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John Greer, left, is Hawaii’s most accomplished wheelchair tennis player. Henry Somerville joins his mother, Hattie, and sister, Betsy, in the hall of fame.
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John Greer and Henry Somerville have been selected as this year’s player inductees to the United States Tennis Association Hawaii Pacific Tennis Hall of Fame.
The hall of fame’s 11th class will be formally inducted in a banquet Nov. 19 at the Ala Moana Hotel.
Part of one of the most prominent families in Hawaii tennis, Somerville joins his mother, Hattie, and sister, Betsy, in the hall of fame. Henry won the state high school singles title in 1980 and claimed doubles titles in 1979 and ’82 while at Kalani. He earned a scholarship to California and was invited to the 1984 Olympic Trials. He competed on the ATP tour from 1984 to ’90 and reached a career high ranking of 715 in singles and 380 in doubles with his brother, Jim.
Somerville went on to coach at Hawaii Pacific University and was named ITA West Region Coach of the Year in 2000 and Pacific West Conference coach of the year in 2002. The 2013 recipient of the USTA President’s Award, Sommerville was named Director of Tennis at Punahou in March.
Greer earned a place in the hall of fame as Hawaii’s most accomplished wheelchair tennis player. Paralyzed in an automobile accident at age 19, Greer took up tennis as a form of therapy. He eventually turned pro and was ranked as high as sixth in the world in singles in 1998 and 10th in doubles in 1999. He played at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2004 and is a three-time member of the USA World Team Cup. He owns 27 singles and 37 doubles titles in his career and represented the U.S. in the Paralympic Games.
Also recognized by the USTA Hawaii Pacific Section at this year’s awards banquet will be the Baron family (Family of the Year), Hilo Junior Tennis Club (Organization of the Year), Waialae Country Club (Facility of the Year), Chanon Alcon (Special Service), Haley Fujimori and Jordan Azuma (Jim Howe Sportsmanship Awards), Hawaii Tourism Authority (Special Friend of Tennis) and Richard Fried (President’s Award).
