RALPH HART JR.

Ralph Hart Jr. was a Navy Lieutenant in World War II but preferred to battle on the court. 

He had played at Grinnell College in Iowa before the war. After it, he built one of the most enduring careers in St. Louis tennis history, winning the District singles in 1941 and 1947 and the doubles five times from 1950 to 1955. He added 14 St. Louis Municipal singles titles and a number two ranking in Missouri Valley singles in 1950 and 1952. 

In 1948 Hart started his own clinic for tournament players. It ran for twenty years. 

He had a legendary partnership with Ward Parker. Together they won 13 St. Louis Municipal doubles titles across four decades, from the 40s division to the 75s. They won the National Senior Olympics doubles championship. 

They were partners off the court too. For more than 35 years Hart assisted Parker in running the Esquire Senior Tournament at Triple A, and alongside Parker and his wife Merceina ran the District Junior Training Program for twenty years, developing generations of young St. Louis players. 

He won the father and son doubles title twice with fellow inductee, his son, Ralph Hart III. Two Harts on the same side of the net proved hard to beat. 

 (2003)