Mount Pleasant, SC
Inducted December 2011
JAMES “BUD” SPENCER SERVED OUR COUNTRY AS A UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICER, AND FOLLOWING HIS RETIREMENT HAS SERVED TENNIS AS A VOLUNTEER AT THE LOCAL, STATE, SECTION AND NATIONAL LEVELS. HIS DEDICATION TO THE SPORT AND HIS TIRELESS ENERGY AND COMMITMENT PLACE HIM AMONG THE TOP VOLUNTEERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THE SOUTHERN SECTION AND THE NATION.
BUD WAS A CAREER ARMY OFFICER, DURING WHICH TIME HE WORKED TO HAVE TENNIS COURTS BUILT IN SAUDI ARABIA. HE CONTINUED TO PLAY SOCIALLY THROUGHOUT HIS ARMY CAREER AND WHEN HE RETIRED HE KEPT HIS CAN-DO ATTITUDE AND QUICKLY BECAME INVOLVED IN THE USTA. BUD HAS HELD OVER TWO DOZEN VOLUNTEER POSITIONS ON LOCAL, STATE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL COMMITTEES AND BOARDS. SOME OF THESE INCLUDE:
- CAPTAIN OF A USTA LEAGUE TEAM.
- ELECTED TO HIS FIRST OFFICER POSITION IN 1993…VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE LOW COUNTRY TENNIS ASSOCIATION.
- STATE COORDINATOR OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENIOR LEAGUES, AND DEVELOPED THE SUPER SENIOR LEAGUES.
- HELPED START THE COMBO DOUBLES LEAGUE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
- CHAIRMAN OF THE USTA SOUTH CAROLINA LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE, WHERE HE LED THE EFFORT TO DEVELOP THE STATE’S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE LONG RANGE PLAN.
- SERVED ON THE USTA SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND WAS STATE PRESIDENT IN 2004-2005.
- CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TENNIS PATRONS FOUNDATION IN 2006-07.
- CHAIRMAN OF THE USTA SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE, AND LATER THE USTA SOUTHERN LEAGUE COMMITTEE, WHERE HE WORKED TO DEVELOP FLEX AND TRI LEVEL LEAGUES.
- DELEGATE ON THE USTA SOUTHERN BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN 2007-2008. HE WAS ELECTED SECRETARY IN 2009-2010 PLACING HIM ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND IN 2011 HE WAS ELECTED EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT.
- MEMBER OF THE 2011-2012 ATLANTA TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS STEERING COMMITTEE, AND CHARIMAN OF THE ATC COMMUNITY TENNIS/GRASS ROOTS COMMITTEE.
- LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE USTA LEAGUE COMMITTEE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE. APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE COMMITTEE FOR THE 2011-2012 TERM.
- DURING HIS TIME ON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE COMMITTEE, HE HELPED REORGANIZE MIXED DOUBLES AND MADE IT A NATIONAL PROGRAM. HE SERVED ON THE 2006 AND 2008 TASK FORCES WHICH HELPED IMPROVE LEAGUE STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL ASPECTS. HE LED EFFORTS TO SIMPLIFY LEAGUE REGULATIONS AND RESTRUCTURE AGE DIVISIONS.
PRIOR TO HIS INDUCTION INTO THE HALL OF FAME BUD RECEIVED NUMEROUS HONORS AND AWARDS, INCLUDING:
- USTA SOUTH CAROLINA 2001 LUCY GARVIN VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD.
- USTA SOUTHERN PRESIDENT’S AWARD.
- USTA 2002 SOUTHERN STATE VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD.
- USTA SOUTHERN 2001 GERRIE ROTHWELL AWARD.
- USTA SOUTHERN 2007 CHARLES B. MORRIS, JR. SERVICE AWARD.
