Don Budge

In June 1998, on the year of the 60th anniversary of the Grand Slam year, Pike County Commissioners presented Don Budge with a framed Resolution acknowledging lifetime achievement and celebrating his 60-year unbroken Grand Slam tennis record.

Don Budge's home community recognitions on his 60th anniversary of the world's first Tennis Grand Slam win included resolutions, proclamations, and similar formal congratulations by municipalities, Pennsylvania state legislature, governor, and neighboring communities. A gala banquet in his honor was given by the Pike Tennis Association and the Don Budge Tennis Grand Slam Program 60th Anniversary Banquet Committee. Although Don Budge passed on in January 2000, he lived long enough to see his 20th century record continued into the 21sr century when no American player won the first leg of the Grand Slam in the Australian Open, assuring that during his lifetime, he his record remained unbroken . I spoke to him in January before he passed on about the record, something he was very pleased to have been able to accomplish. Tennis Writer and Banquet Chairman, Ken Baumel.

Banquet
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Photo from the left: Charity Scheuermann and Evan Fitzsimmons, two students of voice teacher and international performing artist Neva Rae Powers of Sunflower Hill Productions; Joy Prignon, voice teacher, singer and band leader of "Unto You," Reverend Richard Avery of the Port Jervis First Presbyterian Church and accompanist Don Marsh, founders of Presby Players and two music publishing companies. Rev. Richard Avery and Don Marsh, composed an original song for the Gala Banquet: "How Do You Get Wimbeldon? ...The French Open?...the Australian Open...and the US Open?" The answer quite simply is "Practice, Practice, Practice."

Banquet Committee
Thank You Volunteers, Committee Members, and Fans For Your Great Support for the 1998 Banquet. Don and Lori said, "Thanks, it means a lot to us. It's the most enjoyable banquet event we ever attended.

Special thanks to Barbarta Buchanan of Milford for her magnificent handling of the banquet arrangements at the Best Western Inn at Hunts Landing.

Co-sponsoring the Don Budge Tennis Grand Slam Banquet were Pike Tennis Association, the USTA Middle States Section, USTA Eastern Pennsylvania District, Taylor Tennis, Pike County, and Delaware Township. The Banquet was held in Westfall, Pennsylvania on July 24, 1998.

Mrs. Geri Fanelli and Mrs. Rosemary Loos, Pike Tennis Association volunteer coordinators, with ice sculpture made by Joe Balch, at Best Western Inn, the Gala 60th Anniversary Don Budge Grand Slam Banquet honoring tennis Hall of Famer Don Budge, who many consider the best tennis player of all time.

Publisher Copyright © 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 -2003 -2004 -2005 County Newsfax, Inc. and Don Budge Tennis Grand Slam Program. All rights reserved
Documentary and archival photos are for educational purposes only and may not be reproduced without permission. Budge photo, courtesy Don & Lori Budge