Perry T. Jones (June 22, 1890 – September 16, 1970) was an amateur tennis official who was a major fundraiser for theLos Angeles Tennis Club and its tournaments. He took control of Southern California Tennis in the 1930s and ran thePacific Southwest Championships, the second most prestigious tournament after theU.S. Championships. He became one of the most powerful officials in tennis because most of the good players were developed in Southern California.[1] However, as the "Czar" of Southern California tennis he threw up many roadblocks in the early career of Billie Jean King.[2]
Jones was born on June 22, 1890.[3]
Jones set up his office at theLos Angeles Tennis Club (LATC) with his secretary,Doris Cooke, and made the Club and theSouthern California Tennis Association famous through hisjunior development patrons network. It reached from Santa Barbara to San Diego and came together at the LATC to produce a steady stream of world-class tennis players. Dubbed "the cradle of tennis", Jones mentored men players:Ellsworth Vines,Bob Falkenburg,Jack Kramer,Pancho Gonzales,Ted Schroeder,Bobby Riggs,Mike Franks,Stan Smith,Rafael Osuna,Dennis Ralston,Arthur Ashe,Charlie Pasarell, and women players:Pauline Betz,Louise Brough,Dodo Cheney,Maureen Connolly,Billie Jean King andKaren Hantze.[4]
Jones believed in schooling, cleanliness, proper attire, and sportsmanship when helping players develop into champions. However, many of his rules, such as requiring all white outfits, were a roadblock to poorer candidates.[5]
He becameDavis Cup captain in 1958, recruited, mentored and namedAlex Olmedo to the team, that includedBarry MacKay andHam Richardson, and won theDavis Cup from Australia that year.[4]Jack Kramer andPancho Gonzales acted as advisors to Jones.
Perry T. Jones was inducted into theInternational Tennis Hall of Fame in 1970.[3] He established the Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA) Hall of Fame in 1968, and was known as "Mr. Tennis of the West Coast".
Jones died on September 16, 1970.