Sept. 11, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina Tennis Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of two new Hall of Fame members for the class of 2008. Bobby Heald, of Holly Springs, a former member of the Gamecock men’s tennis team, and Pender Murphy, of Charlotte, will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame, January 26, 2008 with a commemoration event held at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst, NC. The North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame is housed in Greensboro, NC, which serves as a central location for the whole state to enjoy.

Bobby Heald was born in Lynchburg, VA and began playing tennis at the age of 9. As a junior player he won state titles in both singles and doubles at 13, 15, 16 and 18. Heald had a remarkable high school tennis career, standing undefeated with a record of 49-0. This no doubt helped him earn a spot of the University of South Carolina tennis team. While playing at USC, Heald put together a 67-6 record at the #1 Singles spot. He became the first ever Gamecock All-American in 1968 when he led his team to win the ACC Championships. After college, Heald took on a career teaching tennis, but continued to play competitively. In fact, he currently holds 8 North Carolina singles and 18 North Carolina doubles titles.

As Director of Tennis for MacGregor Downs Country Club, Heald helps to give back to his community by directing the MacGregor Down’s Mixed Doubles Classic which has raised over $200,000 for Prevent Blindness in North Carolina. In 2002, he also started the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Tennis Benefit. As a teaching professional Bobby Heald has spent many years introducing and coaching the lifetime sport he loves to juniors, high school players, college players and adults. For all of his accomplishments, Heald was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the Central Virginia Athletic Hall of Fame, received the 2003 North Carolina USPTA Pro of the Year, and was named to the prestigious ACC 50th Anniversary Men’s Tennis Team alongside 50 other top collegiate players.

The North Carolina Tennis Foundation supports organizations and programs that enhance the lives of people through tennis and education, and preserves the history of tennis in North Carolina. For more information please visit us www.nctennisfoundation.com. If you are interested in donating to the North Carolina Tennis Foundation, please call (336) 852-8577.

For the complete release on the 2008 Hall of Fame class, please visit the North Carolina Tennis Foundation Website.