Peachy Kellmeyer
| Full name | Fern Lee Kellmeyer |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United States |
| Born | February 19, 1944 Wheeling, West Virginia |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 2011 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | R2 (1964) |
Fern 'Peachy' Kellmeyer (born February 19, 1944 in West Virginia, United States) is a retired tennis player who captured numerous titles, and a current tennis administrator who helped change the face of women's tennis. Kellmeyer is an alumnus of Florida Atlantic University.[1]
A junior champion in the 1950s, Kellmeyer went on to play No.1 on the University of Miami women's tennis team and became the first woman to compete on a Division 1 men's squad. Hired as physical education director and coach at Florida's Marymount College in 1966, Kellmeyer sued successfully to overturn an AIAW rule barring women's athletic scholarships - blazing a trail for Title IX legislation.
In 1973, Kellmeyer was tapped by founder Gladys Heldman as the first tour director of the fledgling Virginia Slims circuit. She pushed continuously to secure additional venues and increased prize money for her players. In 1977 she brought the first woman's tennis tournament to Madison Square Garden.
She is the Tour Operations Executive Consultant for the Women's Tennis Association.
References
- ^ "ITA - Fern 'Peachy' Kellmeyer". ITA Women's Hall of Fame McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center. Retrieved 2006-11-24.