If you played tennis in St. Louis, you have Leigh Strassner to thank. His company built the court where you pulled out that come-from-behind win. And if you lost, don't blame the court. It wasn't Leigh's fault. 

Strassner Tennis Court Company built courts all over the St. Louis area. But the courts are just the most visible part of a career that touched every level of the game. 

As a player he earned a No. 2 section ranking in boys 16 singles, reached No. 32 nationally in boys 18 singles, captained the Colgate University team in 1957, and qualified for the National Indoor in New York, where he lost in the second round to Vic Seixas and Tony Trabert. 

He spent decades running the game at every level: St. Louis District president, Missouri Valley section president, two terms on the USTA Board of Directors. 

In 1982 he was part of the planning group that brought the Davis Cup quarterfinal between the United States and Sweden to St. Louis. Tennis Magazine rates it one of the five most memorable matches ever played. John McEnroe and Mats Wilander played for six and a half hours. McEnroe won. Arthur Ashe was the U.S. captain. Leigh helped make it happen. 

He earned two Missouri Valley Distinguished Service Awards. His family was named Missouri Valley Family of the Year. He served with the 131st Missouri Air National Guard in Germany during the Berlin Wall Crisis. In 2005 he was inducted into the St. Louis District Tennis Hall of Fame. 

(2005)