John Callen
John Callen: Passed away on April 3, 2022 at the age of 69.
April 2022
The Southern Tennis Association mourns the passing of John Callen, 69, beloved USTA Southern Executive Director for 33 years. After battling cancer for more than a year, John passed away peacefully on April 3 with his wife Frances and daughters Ashley, Melanie, and Courtney by his side at his home in Johns Creek, Georgia.
In 2021, the Southern Tennis Foundation established the John Callen Scholarships to fund annual scholarships for Southern college students. The Callen family asks that any donations go to those scholarships. To donate, go to the Southern Tennis Foundation website
John was dedicated to volunteerism in the Southern Section. He was a founder of the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame, founding member of the Georgia Tennis Patrons Foundation and founding member of Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) Foundation. He served as Georgia Tennis Association President from 1982-1983. He was also elected to ALTA’s Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of the Georgia Professional Tennis Association. He coached winning Georgia Junior Davis Cup teams. He served as USTA Southern Vice President along with being a member of numerous USTA committees.
In 1989, John was named the USTA Southern Section Executive
Director. During his tenure the section’s membership rose to a high of more than 187,000, representing 25 percent of the national membership. The Section has been at the forefront of growing grassroots tennis, including fostering USTA League expansion, Junior Team Tennis formation and growth, an array of junior and adult tournaments in the section’s nine states. The Section has a robust adult program, including the largest Combo and Mixed Doubles leagues in the country.
In June 2021, he announced his retirement and worked into March 2022. At that time, he was the longest serving USTA section executive director.
“Announcing the retirement plans of our beloved and respected executive director of 33 years is not done without a lot of mixed emotions," USTA Southern President and CEO Randy Jackson said. “It's difficult to describe the significance of a John Callen to an organization like ours. John’s experience, intelligence, personality and character have made him a most respected leader in the tennis world. There is no one who deserves more credit for the incredible success of the USTA Southern Section than John Callen."
In his typical gracious and humble manner, John stated, "I could not have been more fortunate to be around some of the very best staff and board members and volunteers over the decades."
USTA Chairman of the Board and President Mike McNulty shared. “John led the Southern Section for 33 years and was the face of tennis in the South. I had the incredible opportunity to serve with John as one of his many ‘Callen Presidents.’ It was an honor and a privilege to serve with my friend, a soft-spoken leader who was loved by all. He was a special person with an inimitable personality, contagious enthusiasm, disarming humility and smiling wit. All of us in the sport of tennis who have been associated with John have lost a true friend and tennis has lost one of its most passionate proponents.”
Early Years
Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, his leadership skills were developed and recognized early on. He was elected Student Body President, Athletic Club President, a member of the National Honor Society, and his high school varsity tennis team.
After graduation he continued his education and tennis at Georgia Tech from 1970-1974. He served as team co-captain and played No. 1 to No. 4 singles and No. 1 to No. 2 doubles over his four-year career.
In 1974, he began a 15-year tennis pro career in Georgia that included the head tennis professional at Big Canoe, Director of Tennis at the Indian Hills Country Club, and Athletic Director at Standard Club in Jones Creek.
During these years he continued to hone his skills as a player, winning numerous Southern tennis titles and reaching the No. 1 ranking in the section for multiple years across many age groups.
John is a member of four Halls of Fame: the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame (inducted in 2013), the Alabama Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame (2000), the Georgia Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame (2004) and the Georgia Professional Tennis Association Hall of Fame. He is also an honorary member of the Georgia Professional Tennis Association.