N.C. A&T Alumni Times

Photo Courtesy of North Carolina Tennis Foundation, Robin Lindner

The North Carolina Tennis Foundation recently inducted John W. (JW) Quick ’70 into the 2018 North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. For nearly 20 years, he competed on the local, state and national level for tennis securing several accolades in singles and doubles competitions.

In 1975, at age 28, Quick was introduced to tennis by his brother-in-law, Arnold Lanier, by playing various recreational sports and played sporadically with former baseball teammate, John Lumpkins. By studying other tennis players, he taught himself by watching their techniques and foot work. He would go on to train at Lanier’s tennis facility, the Gate City Junior Tennis Academy to perfect his skills.

Throughout Quick’s tennis career, he achieved several local titles and eight North Carolina state singles titles in the senior divisions. He has won two titles at the national championships for the American Tennis Association in the 35 age division. In addition, he has been ranked the No. 1 tennis player in the state of North Carolina 11 times between 1987 and 2002.

In 2002, Quick retired from competitive tennis to devote more energy to teaching and developing junior tennis players. Some of his players, including his daughter, Winnie Quick ’11 and his wife, Dr. Gwen Highsmith-Quick ‘76, have received top rankings and championship titles for tennis in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Tennis Foundation was organized in 1961 for the purpose of promoting tennis and serves tennis players in the state. The foundation is responsible for maintaining the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.