Robert J. Kelleher

Infobox Person


image_size = 150px
name = Robert J. Kelleher
birth_date = birth date and age|1913|3|5
birth_place = flagicon|New York New York City, New York, United States
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Tennis player and official

Robert J. Kelleher (born March 5, 1913) was a tennis player and tennis official inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000. He graduated from Williams College in 1935, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and from Harvard University Law School in 1938.

Kelleher was the New England Intercollegiate Doubles Champion in 1933 and won the Eastern Collegiate Doubles the same year. He won the Canadian mixed doubles championship in 1947 with his wife Gracyn Wheeler Kelleher. Kelleher was the U.S. Davis Cup Captain in 1962-63 (winning in '63) and was a three-time U.S. Hard Court 45s doubles champion.

As president of the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) in 1967-68, Kelleher helped make open tennis a reality in 1968. Prior to his presidency, major tennis tournaments were closed to professional players and prize money was not offered. Kelleher was instrumental in changing this system, thus allowing anyone to play and instituting legitimate prize money in tournaments. He also participated extensively in the activities of the Southern California Tennis Association.

Kelleher is currently U.S. District Court Judge in Los Angeles, California.

References

* [http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=168 Listing from International Tennis Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.law.harvard.edu/alumni/bulletin/2000/fall/classnotes_kelleher.html 2000 Article from Harvard Law Bulletin]
* [http://pview.findlaw.com/view/2441154_1 Listing from FindLaw]