Pierre native Paul Williams, now of Mankato, Minnesota and Aberdeen native Dan “Woody Boyd, now of Highlands Ranch, Colorado will be inducted into the South Dakota Tennis Hall of Fame Saturday, July 20 as the Class of 2024. The hour long induction ceremony starts at 11:00 AM and will once again be at the McKennan Park picnic shelter, near the tennis courts in Sioux Falls. McKennan Park has been the induction site since 1991, the initial year of the SD Tennis Hall of Fame. A marker recognizing all inductees is featured near the courts.
The ceremony will be video recorded and displayed later on the website at sdtennishall.com. All tennis enthusiast are invited to attend. The 2024 South Dakota Adult Open will be played July 19-21 mainly at the new GreatLife Cares Foundation Tennis Complex at Tomar Park, just off south Minnesota Avenue in Sioux Falls.
Williams joins his high school coach Phil Trautner (HOF Class of 1992) and fellow Governor tennis player Mike Trautner (HOF Class of 2007) in the Hall of Fame. Williams was a five-time state champion in South Dakota (one singles, two doubles and two team). In addition to his outstanding prep career, Paul really came on strong as a college and adult player. He also has coached at the high school and collegiate levels in Minnesota. He and his family have a long association with the game of tennis.
The GreatLife Cares Foundation Tennis Complex at Tomar Park in Sioux Falls will be receiving the SD Tennis Achievement Award for 2024. Championed by the Sioux Falls Tennis Association, namely Carissa Dice and Lydia Healy, the complex boasts 12 courts where young and old alike can play the game they love. The facility received the USTA Outstanding Facility Award in 2023 and is quickly becoming a tennis hotbed for the city of Sioux Falls.
