-DISTRICT JUNIOR DAVIS/WIGHTMAN CUP COMPETITION WAS REVIVED FEATURING COMPETITION BETWEEN THE TOP JUNIORS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLIN, GEORGIA, AND TENNESSEE.
DURING HIS SCTA PRESIDENTY LEAGUE TENNIS BEGAN IN COLUMBIA. MILLS RECRUITED 40 LADIES TO COMPETE IN THE FIRST LEAGUE. THOSE 40 HAVE GROWN TO OVER 2,000 PLAYERS IN COLUMBIA ALONE AND MANY THOUSANDS MORE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. HE ALSO BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE RICHLAND-LEXINGTON JUNIOR LEAGUE AND WAS CHAIRMAN FOR TWO YEARS.
HE BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE SOUTHERN CLOSED 12’S CHAMPIONSHIPS WHEN IT MOVED TO COLUMBIA AND REMAINED INVOLVED WITH THE EVEN EACH YEAR SINCE.
HE WAS A CHARTER BOARD MEMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TENNIS PATRONS FOUNDATION AND HAS SERVED ON THAT BOARD SINCE 1984.
WHILE PRESIDENT OF SCTA, JACK ATTENDED MEETINGS OF THE SOUTHERN TENNIS ASSOCIATION COVERING NINE STATES, AND QUICKLY BECAME INVOLVED IN ITS OPERATION. AFTER SERVING ON THE BOARD FOR SEVERAL YEARS HE WORKED HIS WAY UP TO SECREDTARY AND VICE PRESIDENT BEFORE BEING ELECTED PRESIDENT IN JANUARY 1988. HE BECAME ONLY THE SECOND SOUTH CAROLINIAN TO BE ELEVTED TO THIS POSITION.
DURING HIS TENURE AS STA PRESIDENT, THE ASSOCIATION GREW AND FLOURISHED, OFFERING MANY NEW PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO THE STATES. THE SOUTHERN USTA/VOLVO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS WAS HELD IN COLUMBIA IN 1989, AN ACHIEVEMENT HE CONSIDERS HIS PROUDEST DURING HIS TERM AS STA PRESIDENT. WHEN HE LEFT OFFICE IN JANUARY 1989, THE SOUTHERN SECTION MADE UP MORE THAT 20% OF THE TOTAL USTA MEMBERSHIP.
HIS STA PRESIDENTSY LED HIM TO POSITIONS IN THE UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE USTA NATIONAL LEAGUE COMMITTEE AND HAS CHAIRED THE USTA SANCTIONS AND SCHEDULES COMMITTEE. HE WAS RECENTLY ELECTED A USTA REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT REPRESENTING FOUR SECTIONS….SOUTHERN, FLORIDA, MID-ATLANTIC, AND CARIBBEAN. HE CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE U.S. OPEN POLICY COMMITTEE, AND AS REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FOUR OTHER COMMITTEES.
