1910 was a big year for Roland Hoerr. He reached the semifinals of the US Interscholastic at Newport, played in the US Nationals, now the US Open, and competed in the inaugural US National Clay Courts. He would return to the Clay Courts for the next four years. 

He didn't slow down. He won Missouri Valley and Central States Sectional singles and doubles titles. He took the Texas State singles championship in 1914 and the Niagara-on-the-Lake International doubles in 1911 with C. Drummond Jones. His highest national singles ranking was 56th. With Jones he reached 18th in doubles. In 1916 his Central States final against Japan's Ichiya Kumagai made front page news. 

In 1919 he earned direct placement into the US Nationals main draw representing St. Louis. He captained the Washington University team and later served as president of the Central States USLTA section. 

But tennis was only part of it. Hoerr served on the Board of Directors of the Conservation Federation of Missouri and was later inducted into its Hall of Fame. 

He was a steward of the game. And of everything else worth protecting. 

(1997)