Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

In a special ceremony at the US Open, the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) honored former Hall of Fame CEO Mark L Stenning by presentation of the 2015 Golden Achievement Award.

The Golden Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions internationally to tennis in the fields of administration, promotion, or education, and who has devoted long and outstanding service to the sport.

Stenning served as CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame for 14 years, before stepping down last September. He was with the organization for 35 years overall in various leadership roles. Stenning has been highly engaged in the sport as a whole, having served as a volunteer committee member for numerous industry organizations and by fostering partnerships among the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the tennis world.

Stenning began his career in tennis when he joined the Hall of Fame staff in 1980. Over the years he held the positions of Tournament Director for ATP and WTA events, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer. He was named Chief Executive Officer of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000, and remained in that position until September 2014.

Under Stenning’s leadership, the International Tennis Hall of Fame grew exponentially from a modest museum and tennis facility to be a multi-faceted organization that serves the sport of tennis through its award-winning museum and research center and as the officially sanctioned worldwide Hall of Fame. Stenning oversaw the presentation of the sport’s highest honor, Hall of Fame enshrinement, to 128 of the sport’s greatest champions and contributors, hailing from all over the world.

Also during Stenning’s tenure, the Hall of Fame’s 7-acre property in Newport, Rhode Island- which was built in 1880 and was the host facility of the first U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championships in 1881- was completely restored to its original 19th century grandeur and was named a National Historic Landmark.

Past recipients of the Golden Achievement Award are David Jude of Great Britain (2014); Geoff Pollard of Australia (2013); Shamil Tarpischev of Russia (2012); Tim Phillips of the United Kingdom (2011); Heinz Grimm of Switzerland (2010); Peachy Kellmeyer of the United States (2009); Juan Maria Tintore of Spain (2008); Nancy P. Jeffett of the United States (2007); James R. Cochrane of Great Britain (2006); Eiichi Kawatei of Japan (2005); John Curry of Great Britain (2004); J. Howard “Bumpy” Frazer of the United States (2003); Enrique Morea of Argentina (2002); Pablo Llorens Renaga of Spain (2001); Gil de Kermadec of France (2000) and Brian Tobin of Australia (1999).

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.