Meet the Member: Jerry Guyton

What is your tennis history and relationship with Washoe Tennis Club?

My wife Ellen and I took up tennis and joined the Reno Tennis Club close to 60 years ago. This makes us the longest standing continuous dues paying members of the club.  I consider myself a native of Reno since I have been here since I was five and have no real memory of living anywhere else.  We have been married for 66 years and have three daughters and, of course, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Prior to tennis, in my teenage years, I played a lot of baseball and basketball.  We have a home and acreage in Washoe Valley and really like just hiding out there when not playing tennis.

I suffered a massive rotator cuff tear, that is unrepairable, about a year ago.  I went through several months of physical therapy and am kind of playing again, but with quite a few limitations.  I still enjoy being on the court but am unable to be the competitor I would like to be.  The people I have always played with still include me in their games and treat me no differently.  You really find out who your friends are when you no longer have a lot to offer.  I have found the best friends to be found are located at the Washoe Tennis Courts!

I would like to share with all of you new comers how the Reno Tennis Club [now Washoe Tennis Club] was in the “old days.”  This is in no way to say it should still be that way.  There are many reasons things had to change over the years.  I just think it will be of interest.

RTC used to be the only game in town. The courts were full from sun up to sun down (actually even later since we had lights on 3 and 4 then).  It was all mix and match pick up tennis.  Every class of player played with everyone.  Pros with beginners, all levels of men with all levels of women, high school stars with seniors, There was an RTC paid Pro on staff at the courts all summer and free clinics for all members of all levels  from May through July. We hosted the Nevada State Tennis Tournament and put on a Senior Tournament that drew a lot of top quality California players.  It was a great place to learn the game.  We had a free steak BBQ for all members every October. Of course we paid dearly for all of this.  Family dues were $25 a year. Entertainers in town showed up regularly to play with us.  People like Bill Cosby, Ed Ames, Jerry Van Dyke, and many others. Our younger members are probably thinking WHO? They really were famous back then.   They not only mixed right in, they fit right in.

I was a member of the Board in the 70’s.  For a few years I headed the Pro selection committee.  During that time, I had the good fortune to be able to hire both Glenn Grisillo at one time and then Whitney Reed another year. Glenn was at the time the star player at UNR.  He had also competed at the junior Wimbledon  tournaments.  Whitney was a former top 10 world class touring Pro that played all of the major tournaments.

As life goes, things started changing.  Along came Lakeridge Tennis Club, the Reno Tennis center, Caughlin Club, an Indoor Club on Lakeside Drive just north of Moana, an Indoor Club at the Hilton (now GSR).  They all had their own Pros, amenities, and events.  Our members and all the new people moving here now had lots of choices.  Things had to and did change. I’m still a loyal an active member of RTC/WTC – the best courts in town.